EDITORIAL: Athletes trained without prospect of season, let's support them
The Central Michigan Football Team enters Kelly/Shorts Stadium to play against Northern Illinois Nov. 2.
Central Michigan University football is back – kind of.
In a typical fall semester, first-year students would be getting emails notifying them to move their vehicles from the freshman lot.
On game day, hundreds of tailgaters would don maroon and gold. Music would blare from speakers in the back of pickup trucks while college students dance and spill drinks on each other. A flurry of “fire up chips” would sound off one after another.
This season is different, though.
The Chippewas take on Ohio at 7 p.m. Nov. 4 at home. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN.
Parking lots will not be flooded with alumni, families and students. The cold bleachers at Kelly/Shorts Stadium won’t be any warmer without fans in the stands. The jingle of keys on third down will have to wait until next season.
In the past, attendance at games has been low. Many students either chose not to attend or left after 15 minutes. Now, they don’t have any other choice than to stay at home.
Students should not complain about not being able to attend games. Until just a month ago, the football team trained without any prospect of playing a season.
All the sweat, pain and tears were for the slight opportunity that the season might be brought back. Now, we have an opportunity to cheer them on from our living rooms. And we should.
Those who choose to go out to bars, restaurants or small gatherings need to keep in mind that COVID-19 is still present. Be careful, behave responsibly.
Even though the first three games are on weekdays, those evenings will be an opportunity to unwind. The contests could provide a nice distraction from hours spent finishing projects and homework.
With the general election being the same week as the return of the football season, the game might also be an opportunity for students to unify around a single cause.
The football players weren't the only athletes training this fall. Gymnasts, volleyball players, soccer players and the field hockey team are all waiting their turn.
Once the football season ends, we need to be ready for a winter and spring full of sports.
Let's make sure to rally behind and support students athletes. They worked hard to earn our support.
