One by one they began filling the cold, wet and empty aluminum stands.  They had spent hours driving here from places like North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. 

Soon, it was 1 p.m. and the announcer came on to welcome the crowd to the game. More people came in; more in black and gold. 

The wind started to pick up, making it feel a lot colder than what it really was, but that didn’t deter this crowd. 

They were here to see some football, and football was what they were going to get.  

It was 1:30 p.m.—game time.  The visitor side crowd had now grown to around 100 people, consisting mostly of families of the players, but there were also some students and alumni. 

The crowd stood, cheering “ASU, ASU, ASU,” as the football team came running across the field to the visitor’s side. 

These few and proud had come all the way to Eastern Kentucky this past Saturday to see their Mountaineers play some ball. 

They are the ASU football fans. 

Most people who attend ASU football games go when the team plays at home.  Few make the long road trips to see them play. 

It’s those die-hard fans that follow the team around and provide the constant support that is so vital for them on the road. 

ASU’s football fans come in all types, including parents, alumni, students, members of the community and so on. But it’s the parents of the players that will never miss a game. 

Lee and Latrelle Sowell of Atlanta, Ga., whose son is lineman Jason Sowell, have been ASU football fans for several years now. 

Lee Sowell’s uncle is a retired professor from ASU, and he has always heard about ASU’s football team through his uncle. 

Once the Sowell’s son started playing for ASU, they began to take on an even greater interest. 

“Jason has played since he was five years old, and we’ve never missed a game,” Latrelle Sowell said. 

The Sowells weren’t the only parents at Saturday’s game. Robert and Kathy Allen of Mt. Airy made the trip, as well, to see their son, special teams player Wes Allen. 

The Allens, too, said they have never missed a game their son played in and try to support him as much as possible. 

“We just love to watch them, and it makes a big difference when your son is out on the field,” Kathy Allen said. 

Making these long road trips takes more than just buying a ticket to the game. Most away games require fans to stay in a hotel, as well as pay for food and gas for the car. 

ASU football fans who make these long road trips say they all have the same motivation—supporting the team. 

“The more support they get, the better they play. Whether they’re winning or they’re losing, we’ll be there,” Sowell said. 

The Allens and the Sowells both agree that the support of fans plays a tremendous role in the way the football team plays. 

Sowell said the players talk about how it would be a huge boost for them if fans would pack the stadium at home games. 

“Fans help tremendously. I would love to see a big turnout, especially with the students at ASU for home games,” Sowell said. 

At Saturday’s game, only around 5,000 people showed up in a stadium that looked to seat 20,000.  Robert Allen feels that no matter where ASU is playing, there is always room for more fans. 

“You can never have too many home fans at an away game,” Allen said. 

Even though football is the largest crowd-drawing sport at ASU, Sowell feels that people should come out and see all sports. 

She said it’s not only to support them, but because they work hard year-round to represent ASU. 

”They’re playing for ASU.  It’s not that they’re playing as individuals, but it’s for ASU,” Sowell said. 

And it is for ASU. 

Athletics represent ASU just as much as academics. Football games allow people to come out and show their school spirit—that they’re proud to be a part of ASU. 

With ASU football (9-1) having their best season since they went undefeated in 1995, students and fans in general should have something to be proud of and get excited about.