OPINION: Aggie basketball changed my life
Most people can’t tell you about a single day that was a defining moment in their life. Well, I’m not “most people.” The date was Jan. 12, 2008, and I was a senior in high school visiting a freezing town called Logan.
My friends and I came up from Bountiful to watch our school play Sky View High School the night before, and we decided to stay with some friends that were USU freshmen.
My friend’s older brother, who was a USU student, called us early in the morning, about 10 — way early for me — and said if we wanted to go to the USU basketball game, we should head over to the Spectrum immediately. We thought he was nuts. The game didn’t start until 7 p.m. Why would we have to go so early? But we did it anyway.
I sat in this freezing cold room waiting for my opportunity to experience what had been described to me as magic. I was skeptical, though. I was brought up a Utah fan my whole life, and my allegiance was still to the red.
Around 5:30 p.m. the little room started to get packed and the guys explained to me that if I wanted a good seat, I would have to sprint down the stairs and grab one. The clock got closer to 6 p.m. and my excitement continued to rise.
When the clock hit 6, these crazy guys took off at break-neck speeds to get the coveted front-row seats. I cruised down, and by the time my friend Sam and I reached the bottom there were only two seats remaining.
We quickly made our way to the seats, shocked by what just happened. Within minutes the seats behind us filled, and 30 minutes before tip off the arena had transformed into a blue sea.
All of a sudden, a drum beat started and the entire crowd erupted in strange, rhythmic clapping. I stood in awe. What was this place? Who are these people? Aggies.
All 4,000 students started swaying their arms. I can remember my jaw dropping and my cheeks raising with my smile. This was literally the coolest thing I had ever seen.
By the time the ball was tipped, I was an Aggie fan. I couldn’t believe these crazy fans were so smart and so into the game. Every student stood with respect and honor for the duration of the game — they were all on the same team. The winning team.
During the ride home, I called my dad and said, “I want to be an Aggie.”
Before that first trip to Utah State University, I had accepted a pretty good scholarship to Weber State. The moment I arrived home, I pulled out my college folder, found the scholarship rejection form, filled it out and submitted it.
Those few hours I spent in the Spectrum changed my life. There has not been a time in the Spectrum or in Romney Stadium, since then, when I’ve regretted my decision.
This place is something different, and it’s you — the students — that make it that way. You guys are amazing. You show up early to games, you wear blue and have the wittiest chants I’ve ever heard. You make more noise than any other student section in the entire nation — you heard me Duke University, we’ll take you on any day. But, most of all, you love your school.
Going into this rivalry week, let’s keep it up. I could not be any more excited to hear 10,270 fans screaming that they “love the spot where the sagebrush grows.” And, hopefully, it will convince a future generation of Aggies that USU is where they need to be. The only life for me is the Aggie Life — and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Go Aggies.