Ah, the C-Unit. What was once a merry band of
maybe six kids has turned, in a little under a decade, into a force of nature. Of they myriad of reasons why the Buffs enjoy one of the nation's best home court advantages, their presence is certainly near the top. It's largely hyperbole, but they can often be the difference between winning and losing. (I'm sure Arizona would rather not have to drive into their face on a last-second possession ever again.)
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| Welcome to Boulder. From: the CU Independent. |
In an attempt to defend last year's designation as a "Student Section of the Year" finalist, they've been
pushing for votes in this year's contest. If you're so moved, you can vote for them
here.
That's all well and good, and I'm proud of how far the group has come since their humble beginnings. The crew running the show deserves all the praise they have received from the mainstream media (even some more). However, unlike last year when I voted for them on multiple occasions, I will not be casting a ballot for the C-Unit in this year's Student Section of the Year competition. The fact of the matter is, they haven't earned it.
Sure, the core of the group, built around the
famous 50 who traveled to LA last March, is as loud and active as ever. Their use of the Big Heads has only improved with experience, and the first 10-or-so rows in the student section are legit and engaged. From a larger standpoint, the packed student section for the CSU game was one of the more impressive sights I've ever seen (the roar at tip-off will stay with me until the day I die).
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| Students, on students, on students. From: the BDC |
There's no doubt that the C-Unit is quite good, and
has the potential to be the best in the country.
The problem is consistency. Sometimes they just forget to show up to games. Against UCLA, one of the biggest home games of the year, the section was
half-filled (at best). Against Cal, a crucial conference test, that number ticked up to
maybe
2/3rds full. That's just
not acceptable, not when compared to what the
students have been doing the last few years.
"Oh, but the slopes just got some snow!" "The X-Games are in town!"
"It's the Saturday before classes start up, and I don't want to be on
campus yet!" "It's cold outside!" These are but a sample of the
excuses I've heard as to why the student section has been sporadically
filled outside of two games this season (CSU and Stanford). (My eye-rolling response is
implied)
Excuses are fine, and no one is saying that the C-Unit
isn't a
good student section. But, as the old adage says, "90% of life
is showing up." Attendance is what separates the best from the rest,
and the C-Unit has let themselves down this season.
You want my vote? You think I'm full of shit, and don't know what I'm talking about? Fine, prove me wrong and fill up sections 13-17. Not just when it's convenient, but
EVERY DAMN GAME! It's not as if the team doesn't deserve it. I know that 3,000+ are going to be there for Arizona in a fortnight, but what about ASU on the 16th? Can anyone in the lead C-Unit group honestly tell me they think they'll have a full section that day? ("
The slopes beckon, brah..." *bong hit*)
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| The team needs this rowdy setting every night. From: the BDC |
That ASU game may end up being just as important, if not more, then the 'Zona tilt for CU's final standing. If you bother to show up on the 14th, then there's no reason not to show up the following Saturday. We need you,
GET YOUR ASS TO THE STADIUM!
The C-Unit has set a pretty high standard over the last two season, now they just have to learn to continue to live up to it...
