Since the Crimson Tide had their 19-game winning streak stopped against South Carolina in October, students have been coming to home games in smaller and smaller numbers.

Saturday’s victory against Mississippi State had 1,770 student tickets go unused because they were left in the ticket donation pool, according to reports from the Student Government Association. This contrasts sharply with the Penn State game, where a season-high 2,301 students requested tickets from the donation pool but were unable to receive them.

“The past two home games have been disappointing in relation to student attendance,” said Stephen Swinson, vice president of student affairs. “The student section got off to such a great start in the beginning of the season. Students were arriving hours before kickoff and staying until the final whistle blew to join in with the Million Dollar Band to shout out ‘Rammer Jammer.’”

Swinson said more tickets have gone unused since the Florida game in early October.

“Along with this problem, students are leaving the stadium much earlier in the game,” he said.

SGA President James Fowler encouraged students to attend the last two games of the season.

“It should be every student’s goal to give back to our team these next two home games,” Fowler said. “Every student with a ticket should attend the game and arrive early, stay to the end and create an electric environment.”

He said the University is known for its support and sportsmanship. He asked the student body to come together no matter who the University plays or what the scoreboard says.

“One priority for the University is to ensure that fans are in the stands on game day,” he said. “We have the best student fans in the country, but if students do not use the tickets that are allocated for them, consideration for reallocation is inevitable. Crimson Tide fans are great supporters of our teams when we win and when we lose; our attendance should continue to reflect that positive attitude.”

Some students expressed disappointment in the lowered student interest in football.

“I think it’s ridiculous that students have the opportunity to attend games and don’t,” said Jessica Bucholz, a senior majoring in advertising. “I feel like a lot of our fans are fair-weather fans. Two years ago Auburn student tickets were being sold for two- and three-hundred dollars.”

Liz Laurie, a senior majoring in political science, said that the LSU loss was a key factor in the student support.

“I think with the Mississippi State game, we were coming off our LSU loss and everyone was not as willing to attend last weekend’s game,” Laurie said. “I think that when we play Auburn, there won’t be as many unused tickets because it is such a high-demand game. I don’t think the University is ever going to be able to control and monitor what students do with their tickets and how they go about getting rid of them.”

Graduate student Andy Musick said students should show their support for their team.

“To not show up to a game for this team is disgraceful,” Musick said. “We had an SEC opponent and couldn’t fill the student section. To me, there’s always this apparent battle between students wanting tickets and not getting enough…well show up.”

Swinson encourages students to attend Alabama’s first Thursday home game.

“Alabama will host its first Thursday night game ever in Bryant-Denny,” he said. “We have the opportunity to play a vital part in this historic occasion. Our role as a student body is to make Bryant-Denny the loudest stadium in the country. The team wants us there before they even arrive, and they want us to stay until the end to sing the fight song with them.

“We demand so much from them, the least we can do is return the favor”