If a tree falls in the forest and there’s no one there to hear it, does it make a sound?This seemingly simple question has puzzled mankind for ages. Maybe moving the setting to a more familiar locale will make the answer more apparent.

If a basketball swishes through the net at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum, and there are no fans in the seats, does it really make a sound?

You bet. There are 12 guys dressed in purple and white on the TCU sideline who live for that very sound, and dishearteningly, live to play the game in front of meager, unenthusiastic crowds.

I have seen seminars on the merits of rust-proofing turbine engines more densely attended than most TCU men’s basketball games. But why is that? Maybe not enough people are aware of how fun the games really are.

I have never considered myself a fan of basketball, let alone college hoops, until I came to TCU. I originally went down to the coliseum one Saturday afternoon to pick up some tickets to the Texas Tech game so I could heckle Bobby Knight. In doing so, I hoped to send the ol’ ball coach into a violent rage, causing him to tackle me and forcing him to pony up some serious “hush money” so I wouldn’t press charges.

Seeing that a game was currently in progress, my friend and I decided to sit and watch. While originally vowing to stay only a couple of minutes, lest we miss our football tailgate, we were soon pulled into an exciting battle of wills that ultimately resulted in a double-overtime victory over UT Arlington. Every game I’ve been to since then has been amazing. Be it crawling back from a double-digit deficit in a close loss to a heavily favored Texas Tech team or throwing my hands up and cheering as the Frogs knocked down a last-second shot to beat Tulane.

Besides the intense competition on the court, there is still plenty to keep you interested at the game. Focus on such things as the basketball band hurling insults at the opposing players, the well-choreographed dances of the TCU Showgirls or the peppy antics of the cheerleaders.

Also, don’t forget that SuperFrog, the greatest mascot of all time, attends every game. If you’re bored, stand in awe of his magical power to make you smile. He could steal the credit card numbers of everyone in the coliseum, but if he gazed at the audience with that look of utter bliss on his face, everyone would be hypnotically forced to smile and applaud. No matter what violation of civil rights or good sense he could think up, people would still love him to death. The Bush administration could use a guy like SuperFrog.

I understand the general sentiment around campus is that the men’s team isn’t good, given its 6-25 finish last season. However, in a little less than a year, this team has grown from Mountain West whipping boy to a corps of glass-eating, motor-oil-drinking studs.

Take a look at the numbers. At the de facto halfway point of this season, the Frogs already have four more wins than they did all of last season. Plus, they’re off to a 2-1 start in the conference.

Same old song and dance as last year? I think not.

Basketball is all about momentum, and nothing gets those guys pumped up like a building full of screaming fans. Do you think Duke or North Carolina would be as good if they played in front of an empty house? The crowd is the most important player in the building. Players live or die by the support of the so-called “sixth man.” It is time for us to make a difference. There’s a home game versus Colorado State tonight at 7 p.m. I’ll see you there.

David Hall is a freshman news-editorial journalism major from Kingwood.