Last season head coach Bob Stoops called out the fans before heading into the heavily-touted matchup against the then No. 2 Texas Tech Red Raiders, and the fans responded so well that Stoops gave them the game ball.

Fans cheered so loud they were left with hoarse voices for the next few days, and many have called that game the best college football game they have ever attended.

I too an easily say of all of the games I’ve attended as a student, that game was my greatest college football experience.

But since that game, fan participation, especially from the student section, has been a letdown.

There seems to be no energy coming from that section, and it’s frustrating to consistently see the student section to be the last section to fill up before a game and the first section to clear out at the start of the second half.

Granted the Sooners have not given the students a lot to cheer about this season, but that is no excuse for their poor support.

It’s understandable that few fans stayed for the entirety of the Idaho State and Tulsa blowouts, but leaving early during a game against a Big 12 foe shows a lack of fandom.

Baylor was the return of Heisman-winner Sam Bradford, and it was a one-possession game at the half. A lot of people left early.

Kansas State was an exciting back and forth battle, but few students were there to see it.

Saturday’s lack of support during the dismantling of Texas A&M is somewhat excusable because of OU’s record and the halftime score, but this was a game where it would have been nice to see some more support.

I understand students have other things to do on game day, like attend a Halloween party or take part in fraternity/sorority events, but the point of a football game is to root for the team rather than treat it like social event.

Unless the students start doing their job by showing up and staying for games rather than bailing out by halftime, they could, and probably should, lose their seats.

It is a plausible solution for the OU ticket office to cut back on the amount of student tickets it gives out next season, so students shouldn’t give it a reason to cut back.

The only remaining home game this season is in two weeks against the Oklahoma State Cowboys, and hopefully the combination of the game being played the morning of the Saturday following Thanksgiving does not drive students away.

I don’t think there should be a problem with filling up the section because the Sooners are playing OSU, but the students shouldn’t leave anything to chance.

That game, combined with student attendance from prior games, may determine how many student tickets the OU ticket office gives out next season, so make sure you’re there early and stay for the entire game.