Rowdy, die-hard fans help give Aggies an edge in Spectrum

By Renae Cowley

December 12, 2007 | "You you you you you suck!" can be heard echoing across the Spectrum at USU home games, taunting the opposing team.

Aggie fans come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from the first-time, back-row spectator to all-out, rowdy front-row regulars who are widely credited in giving the men's basketball team their incredible home court advantage, according to Wikipedia.org.

Wikipedia.org calculates the Aggies' home record, as of December 6, during the last 10 years is 129-11 (.921), thanks to Coach Stew Morrill and a frenzied student section.

Adam Strong, a senior from Bountiful, is one of these die-hard fans. He hasn't missed a home game during his three year career as an Aggie.

Being a sports enthusiast, Strong said he tries to support all USU athletics but gets especially pumped when basketball season starts.

Upon transferring to Utah State Strong met some friends who were game day regulars and "just kind of fell into it."

Strong's group of fellow fans started out with four guys, but as some have graduated they continue to recruit.

He is easy to spot, standing in the front row behind the basket donning a retro white suit coat and blue and white "Where's Waldo" tie.

Strong said, "We all wear game-day shirts and ties that we bought at the Bookstore. The jacket is a new addition this year from my costume closet back home."

In order to secure their prime real estate behind the basket, Strong and his following arrive at the Spectrum at least three hours early, depending on the game.

If the game is televised or against a big team, they will show up as early as seven hours before the game starts.

Being at the Spectrum so early allows them to socialize with other diehard fans and even talk with the referees.

Kaelee Jensen, a freshmen trumpet player in the USU pep band, recounts her first year in the Spectrum as an "overwhelming experience." Jensen said, "I really like it when the students jump into what we (the band) do. We are all just having fun."

Commenting on the criticism surrounding some of the negative cheers the fans in the Spectrum are better known for, Strong said, "It's a part of the game. We are pretty mild compared to some out-of-state schools. Besides, the other players knew what they were getting into when they signed up to play."

Being such a serious fan takes a lot of research, according to Strong. He looks up opposing players before game day on the Internet or in local papers in order to "get in their head and give the Aggies that small advantage."

Strong's favorite experiences in the Spectrum are when players respond with "the stink eye" or even talk back to the fans.

At one particular BYU vs. USU game, the Aggie fans called BYU's point guard, Austin Ainge, Danny Ainge, his father who is a basketball legend.

The younger Ainge responded by saying, "Actually my name is Austin."

On another occasion Colby Karl from Boise State was shooting two free throws with the potential to win the game and missed both of them, for which Strong attributes the Utah State fans yelling, "Daddy's boy." Karl's father is an NBA coach.

Strong's favorite cheer is when a player fouls out, and they march him off the court by chanting "Left, right, left, right."

"What's better than that? Nothing," Strong said.

"It's like being a part of something. We have our own community of students that just love to cheer the Aggies on to victory," Strong said.

MS
MS