Although it is considered the best team in the country, the Long Beach State women's volleyball team has not been doing it alone this season.
They will be the first to admit it.
While they have been doing their part on the court, this year the 49ers have been backed by average crowds of better than 1,700 at The Pyramid.
Among the faithful in the stands are, of course, alumni, students and parents. But the group that stands out most are the folks which sit in the large bleacher section of the 'Mid night in and night out.
You don't have to be an expert on "who's who at Long Beach State" to recognize these hooligans. They are a giant group of LBSU athletes led by the menÕs volleyball team Ñ and the element they add is one that gives the 49ers a true home court advantage.
"I just want to say that I love the Long Beach State men's volleyball team," 49er outside hitter Jenn Snyder bellowed. "The support they give us is unbelievable. They're the best."
The coach is in on it, too. After nearly every home game this season, 49er Head Coach Brain Gimmillaro makes it a point to emphasize his appreciation of the home crowd.
The men's squad definitely made its presence felt during Saturday nightÕs second round NCAA Tournament match against Loyola Marymount.
Not being held back by an NCAA neutrality rule (the first three rows were blocked off so opposing players wouldn't be too distracted when the fans insult their mothers), the crazies pulled no punches. They helped energize both the 49ers and a large Pyramid crowd.
The crowd was larger than the attendance numbers showed, I might add. If the 'Mid holds 5,000, there had to be at least 4,000 seats filled -- At least. It had to be one of the largest crowds the building has ever had -- which was outstanding, considering students had to pay for tickets.
The announced attendance was 2,920, which unfortunately proves that the people who count the tickets at The Pyramid are the same people who believe that the human hand has six fingers.
The hooligans really got going when LBSU President Robert Maxson paid them a visit in between games to chants of, "MAXSON, MAXSON!"
Stop me if I'm wrong, but I think I saw him raise the roof once or twice before leaving.
What followed were constant taunts and harassment from the stands to the LMU squad. Some of my personal favorites:
The fact that the first thing the 49ers did after winning the match was trot over to the men's volleyball team and slap fives probably doesn't mean they endorse their behavior (although I'm betting they do).
But, it was a class act nonetheless.
Mike Besack is a staff writer for the Daily Forty-Niner. His column appears on Tuesdays and Thursdays.