The Heat: It’s Time To Get Behind Basketball

Over the past seven years, we have seen tremendous growth in Liberty athletics.  Facilities have exploded from bottom rung Division 1 venues to top quality locations for the sports they feature.  Crowd support has gone from nearly non-existent to a football stadium packed with thousands of students and fans from across the area.  While the focus has largely been on football, the men’s basketball program has made progress under Coach Dale Layer, which culminated last season with Liberty’s 3rd appearance in the NCAA tournament.

Coach Layer and the guys deserve great fan support after a successful 2012-13.

It’s time for the support football sees from students, fans, and the administration to spread to basketball.  College basketball is one of the most exciting, momentum fueled spectacles in all of sports, and Liberty has a team that stepped up to the game’s biggest stage last season.  There is simply no good reason that our school shouldn’t be packing the Vines Center on a regular basis.  There is no rain or snow.  The climate is quite comfortable in the Vines Center.  It is still free for students.  The facility is a great place to watch a game.  The team is good, and improving.  The piece that is missing is support from students and fans.

College basketball is fueled by rabid fan bases.  One quick look on ESPN during a Duke game tells you all you need to know.  The fans packing a small arena, jumping up and down, and screaming their lungs out have a profound impact on the game.  The home team feeds on it, and the opposing team fears it.  With one three-pointer or fast break dunk, the momentum can swing on the energy of  5,000 fans.  It’s not just at the elite programs either.  Up and coming mid-majors like VCU have risen in large part because of strong fan support.  It starts with the students, bleeds into the community, and soon the Vines Center can be an incredibly tough place for opposing teams to come to.

I wrote last season that in one NCAA tournament game, that the Liberty athletics program got more national publicity than was gained all football season.  That remains true.  Unlike football, the Flames basketball team competes at the top level in NCAA athletics.  With four wins in March, Liberty can make it into the national spotlight and have a shot at the biggest prize in all of mid-major athletics.  Cinderella status.  There is nothing that the media and America loves more.  An underdog team making a run against the big boys in March, and Liberty can be that team.  All of the publicity and good things that come along with it are within reach for this program.  Success on the basketball floor could even help Liberty’s quest for FBS membership.  You want to see football at the top level?  Go support the basketball team this season.

Strong fan support can push a team over the top in college basketball.

Finally, these guys that put on the jerseys deserve our support.  Just like the football team, the basketball players put the Liberty name on their back, and put their bodies on the line.  I know that football is king, and it is a great sport.  I am realistic enough to know that we aren’t going to sell out the Vines Center every night.  However, anything less than 3,000 students is unacceptable at this point.  A few thousands college kids that are standing , jumping around, and chanting defense for 40 minutes will make a difference on the stat sheet.  If you can show up for four hours of cool weather on Saturday afternoons in the Fall, you can show up for 2 hours of climate controlled chaos in the Vines Center.  So let’s see if we as fans can push this team, and our school, to new heights this basketball season.  It all starts this weekend.  Be a part of it, and let’s make Liberty the toughest place to play in the Big South.