That's What I'm Talking About!

Thursday night was a very exciting time down in the House of Blues.

Credit for unofficial nickname for ETBU's Ornelas Gym, I think, goes to former Lady Tiger volleyball coach Suzanne Wingrove. Suzanne brought an attitude to our volleyball program back in 2001 along with an ability to recruit really, really well. In one year, back in 2001, she led a transformation of ETBU's volleyball program from a middle-of-the-road outfit to a conference champion, literally overnight. The program has just continued to build tradition since then, including the march of the 2008 club.

That bunch finally got to play a home game Thursday night in the House, and it was one of the best atmospheres I've been around going on nine years here at ETBU. We of course earned the distinction in 2007 as the No. 1 team in the nation in terms of attendance average at our volleyball games. I will be the first to admit that setting attendance is an inexact science. We don't charge admission to our volleyball games, so we can't count tickets. It's pretty much an eyeball process.

According to our facilities director, Mr. Randy Pringle, one middle section of Ornelas Gym -- from floor bleachers, to chairback mezzanine to upper bleachers -- can hold 700 people. There's two sides, of course, in the gym, so technically if those sides are full that's 1,400 people. Considering capacity in the gym is 1,700 thereabouts, that's a pretty even gauge when we have to compute attendance.

Using this as a guideline, that's how we determine our attendance at volleyball, basketball and soccer games. Like I said, it's an eyeball process, but there is a method to it most of the time. By the formula above, there were well over 700 people in the gym last night because the far side of the House was nearly full. And there was a pretty good crowd behind us at the scorer's table, so... who knows, there might actually have been well over the "estimated" 732 as posted on the final box score.

All that to say this -- having people in the gym at ETBU really creates an atmosphere that has been lacking in some years, and it was really, really nice. I have the opportunity to travel with some our teams on occasion, and the ASC -- and probably D-III in general -- is really underrated in terms of genuine game-type atmosphere. We have great fans and great programs in this league, and ETBU's facility for indoor sports is one of the best around.

When it is rocking like it was Thursday night for volleyball, it can be one of the toughest places to play. Volleyball in and of itself is made for emotion and momentum, and as Coach Mashe mentioned this week, having a big, loud crowd behind you in a match really, really does make a difference. The Lady Tigers were going full-bore last night, diving for balls and giving maximum effort on every point. And when things went our way -- and sometimes not -- the House of Blues responded in loud fashion.

It was a great start to what we hope is a fun year in all of our athletics programs. It's a college atmosphere. Obviously winning helps to generate excitement but I think the biggest thing in the building last night was that -- finally -- we had a team playing in front of us. Since the start of school nearly a month ago, we'd had exactly two games played at home -- both women's soccer, and both on back-to-back nights at the very end of August -- so it kind of felt like nothing was going on.

Remember the "phony war" phase at the beginning of World War II? It was kind of like a "phony" fall athletic season around here for awhile.

But the Lady Tigers helped usher us back to competition Thursday night. And Tiger football will get to unveil itself before the home fans Saturday...morning? That's going to be nice, the 11 a.m. kickoff.

And don't forget that soccer will be back in town next week, with a rescheduled men's game on Tuesday night followed by back-to-back conference matchups for the men and women next weekend.

Also...cross country's season will officially begin Saturday, with a meet up at Southern Arkansas in the morning.

Athletics is picking up steam at ETBU. That's what I'm talking about.