By DACODA MCDOWELL-WAHPEKECHE, Sports Editor
Empty bleachers made the difference for the home team.
I was greeted with silence.
When I attended the women’s basketball game in Percefull Fieldhouse on Jan. 14, I wasn’t welcomed by parents and friends cheering for the basketball team. Instead, I saw empty bleachers.
Those empty bleachers made the difference for the home team. No one to cheer them on.
The Great American Conference has restricted fans and spectators from watching sporting events in-person. This restriction is in place because of the ongoing pandemic.
Restrictions are enforced on the sidelines of the games, too. Players wear masks while on the bench and sit six feet apart because of social distancing requirements. Members of the media work from the stands in Percefull Fieldhouse to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.
I think the Great American Conference and its member institutions should reconsider their stance and allow two fans per student-athlete playing at the time.
Student-athletes may be playing their first game this season without their parents in attendance because of the coronavirus. They may be feeling a little down because their family members may have promised them that they would always be there.
Many of the stadiums and facilities within the Great American Conference have the room to allow two fans per player. Instead, the conference makes parents and fans watch from a distance through live broadcasts, making the events impersonal.
I’m sure the players are grateful to be playing the game they love through the pandemic, but actions could be taken to better the atmosphere within the gymnasiums and mental health of our players.