Demanding more from the Tommie faithful

St. Thomas has the worst fans in the MIAC. It's the worst kept secret in Minnesota. The Tommies have the largest enrollment, the most local graduates and the only undefeated Division III team in the nation...but the fans don't seem to care. At least Friday's game against Aurora is almost sold out.

Really? What else does this team have to do to earn a devoted following? St. Thomas has won four straight conference titles, including a record-setting performance this season. It's cheap entertainment and they play the game the right way. But are the Tommies winning in spite of the lazy crowd? Consider the following numbers.

Overall record from 2005-09
97-15

Home record from 2005-09
50-5

Home record in national tournament from 2005-09
1-2

The competition level is always raised in the postseason and the crowd participation needs to follow suit. I recall a Sweet 16 game back in 2001-02 where our crowd started the classic "This is our house" chant on the road. From the hallway. In the final 30 seconds of a tight game before ours even started. How did the other team's fans respond? They'd printed off a couple hundred sketchy mug shot of a teammate and chanted "Stalker" at him every time he touched the ball. March Madness, right?

(Full disclosure: We lost the game and the bus ride home in a blizzard was the worst thing ever...but the atmosphere at the gym was unreal.)

Is this the year the Tommies finally emerge as a serious title contender? Can they finally clear that hurdle? Perhaps more importantly, will the stands be packed with those who actually want to be there? While they deserve a true home court advantage, it's not hard to imagine things remaining status quo.

The front row across from the visitor's bench will be filled by good-looking coeds in extremely short jean skirts, apparently convinced that Minnesota's winter is over. They'll be wearing ridiculous boots with the fur, playing with their hair and paying more attention to their phones than anything that takes place right in front of them on the court.

To their immediate left will be a group of fellas who do their best to make up for the rest of the crowd. Sure, they fake bake more than the grandma in There's Something About Mary and they may or may not be on ARod's workout regiment...but they bring the noise. Shirts are also optional, though Brady Ervin is bound to create an inferiority complex any time he's in the area.

Behind the Tommie bench is a group of, well, let's say St. Thomas veterans. They've religiously said their Hail Marys for decades, but complain when "Hail Mary" comes on during warmups. Fritz and his team have never done anything wrong in their eyes — and woe be to the ref who disagrees. They'll speak their minds, even if it means yelling at opposing players or coaches.

The section across from the St. Thomas bench is a study in diversity. With four African-Americans in the rotation — the most in the MIAC — the appeal is obvious. They watch the game intently, waiting for the chance to start woofing at opponents. With Al McCoy as the fan favorite, it makes for good theatre.

The rest of the crowd is typically filled with frosted tips, popped collars and trendy ripped jeans. As a devoted wearer of t-shirts and sweatpants, the scene tends to make me more than a little sick.

But some important changes could be on tap this year. With Schoenecker's swan song imminent, perhaps the fans will finally show they care. Perhaps they'll create signs, do a little dance and storm the court. Perhaps the Tommies will even defend their home court all the way to Salem.

It's a pleasent fantasy, right?