On Friday night, the stands are packed with orange and black as students are trying their hardest to push their way up to the front to watch the football game.

The previous Wednesday a small crowd of parents, significant others and close friends dot the stands– the same stands that will be packed on Friday– to watch the field hockey game.

Field hockey represents one of many under-attended sports at EHS. Students manage to fill up the stands of football games, but disregard opportunities to see any other sport play.

“We always see students at basketball and football games but never really anything else,” Student Council President and senior Mary Webb said. “People that play other sports… aren’t getting the respect and recognition they deserve.”

Pinpointing why students prefer football or basketball games over any other sport is challenging. The idea that these games are a widely recognized school tradition could contribute to their popularity.

“I think a leading factor in [high attendance at football games] is that a lot of people go to those events already,” junior Grant Berkbigler said. “So they know they will be a part of a large fan section.”

Not only do football games fill up the stands so fast that students are guaranteed a fan section, but they are an entire evening event instead of just a few hours.

“I feel like most students attend more football and basketball games than they do any other sport… because they are more talked about and there is more at a football game than just football,” sophomore Kailea Garvey said.

Garvey pointed out that football games also include the Tiger Prowl beforehand and the halftime show in the middle. Some clubs host activities such as tailgates or giveaways before games as well, giving students even more motivation to go to football games.

The same incentives could work to draw students to non-football games. Student Council started the Tiger Tour three years ago to diminish the problem. Through this event StuCo invites students to join an organized fan section at different athletic events.

In the past, the Tiger Tour has followed the girl’s basketball team to an away game and had people attend swimming and track events.

“I think that students feeling worthy of recognition from the student body take a whole new level of confidence,” Webb said. “Which is something that could really change people’s perspectives about the school.”

Many sports are better publicizing their games to the student body, senior Austin Ruesch said. Such advertising can be crucial in helping a sport gain popularity. The more athletes tell their friends about events, and the more the word spreads, the better a fan section can be.

“If a large group of students starts attending other games, then it will become the norm,” Garvey said.

She thinks that the school could gain a better attitude and connection if more students took part in athletic events. If students supported more sports, the players would

be motivated to play better, which would draw people to come see the sport more often.

“I think [better support] is important because no one sport is better than the others,” Berkbigler said. “They all require a great deal of skill and practice and I think it’s to be respected.”

Garvey, Berkbigler and Webb all agree that better support of sports could lead to an improved school community because of the mutual respect between athletes and fans.

“It’s very important to support other sports,” Ruesch said. “We are all Tigers.”