Viewers who don’t know much about sporting events may not think that home-field advantage is a valuable upper hand. However, fans, players, and especially Cutter Gauthier know how much influence fans have on the outcome of an event.
This past Saturday, the 11th of January, former Philadelphia Flyer, Cutter Gauthier came to town for the first time since requesting a trade to Anaheim before even dawning Flyers jersey. To put it simply, it was loud. From the second he stepped out on the ice, to the last moments of the third period, boos and taunts rained down on him.
Wells Fargo Center was the loudest I’ve ever experienced, and I’ve been to countless games. Consequently, the Flyers excelled and scored 6 times while shutting out the Anaheim Ducks for a 6-0 finish. Jamie Drysdale, the product of the Cutter Gauthier trade, was praised heavily during the game as the fans tried to get under the skin of the young Anaheim Duck.
“It was pretty special…brings so much energy to, you know, myself and the whole team… unbelievable fans and they were rocking tonight,” Drysdale describes.
This may jog a very specific and very fond memory for Philadelphia fans- Spencer Strider. Strider nothing short of imploded in the 2022 MLB playoffs, sparking a feud between the pitcher and the entirety of Philadelphia. Although the Phillies advanced to the World Series, Strider did not forget about the volume of “Red October”. In what seemed to be a harmless TikTok interview a year later, Strider commented that the best thing about playing for the Atlanta Braves in 2020 was no audience.
“Get rid of the fans, they’re too loud,” Strider stated.
Maybe it was the roar of the crowd as Rhys Hoskins destroyed the Brave’s playoff chances with a 3-run home run that made his ears sensitive. Although it was later confirmed to be a sarcastic joke, there is some truth to the matter, and Phillies fans saw that as an open door. To keep it short and sweet, Phillies fans definitely have their calendar circled whenever the Braves come to town.
Similar to “Red October”, Penn State is known for the incredibly intimidating environment created by students, alumni, and fans when it comes time for whiteout. This year, Penn State whiteout’s victim was the University of Washington. The final score came out to be 35-6 Penn State, beating the 2024 second-place team.
While it may seem silly or unimportant to some, the fans play a vital role in the outcome of games. So, take a lesson from Cutter Gauthier, Spencer Strider, and anyone with the guts to step into Beaver Stadium during a whiteout; don’t play games with the fans, you won’t win.
