The Endangered Species
By: DeAndre Bowman II
Just as panthers are an endangered species in the jungles of their natural habitat, they are also an endangered species here in the concrete jungles of downtown Atlanta. Georgia State University is a Division I-A school in downtown Atlanta. At a number of other D-I university the students take pride in all of their sports teams and go to the games in droves to cheer them on, but why not at Georgia State?
In 1913, Georgia State University first opened up as a commuter school. This means that they had no on campus living for the students. The students had to get to the school by either driving, catching the bus or any other form of transportation. Also, at this time the school did not have any sport programs at the school. So, the students only came to the school for class and that is pretty much it. In 1963-64 Georgia State Athletics decided to compete in Division I sports. Then in 1974-75-woman sports were added to the school. That means the school was without sports for 50 years and without women’s sports for 61 years. On top of that the university didn’t get a football program until 2010, meaning that the program is only in its eighth year of existence. The programs are fairly young compared to the other Division 1-A teams across the country who have had their sports programs since the early 1900s.
Georgia State student Blane Cannon gave his opinion on why he thinks students don’t attend athletic games.
“I believe that some students don’t attend some of the games because they don’t think that we are good in sports. Also, because they don’t see us playing some of the other big schools that they see play on TV so they automatically assume that we are just bad. I know it sounds dumb but that is what I think. I also think that they don’t attend games because since we live in downtown Atlanta there is always something that the students think is technically ‘better’ then going to the sports events such as big parties, concerts or even something as simple as the tailgate.”
The rumor of sports teams being bad at Georgia State lingers around the campus like flies around trash. In the first seven years of the football programs has been to not one, but two bowl games, even won one of them. In only seven years that is a huge accomplishment. The men’s basketball team has been to the NCAA tournament numerous of times, even to as deep as the third round. They even have a few conference championships under their belt. Among all sports at Georgia State they have a total of 45 conference championships and 23 NCAA tournament appearances.
The majority athletes on the campus feel a bit disappointed when they are about to play the game and they see very few fans and a lot of empty seats in the stands.
Georgia State football wide receiver Penny Hart said, “I really don’t like that a lot of the students do not come to the games for us or even any other sport. I mean its not like we are a bad school at sports, we are actually pretty competitive and pretty good. It makes home games difficult because sometimes the opposing team would bring more of their own fans to the games then what we would have in the stands. This makes it incredibly hard for us to create this thing called ‘home field advantage.’ I want us to have the type of student section and fan base that makes other schools that have to play us be a little discouraged because they know how loud and intimidating our fans are. Like think about schools like LSU, Alabama or even UGA. None of those schools ever have the problem that we are having. Even when they are having a bad season the students still go cheering to the top of their lungs to cheer on their home team because they know that they need it. I just want to have a full stadium for all of our sports teams.” 
As for majority of the other athletes they feel the same way as their fellow athlete Penny Hart feels. The spread the news about their games to the student body everywhere and campus. What else does it take?
Georgia State student Jayla Cooper gave her opinion on what it would take for them to get more students to the game and she said, “I honestly don’t know what else you guys would have to do. Maybe the athletes can come out and make a statement personally asking the students to come to the game and how important it is for them to be there. Maybe after they do that they would start coming to the games.”
The student body is an endangered species at Georgia State sporting events. Something needs to be done to ensure that they increase to deafening numbers.