Four years of sweat and tears as a student I put into rooting for my Gonzaga Bulldogs in the McCarthey Center. Four years of being that guy who cared too much.
Did I cry after attending a loss that I felt I left as much out on the court as Adam Morrison or Austin Daye? Perhaps.
Do I still cry after watching games online since I am now out of state? Maybe … but this is neither here nor there. As a distinguished alumnus finding myself still bleeding blue, white and red (and on occasion black), more than the students who still actually have the privilege and honor of seeing one of the greatest programs of the last decade create their masterpiece of art that we call the game of basketball.
Gonzaga basketball is based on a foundation of loyalty, honor and hard work. Now Gonzaga is represented by fans that feel entitled and who have no sense of loyalty or what it means to be an actual Gonzaga Bulldog.
These "fans," as they would call themselves have no sense of respect, tradition or history that is the foundation of Gonzaga basketball.
My roommate and resident coward Thomas Wilson would call himself a Gonzaga fan, but you would also see him cheering for the rival Huskies or picking us to lose in his bracket.
I know, however, that this is no isolated incident and these cowardly tendencies have plagued much of the Gonzaga student body.
When you come to Gonzaga you are pledging your heart and soul to this university. To openly root for the schools arch nemesis or to pick us in any way not to win the national championship every year in any fashion is both chicken- hearted and treasonous.
Our student body needs to embrace Gonzaga as an end all and be all. The students however, ride that bandwagon to class, jumping on and off at will and still continue to walk around like the turncoats they are.
The true problem here is that this is the type of student that fills the seats of the McCarthey Center and week after week fails to show up. They have no sense of loyalty. This comes across in how they act before during and after the games as well.
Since camping out for seats became a trendy thing to do, at times I feel this a bigger deal than the game itself. Honestly though, you're going to probably get cut by some pretty cool baseball player— plus those goons in GSBA claim like, three rows. Can someone point out to me where in Gonzaga's constitution they get this right? And of course if you aren't buddy buddy with the Kennel Club, then head straight to the fourth row, dude.
These students worry more about being on TV or saving a seat for their friend instead of the game at hand. Just because the tickets are free does not mean that the students should think they are in anyway entitled to them (see GSBA point).
It is a privilege and an honor to let alone watch this team play, but to actually see them live and in person is well … let's just say the next best thing is walking up to the pearly gates.
While this letter will not fix these problems alone, I feel that something needs to get the ball moving. Hopefully one noble student will take up the charge and be the change that this University needs. Whether that be throwing red paint on anyone wearing University of Washington colors so be it.
The "We are Gonzaga," slogan is an empty marketing ploy unless students stand up to these cowards and say NOT TODAY. WE NEVER GRADUATE. WE ARE ALWAYS GONZAGA BULLDOGS ARF ARF ARF (DMX voice). n

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