On November 12, 2005, Syracuse University officially retired No. 44. When the large jersey hanging from the roof of the Carrier Dome was unveiled, television cameras zoomed in on it, revealing an empty section of bare, metal Dome seats.

The day honoring the greatest number in Syracuse football history drew 40,144 fans – barely 80 percent of the stadium’s capacity.

I was embarrassed SU couldn’t come close to selling out for even the grandest of occasions. Yankee Stadium would never have empty sections when Joe DiMaggio was honored.

The Dome could be an elite home-field advantage, but that day was one example of fans falling short. When the Orange reached a bowl in 2004, attendance averaged 37,068. Last year was better, but wasn’t enough. After drawing 45,418 for the season opener against West Virginia, the five remaining games averaged 39,218. The team finished 1-10 last year, but that leaves more than 10,000 empty seats — way too many.

For those who missed the picture of the strikingly handsome young man above, my name is Pat DiSalvo, and I am a junior at Syracuse. While the first phrase of that sentence may not be accurate, my name is, as are the facts that I am a huge fan of sports and its crowds.

Living near New York City, I’ve been lucky to see electrifying crowds at Madison Square Garden for the Knicks vs. Bulls in the playoffs, Giants Stadium for regular season games and Yankee Stadium for plenty – including Game Four of the 2001 World Series.

But I’ve also attended when the teams stunk. I sat through Jets games when they were 1-15, and I’ve seen the recent Knicks – which speaks for itself.

I understand what SU fans are going through.

It’s tough to support a team that was as unsuccessful as SU was last year. But as fans, it’s your job to attend. Some blame can be placed on select students, who should arrive at kickoff and stick around. But the locals aren’t pulling their weight either.

If Notre Dame went 1-10, its stadium would still be packed. Why can’t the biggest sports school in the state of New York fill a 49,250 person stadium?

Before Director of Athletics Daryl Gross arrived, the team wasn’t marketed as well around the state – hurting a potentially larger fan base. Now, it’s under pressure to perform like it did the last two decades. Some Syracuse fans are too impatient and demanding.

On Wednesday, I walked through the sparse crowd of spectators watching the open practice to find out some explanations of the attendance.

I found Pat Testa, studying the team with a cigar in hand. Testa, a season-ticket holder for more than 20 years, is the type of fan that would still be in the stands if SU finished 10-100 in the past decade.

‘Players look up in the stands and don’t see anybody up there and they get discouraged,’ said Testa. ‘If a fan is looking for wins every time, he’ll be disappointed. He should be looking for a good ball game and a competitive team that’s hustling.’

Others believed the local economy was a factor.

‘If the average Joe could afford to go to a football game I think they’d have a lot more people going,’ said Kevin O’Keefe, an international student advisor.

The attendance is not all the fans’ faults. The cheapest adult seats for the home opener are $40. Increasing prices won’t fill the seats; raising the quality of the team will. It starts with recruiting. But when recruiting, a sold-out, raucous Dome helps.

‘When you see that the seats near the field are empty, it hurts,’ said Jay Cameron, who takes vacation days from work to see most games. ‘Kentucky has a bad team but sells 60,000 or 70,000 seats.’

‘I renewed my tickets, didn’t think twice,’ said Paul Maroney. ‘Fans are too impatient up here. We were spoiled in 80’s and 90’s.

‘The Loud House got its name not because of basketball but from football – the place is deafening when it’s packed.’

Cameron then added: ‘You expect the coaches to coach, players to play and the fans to cheer. I think we let them down as much as anything in the last 10 years.’

I haven’t been around Syracuse that long, but I understand what Cameron is saying. When 45,418 fans rocked the Dome against West Virginia last year, SU nearly squeaked out a win against a team that won the Sugar Bowl.

If bare metal seats continue appearing, the Orange won’t always have the motivation and won’t always draw the best recruits. If you call yourself a fan and let that happen, you’re not doing your job. The team has its work to do, but so do the fans. For a team that’s recently struggled, there is no better remedy than a supportive crowd.