Where are the fans?

February 10, 1999
Originally published by The State Hornet (Sacramento State)

You have to work a little bit harder and longer when you're the little guy on the block.

In the race to become a major player in Division I sports, it is critical to create a large fan base. If you do, you get the cheers. If you don't you cry alone.

The reality of college athletics, such as it is today, is that a school needs corporate and community support to be successful in any sport, at any level. At CSUS, that task falls to Soloman Fulp, director of marketing and promotions.

"I try to put together corporate partnerships with Sac State and the community, and get everyone involved in our promotions," Fulp said.

Fulp also manages the season ticket campaigns for men's and women's basketball and football.

He conducts all the promotional activities at home, including halftime shows, band music and cheering and dance squads.

"This is my focus," Fulp said. "A lot of people here would obviously love to see a successful college program. It's my job to help create that."

It's no secret there is a void in the Sacramento area for affordable family entertainment. With time, money and support, the Hornets can fill that.

But they need more success stories, such as the rise of the football team with the help of a 2,000 yard season by Charles Roberts last fall. Roberts has generated a lot of interest, both locally and nationally, by being a marquee player.

It helps to have the nation's leading rusher in Division I-A right in your own backyard.

"Since we don't have a winning program yet, our goal is to keep the fans happy," assistant Zack Souza says. "We want to bring people out, let them enjoy the contest and have a good show."

This department does the dirty work at more than 110 games a year for CSUS. Co-assistant Doug Berrios and Souza both echo: "It would boost our teams' energy level and it would be highly advantageous with more student-body participation. Without them, we just can't be competitive."

You can break down the attendance at CSUS athletic contests by this: an inconsequential dab of community fans, families, friends and parents of players, and visiting teams' fans and players. Which did I leave out?
College sports are for college students to go bonkers over.

This is not an isolated outback realm such as Montana or Iowa where the collegiate sports scene reigns supreme and there are no pro franchises to corrupt them. We have a lot more places to go here, such as the Bay Area, Reno and Tahoe.

Pride isn't the issue. Time and money spent being entertained by a product is. And if people are going to spend their money on something when there are countless other diversions around less than two hours away, that product better be a good one with some substantial entertainment value.

"I believe college athletics is a necessity for every university in the country," Fulp says. "It really adds value to the college experience."

There is no room in anyone's book for bare-bones entertainment.