Dunn’s Decrees

As I continue to process our exhilarating win over Gonzaga, my mind continuously drifts to the presence that Bronco students brought to the Leavey Center that Thursday evening. Pure euphoria, suffocating noise and an environment that had a powerhouse struggling to execute, all through the night.

I’ve been very critical of Bronco student crowds ever since I stepped foot on campus as a freshman. Aside from the Women’s Soccer College Cup Semifinal in 2021 and the yearly Gonzaga game, it seems like students do not actively support our athletic teams. And despite Santa Clara not being a sports-crazy school,I still believe that there should be that spirit in the stands on gameday.

But what I saw and experienced against the Zags is a feeling I hope we can continue to capture. Even 75% of it will do, as seen in the St. Mary’s contest two days later. Student tickets were sold out, people showed up and while the game didn’t remotely meet expectations of a win, the buy-in was there. That’s all I’ve wanted to see: a student body bought into an environment that makes you yearn for more.

We only have so many home games remaining in the men’s and women’s basketball seasons, so come out and have some fun supporting teams that have earned it. You can make this a place where opposing teams lose all sense of composure, like Gonzaga did, due to the sheer amounts of noise on a weekly basis. Bring a friend, make some noise, have a drink and be part of the cause of a spirited campus movement .

Bronco fans, you showed up for Gonzaga and St. Mary’s. While USF still looms large in March, there is a plethora of other opportunities to showcase what we are about. There’s a taste of that raucous pandemonium in the Leavey Center just waiting to be unearthed, and I hope to end the year on a high note. So, now that you’ve got a seat at the table, why don’t you stick around for a while?