USF doesn't have a football team, so there are not as many fans at USF when compared to other colleges, but there is an impressive alumni following, and the majority of the students enjoy going to the games with their friends when they can. Most students say they are too busy to regularly attend games, yet there is a huge amount of participation in the intramural sports program. USF students say that intramural sports are more fun and entertaining, and, overall, students are more inclined to play the sport than to watch it. Also, many students abandon the school sports and look to the professional teams in San Francisco and the Bay area, such as the 49ers, A’s, Giants, Raiders, Sharks, and Warriors, to fulfill their sports needs.
It is unfortunate that sports teams at USF have such a small following. There are a fair amount of athletes with amazing potential, but aside from these athletes and their friends, the majority of people you’ll see at Dons games are either alumni or fans of the opposing team. However, when a Dons team starts winning more games, word spreads like wildfire and creates many fair-weather fans—the Dons fan base doubles overnight. This is usually the case with the men’s basketball and women’s volleyball teams. The best thing for any newcomer to do is to check out at least one game at USF, and then decide if the whole Dons scene is your thing.