Well, that weekend sucked.

Iowa State lost every game it played over the weekend. Not only is that disheartening, but it ruins the timeliness of this column.

But despite going 0-for-the-weekend, ISU athletics are – wait for it – actually pretty good.

There seems to be such a negative attitude around campus and Ames because of the woes of our beloved football team this season. Although I will admit that having a top-tier football team adds a certain pizzazz to being a sports fan at a Division I university, supporters at Iowa State need to realize something – Iowa State has good teams.

I love the football team and this isn’t a knock on it, but fans must be informed that there is more Iowa State has to offer for sports junkies or even the casual fan.

The rest of the fall sports are off to great – if somewhat surprising – starts this season, but too many people are missing out.

Take the ISU soccer team. Last year’s team won just six games all season and only two in the Big 12. Already this season they have matched both those totals, including a win over No. 16 Oklahoma State. In fact, the soccer team hasn’t lost to a ranked team this year. A week after the OSU win, they played No. 2 Texas to a 1-1 draw – a little more competitive than 56-3.

But despite this impressive start, the team is only drawing an average of 418 fans at home games.

The volleyball team has been one of the most successful programs at Iowa State over the past few seasons, going 48-34 since 2005. After reaching the second round the NCAA Tournament last year, the Cyclones are off to another solid start. Sitting at 11-8, Christy Johnson’s women already have wins over two ranked teams this season and, last week, became just the second team all season to push No. 1 Nebraska beyond 30 points.

Despite this impressive start, the team is only drawing an average of 1,114 fans at home games.

Cross country is excelling under coach Corey Ihmels. The men’s team is ranked 23rd in the country and the women’s team isn’t far behind, currently ninth in the Midwest Region. Unfortunately for the continuity of my argument, you can’t really score wins and loses in a sport like cross country, but the Cyclone runners have made strong showings at all their meets, including the Roy Griak Invitational in Minnesota, which draws top teams from around the country.

But despite this impressive start, the teams are only drawing . well, there really isn’t attendance at cross country meets, you just kind of show up and walk around the course, but far fewer fans than our floundering football team.

After running the numbers, my journalist math skills show that those three teams have only drawn a total of 8,082 fans, students and nonstudents, this season (I didn’t count any for cross country, in case you are doing the math at home), or, roughly the size of the student section at one football game.

You have got to be kidding me.

These teams deserve a heck of a lot more support from the student body and Cyclone Nation in general. No more cherry-picking which teams to support.

School spirit is so much more than just jumping on the bandwagon when the football or men’s basketball team is doing good – or in Iowa State’s case, the wrestling team and women’s basketball. It is about rooting for all the teams, regardless of current or even past success.

I know what you are thinking, because if I’m not careful I find myself thinking the same thing. You are saying to yourself, “But Nick, I don’t want to go watch a bad team play.”

Well first of all, the teams aren’t bad this year, but more importantly, you know what makes teams better? Unwavering fan support.

So ISU fans, I challenge you to go out and support your Cyclones. No matter what sport you choose to cheer on, you won’t be disappointed.

I promise.

– Nick Paulson is a senior in journalism and mass communication and political science from Minnetonka, Minn.