• Tweet

• Tweet

It used to be the only ones cheering on the Ospreys were the parents and Ozzie, but after the last tailgating event, it seems there might be more fans in the crowd than ever before.

More than 1,000 students gathered on the Green Aug. 26 to cheer on the UNF athletes for the upcoming year. Athletes said this was one of the best ways to start a season, and many said they were encouraged by the support of their peers.

Finally.

UNF has forgotten its athletes and school spirit far too long, quickly joining other college tailgating events and supporting their athletes.

So when the administration noticed, they began to take steps a few years ago. The result: the UNF school spirit initiative.

The initiative includes tailgates, which UNF has already

seen this year, as well as free T-shirts, a return of the student section in the Arena and a Spirit Advisory board, which assesses the progress of school spirit throughout the year.

If UNF established an advisory board, this obviously matters to people across the university, and students should join in and keep up their enthusiasm for the Ospreys – that’s one of the fun facets of the college experience.

Students need to follow the example of the administration and students who attended the tailgating event.

Now is the time to care, if not ever before, as the university is growing and expanding at a rapid pace.

UNF already boasts one of the few Olympic-quality tracks in the nation, and soon there will be a Student Union building, new workout facilities and possibly even a Greek Row.

Like most things in life, you can’t simply receive without giving.

That’s the reason most claim they file for divorce. And think of Christmas grounded on that principle – someone would always be without a gift. That’s not fair.

Nor is it fair to get a lot from the university – education, nice facilities, a dorm with a lazy river around it – and expect to give nothing in return.

All it takes is a little pride in UNF and the support of the people who represent it to other schools.

Keep showing up to tailgating events and games.

Cheer on the Ospreys.

And at the rate of the last event, with students ranging from seniors to freshmen showing support and spirit, the step toward school spirit could carry on into the next generation of UNF students.