College athletics hold a special place in the hearts and minds of millions across the nation. They provide a greater connection to the fans than professional teams can ever offer. This is not because the games being played are any different or because the rivalries created are any more bitter. It is because professional teams are held together as a business, while collegiate sports are held together by institutional loyalty.

Not only do the institutions that inspire such loyalty serve as the environments where student athletes grow and develop as people, but they also allow local communities, alumni networks and student bodies to actively support the teams and schools they love and cherish.

At Iowa State, that community-wide love and excitement is nowhere more evident than in Hilton Coliseum. With record-breaking starts to both the men’s and women’s basketball programs this year, the Cyclones can certainly be proud of a long list of accomplishments.

Both teams started the year with 14-game winning streaks, including wins over our in-state rivals Northern Iowa and Iowa. Each team is tied for second in its conference, and the men remain undefeated at home this season.

For our women’s team, Jan. 15 will bring the West Virginia Mountaineers, a team whose season contains 13 consecutive wins, to Ames. With regard to the Cyclone men, No. 18 Kansas will be coming to campus Jan. 13.

Both games will have an advantage squarely in the Cyclones’ column, though, in that they will both be played under the magical lights of Hilton Coliseum. But just what makes our home court so special?

The design of the building itself is often touted as a major factor in creating the astounding noise level for which Iowa State is known. 

While structural engineering can certainly help create home court advantage, there is only so much that can be done without the appropriate fanbase. 

This is where the Cyclones receive their most important assist.

ISU fans are not involved in the practices our teams go through. We do not score points, play defense, or coach any players to victory. 

Even without doing these things, though, we can have a huge impact on how the Cyclones perform.

In basketball, that impact can show itself in strides. The closeness of the crowd and the intensity of its reaction allows fans to have a large impact during big games.

The next big game will be occurring for our men’s team at 8 p.m. tonight against Kansas. Fans will remember last year’s late loss to a No. 6 Kansas team, which went into overtime, breaking Iowa State’s 22-game winning streak at Hilton.

In all sports, spectators become invested and feel pride when their team does well. 

Those of us in Ames will be able to take an extra step not all fans can experience, though, and actually influence player performance with the noise we create.

With a long and difficult conference schedule ahead of our basketball teams, we should want to give as much help as possible this season. For the students, that means going to home games and being as loud as possible. As if we need encouragement to do that.