As long as both men and women have been playing sports, there has been a stigma that men’s sports are more interesting or entertaining to follow than women’s.

That is definitely evident in attendance for women’s college basketball. Across the country — even at the women’s basketball juggernaut of Connecticut — students in particular don’t show up in droves like they do for men’s games.

And honestly, that’s a shame.

“I think it’s a nationwide phenomenon that students don’t go to women’s games,” said ISU coach Bill Fennelly. “It’s just one of those things in life. Death, taxes and students don’t go to women’s games. I think every marketing thing I’ve been to, there’s something on the agenda, ‘How do you get people to go to women’s games?’ And no one’s figured that out.”

There’s no doubting that the men’s games are exciting, and that Hilton Magic in particular was formed around their games. But while Iowa State’s women’s team has one of the best fan followings in the nation, the majority of those fans are not in Cyclone Alley.

The student organization’s mission statement reads, in part, that the goal is “to come together as a group of students to create a spirited and positive atmosphere at the men’s and women’s basketball games of Iowa State University.”

They do that, and most often do it well, through promotions and giveaways.

Yet, students don’t fill the seats with regularity. There is a group of dedicated students that come to every women’s game, and they cheer their hearts out. It’s getting the other, larger group of students to come with.

I just think they’re missing out. A lot of students come from places where the women’s team they watched at their high school was seen as either boring or just a worse overall product. 

“The game is different,” Fennelly said. “A lot of students come to Iowa State and say, ‘My high school girls’ team was terrible.’ So sometimes we’ve got to get them here.”

What bothers me is that even with that assumption — one Cyclone women’s fans would say is inaccurate — students won’t come watch a winner. Ever since Fennelly came to Iowa State, his teams have been winners. The man has won more than 500 games, for crying out loud.

Fennelly’s Cyclones have compiled a 338-150 record since the 1995-1996 season, reaching the NCAA tournament 11 times. In that span, the men’s team has gone 275-221 while reaching the tournament five times.

I hear Cyclone fans complain a lot that there is either a culture of losing at Iowa State, or that the sports don’t win anything. It’s just not true. The women’s team is consistently good every year, and if students really want to root for a winning team, why not Kelsey Bolte and Co.?

As for the product itself, and whether or not it’s boring, I find it hard to believe someone would be bored at an ISU women’s game.

Basketball fans usually love a fast-paced game with high scores and efficient players. Well, that’s what you get with Fennelly-coached teams. They also shoot a truckload of 3-pointers. The only thing at a basketball game that gets a crowd more excited than a made 3-pointer is a thunderous dunk — which you won’t see at Hilton unless Brittney Griner is in town.

It’s just different. Those who have never gone need to remember that different doesn’t necessarily mean worse, especially in this case.

If you go to Iowa State or have ever followed Iowa State, you know who Fennelly is. You know he’s enthusiastic and has had success, and that he’s one of the most important coaches to any program in ISU history.

But you don’t really get to see him in his element until you watch him coach. He puts his heart and soul into his craft, and it shows.

In the end, these are only words. My case to attend probably won’t move many students to start going to games or following them closely, because, like Fennelly said, that’s just the culture.

Those sitting at home just don’t know what they’re missing.