COLUMN: The Anatomy of an Aggie sports fan
With basketball season upon us, we take a look at potential, and highly recommended, wardrobes for fans who attend games at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.
Shirt:
Wear blue. Gameday shirts are most preferred and encouraged. If you don’t get a game-day shirt, at least make sure you’re wearing Aggie blue with USU logos if at all possible.
If you’re not wearing blue in the stands, you stand out like a sore thumb and it looks bad. Unlike football, weather shouldn’t influence your ensemble since it’s indoors. Dress warm for when you stand in line for games, but underneath that winter jacket, make sure you’re decked out.
“Wear blue,” said Charley Riddle, USU/SA athletics vice president. “In the Spectrum, we wear blue. Not white, not green, not orange. Blue. We wear Aggie blue. It helps unify the stadium and makes the crowd look awesome.”
Pants:
While there’s nothing wrong with simply wearing jeans or shorts, the more appropriate your attire, the better your game experience will be.
Do you have USU sweatpants? Go for it. Maybe you’ll decide to sport athletic shorts. That’s great – just make it team color-oriented.
Headgear:
Wear a USU hat or something with an Aggie logo on it. Maybe you’re one of those die-hards who decides to wear a mask or even dye your hair blue. Get creative, but again, tailor it to school colors and spirit.
Accessories:
The most important thing isn’t to accessorize – it’s to Aggie-ize.
Go nuts with signs. A rally towel is also a good idea, and they’re often handed out at games. Also, watch for the Hurd to distribute blue gloves and things of that nature.
Foam fingers are encouraged. Maybe you’re a cape person. Bring a voice amplifier of some kind.
“Come early,” Riddle said. “Waiting in line gets you a good seat, let’s you meet new people and make friends and help promote the USU basketball culture.”
Whatever the accessory, go nuts with it. As long as you can’t hurt someone with it and it’s relevant to USU sports, utilize it.
Miscellaneous:
Here’s a couple of tips you might find handy.
Taking ibuprofen before games to prevent headaches isn’t a bad idea, and if you have sensitive ears, ear plugs may be a good idea.
There’s plenty of ways to show your spirit and enhance your game experience.
The biggest things to remember are to be in blue and be as loud as possible when the opponent as the ball. You are the sixth man. You influence the opposition. You have an effect on the outcome of games.
“Be loud,” Riddle said. “It’s our job to support our team and make our court a nightmare for opposing teams. If you’re loud, opposing teams get confused and get distracted. It’s our way of helping the Aggies win.”
Do your part as a fan, and the Aggie athletes will do theirs.