Written by Valerie Edwards
Elizabeth City State University takes pride in everything students do, from academics to athletics. Students rage in the audience with chants, school colors, face paintings, and cheers to the athletes on the field or court. The University's athletic department is well-respected, and many faculty and staff dedicate their time to ensure wonderful and eventful seasons for both the audience and the athletes. Parents and other family members come from all over the United States just to see their son/daughter play in a game.
During the regular season, the stands are usually packed, but during Homecoming, seat availability is even scarcer. Athletes are well-respected at the University, and they have to meet certain requirements academically in order to play in a game. Coaches are helpful by providing their athletes with a study hall session, and strict by requiring them to be at every practice—morning, evening, night, and weekends. Every game brings on new excitement, pumping up the audience to cheer the team on toward victory. Even when the team loses, the crowd's emotion for the athletes can be felt throughout the stadium or gym. Not matter the type of sport, spectators get invested. Intramurals are very popular for students who don't want to play at a collegiate level. Amazingly, almost the same number of students attend intramural games as they do the collegiate games, and that is a huge number for both intramural and varsity sports.