Go to a men’s soccer game this season, and spectators can see the various Gators’ sports teams scattered throughout the stands at Cox Stadium, peppering the fog-laden bleachers with purple and yellow T-shirts and uniforms.

The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee has started encouraging Gator Unity this year, a practice where all SF State athletic teams go to each other’s games and support their fellow athletes.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to come out and show our school spirit,” said Lisa Herrera, a junior on the women’s cross country team. “We always wear our cross country shirts, show our yellow and purple.”

The SAAC has been sending e-mails and passing out fliers to athletes to let them know when upcoming games are. Athletes are encouraged to not only cheer for their fellow SF State teams, but to also wear their school colors. “We get all suited up to come out here,” junior Curt Cosby from the baseball team said, sitting with teammates who were all in full baseball uniform.

“It puts pressure on them in a positive way,” Rachel Lauderdale, women’s soccer player and SAAC president, said of showing up to each other’s games.

Student athletes are also reminded during team practices to go to other sports’ games and cheer each other on.

“We try to remind the players at the end of practice of upcoming games,” softball head coach Cristina Byrne said. “But a lot of them know to go out anyways. The SAAC president does a great job of getting the word out about games.”

Getting the teams out to watch each other creates what Byrne calls a “family atmosphere.” Senior Jason Karbelk of the men’s cross country team said that Gator Unity makes athletes from different teams more aware of each other. “Before, we never talked to each other, but now we know each other better.”

Having the other teams out to watch each other is a “confidence builder,” senior and wrestler Marques Gales said.

“You play better when you know that your school is behind you,” said junior Derek Fletcher, men’s basketball player. “I figure if I show support, they’ll come support my team.”

There are complaints, however, that Gator Unity isn’t equally practiced with all of the teams.

“People will come out for the men’s games, and we go out to play right after and I turn around there’s only about 20 people in the stands,” women’s soccer player and SAAC Vice President Morgan Davison, said.
Davison, a senior, said that there are “always a couple from each team” that come out to watch the games, and although she would like to see more people come watch her team play, “you can’t make others want to support us.”

Wrestler Vince Bordi agrees that he would like to see more people come out to his team’s matches. “The more, the better,” he said.

Another problem with Gator Unity arises from not being able to attend other games on the road. Byrne admits that “travel-wise, it doesn’t work out as well.”

The student athletes still try to make it to all Gator home games, even in the middle of the day when they have classes. The times of games during the week can make it hard to attend, Fletcher said. “But if you have nothing going on during the day, go watch your friends.”