When Your Team is Down...Cheer Harder!

We see it all the time...a team gets down by 20 late in the second half, their shots are not falling, the opponent is shooting the lights out, it's just one of those games. During those times coaches keep coaching, teams keep fighting, keep playing hard, keep trying to chip away at that defecit. Fans expect their teams to continue to play hard and fight until the very end.

However, why is it different when it's the other way around? When a team struggles to win some games, why is it that the players are expected to continue to be positive and play harder, but the fans give up? In these cases, the fans should be expected to cheer even harder, just like the players are expected to play even harder!

With a new coach, a new system, a new program philosophy and basically all new players, the Indiana Hoosiers basketball team is struggling through their Big Ten Conference schedule. They lost at home over the weekend for the first time ever against a very good Penn State team. However, the Hoosier fans are continuing to show their support and their belief for their team. They're doing it the right way from all aspects of their program and the administration is fully supporting their efforts. Tom Crean is the perfect man for the Indiana job. He is a great coach with great committment and a high level of enthusiasm. He understands the tradition of Indiana Hoosier basketball and the importance of using its strong tradition, former players, alumni and administration to buy into and support the efforts of the Indiana program. Their V.P. and Director of Athletics, Fred Glass is leading this effort and pushing for continued support from their fan base. "I love how hard our team plays and how hard Coach Crean coaches," added Glass. They never quit and I want to encourage Hoosier Nation not to quit on them. Fan support in Assembly Hall has been tremendous. We just want to encourage more people to be there." According to the article, among ideas that Glass hopes will catch on with the Hoosier faithful are honorary game captains; allowing youngsters to shoot layups on Assembly hall's court following weekend home games; encouraging the crowd to be more engaged in and around the game; and posting spirit signs in dorms, greek houses, and local businesses to hang up prior to home games.

During adverse times, teams need positive energy from administration, parents, fans, community members, alumni, and former players. So remember, when your team is down, do what you would expect them to do...cheer harder, show more pride, keep fighting and don't give up on them!