For the last four years, I have called myself a proud member of Black Bear nation. When I stepped onto the University of Maine campus in the fall of 2009, I was instantly embedded into the culture, especially the athletics.

Being a New Hampshire native, I licked my chops at any chance I could get to stuff any victory in the faces of my friends attending the University of New Hampshire. I found myself getting distracted in a lot of my classes, checking the athletics website for updates on all the Black Bear teams, players and events of personal relevance.

This year, I was lucky enough to take on a sports writing position at The Maine Campus, allowing me to attend a lot of UMaine sporting events and get to know a lot of the players. My time and work with this publication has reinforced one ideal that has stuck with me since September of 2009: I am proud to be a Black Bear.

However, I noticed that a fair amount of students choose not to show their admiration and appreciation for these teams like I do. This is a growing concern that most assuredly needs to be addressed by faculty or staff.

It is understandable why students do not wish to leave the toasty bungalows they call dorm rooms or apartments during with the dreary weather that Orono endures for much of the year, but it has become evident that your sports teams need your assistance.

I covered women’s basketball over the winter, and I can say that you will not meet a better or more polite group of ladies in the state or even in the region. These girls played their hearts out every night, but the results did not meet their expectations or effort. Their play was not necessarily where they wanted it to be, but something else was missing besides what was transpiring on the court.

That missing link was the fans.

A solid fan base can provide that presence and extra energy that a team needs to push them over the edge and will them to victory. While there was a steady group of students on hand for home games at the Alfond, the stands were usually quite scarce — other than players’ families or locals who come to catch the closest thing they have to a professional sports team.

The women were not the only ones lacking in overwhelming support. Both hockey teams have seen their lines for student tickets dwindle during my four years here, and the men’s basketball team was only able to get a near sellout crowd when fans were offered a chance at dozens of prizes for showing up to a game. Most recently, the baseball team has won nine of its last 10 contests and sits atop America East, but not many students are aware because the games are only swarmed with local youth and a handful of die-hards.

In no way, shape or form am I saying we are all bad fans, but turn on a Duke basketball game or a Notre Dame football game and watch for even just a minute. These teams’ arenas and stadiums are jammed with students who love their teams, and those teams show their appreciation for that support by winning games and making the fans proud of who represents them.

What we see at these games can easily be duplicated here at UMaine. We have some great sports venues on this campus that give our teams a favorable advantage, but filling the venues with fans could make for an unstoppable and powerful force. The Shawn Walsh years at the Alfond are just one example that proves there is potential here for something glorious still.

The University is doing its part to provide talented teams, and they are now taking the initiative to renovate the Alfond and Memorial Gym to help accommodate their players and you, the fans. They are investing this money because they also believe that there is a lot of untapped greatness that could be uncovered if the right measures are taken.

Whether you are graduating or winding down your first year here at UMaine, I urge you to get out there and support your Black Bear athletic teams. These athletes are representing you and giving you 100 percent every time they touch their respective field of play. The least you can do is return the favor by showing them that they are loved and appreciated for their efforts; show up to games and get behind them.

As I mentioned in the opening, I am and always will be a proud member of Black Bear nation. If I am not alone in this family, then prove it to me by making your presence known and helping these teams get back to the hierarchy of their respective sports by showing up for them and loving them as much as they love you.