You Got What You Wanted - Now Embrace IT

In case you haven’t been watching this season, Mark Dantonio, his staff, and his players have shaped the future of the Spartan program.

In the past two years, we’ve seen a team that became accustomed to losing evolve into one that expects to win.

That being said, I’m not sure that the entire Spartan Nation fans have bought into the programs success and ability to keep making progress.

In the past, (seven plus years or so) we’ve seen less than a stellar product put on the field. From several off the field issues, penalties, individualism, and the all too often late season collapse, Spartan fans have come to witness what I refer to as “Heartbreak in East Lansing.”

Honestly, how could anyone blame any of the fans for some sort of dissention or inability to find the light at the end of the tunnel?

But that’s why Coach D was brought in. He was that “end of the tunnel.” That light that would show Spartan fans the return to glory was not only eventual, but imminent. With the support of the administration and other influential figures within the University (Izzo), Dantonio is holding up his end of the deal.

Up until this point, I’m not sure the fans have held up their end.

Last week, I saw a stadium with thousands of empty seats to miss a chance to watch a 7-2 team with a realistic shot at a Big Ten title.

A few weeks ago, a friend asked me for some tickets to the Ohio State game; the most anticipated game in East Lansing in some time. After checking out a student website, where students can put up there tickets for sale, I was bombarded with hundreds of sale opportunities. Students were selling their tickets from $30-120 each. Now obviously some may have had prior engagements and were unable to make it, but clearly not all. When I contacted a student about purchasing a ticket I asked, “Why aren’t you going?” She informed me that she wasn’t that interested in going to the game and that the prospects of $45 dollars seemed a lot better.

Are you kidding me? This was blasphemy. As a student I would have done everything in my power to witness this game, and even did so years after graduation to see it. I dedicated summers of working to purchase student tickets each year.

But it’s not just the students I’m picking on. Several tickets are sold, yes sold for each game and no one shows up. They’re wasted by “fans” that refuse to take advantage of an opportunity they longed for, for many years.

So what are you waiting for? This team has proven itself several times over. They have played with the passion that lives inside every State fan across the world. They are filled with the pride of playing for the University that’s stitched across their chest and all of the people it represents.

So support them. Support a team and program that plays the game with pride, respect, passion and dedication.

They have earned it!

What do you think. Are fans still "cheering" like they did before the now?