Jeff Lund

The Sears Trophy standings say Arizona has a Top 10 athletic program. However, I would have to say the fan support is nowhere near that of the nation's elite.

Sure, McKale is sold out, and students have no problem putting their lives and reproductive organs at risk to get their hands on some tickets, but Tucsonans don't know how to go above and beyond the call of duty, like the athletes do to bring the fans the success they enjoy.

I understand how students can be passionate about a team, especially a good one, but I don't understand how anyone can be half a fan. Or call themselves fans when they cheer for selective sports.

A fan is a fan ÷ there is no halfway about it.

In wins and losses, through the trash-talking, a fan is willing to stand by his or her team and defend it.

You can't call yourself an Arizona fan when you only come around once in a while to the games the team might win, or during successful seasons.

It was funny ÷ well, not really, more sad than anything ÷ that as the possibility of upsetting Washington State started to slip out of the hands of the Wildcats late in the game, fans started calling for senior quarterback Jason Johnson's head.

When he completed passes, he was God. When he fumbled or was sacked, all of a sudden there were dozens of random dudes in the student section that could do so much better.

There were guys ignoring their girlfriends so that they could give coaching tips, or yell obscenities at whatever player was the target of the moment.

John Mackovic was being called worse names than Dick Tomey; others were claiming they wanted Tomey back.

Even Bobby Wade was catching flack.

Maybe if jackass number one would suit up in Johnson's helmet and face frequent blitzes, he would see why Johnson was running for his life half the time.

So yes, the team is losing and it is easy to get down on the team rather than lift up the team, and with each loss an already lackluster fan following gets smaller and smaller.

But how can you be a good fan when you're only around half the time?

From 1991-1993, Oregon averaged 37,338 fans per home game, for a team that went 14-20 during that three-year span.

Considering that at that time, Autzen Stadium held a little over 41,000, that is impressive. That is why the fans nowadays are so crazy. They have been with the Ducks through it all. Last season, before the renovations, Autzen was visited by 45,926 fans per home game. Yeah, that's right, 45,926 fans in a stadium that holds 41,698, or 110.1 percent of its capacity.

So all of you "fans" who say there is nothing to cheer for and that the team doesn't deserve the support, I say you might want to reconsider your loyalties.

Unless you don't mind never seeing Bobby, Lance Briggs and Johnson in uniform again. After all the memories over the last four years ÷ the returned punts, crushing hits, and 300+ -yard passing games ÷ if you can just turn your back, then that's your choice.

Last season, Arizona regularly filled Arizona Stadium to 79 percent of its capacity, though the team has been slightly less than .500 since 1999.

Even Oregon State, which was 5-6, drew 36,412 per game last season. Doesn't sound like much, until you figure that the Reser Stadium seats 35,362.

Maybe it's something about Oregon that gets their fans to go crazy about everything.

You don't see any UA boosters putting Jason Gardner or Luke Walton on the side of a building in New York to promote the program, and you sure as hell won't have any UA football promotions other than the billboards begging people to buy tickets.

Maybe the Tucson fans are more conservative and don't feel the need to flaunt the team.

Many certainly don't feel the need to really pay attention before or after the football games.

Even during the games, many words spoken are used to curse the football team.

Maybe the problem is tradition, though Arizona's football team has been around since 1899. Through its tenure in the Border conference, a stint in the WAC, and now the Pacific 10 Conference, 103 years, 98 seasons, 531 wins, 13 bowl games öö six since 1990 ÷ and the Desert Swarm defense, the loudest fans on Arizona's own University Boulevard on the day of a game against a Top 10 opponent were the Washington State fans at Gentle Ben's Brewing Co. singing their school song.

Sad.