USU HURD adds to the college experience
Much more goes into university game day than meets the eye. The staple in the American college experience involves traditions, chants and events to create an iconic game day atmosphere.
Each year, USU students elect an athletics & campus recreation executive director, a position that oversees the HURD. This year’s director, Tate Bennett, will lead a committee of students working to enhance game days and encourage students to attend sporting events.
“I’m a huge sports fan; I’ve been into it my whole life,” Bennett said. “I was on the HURD committee every year since my freshman year, and I felt like there were a few things that I wanted to change with the committee. My opportunity to do it was if I could be Athletics VP.”
The HURD is known for creating raucous environments at football and basketball games, but Bennett hopes to promote the differences between sports to try and appeal to a wide variety of students.
“I think figuring out what environment each team wants for their games is important because that environment attracts different students,” Bennett said. “Football is a big, loud environment. A lot of heckling goes on there. Volleyball is a different experience than football, even though it is still a big sport at USU. We’re figuring out how to communicate that to the student body so that they have a fun time and they’re willing to come back.”
Megan Carter, the assistant director of the HURD, echoed the same sentiment.
“We’re trying to make a different environment for each game and market that to the students,” Carter said. “Each game is different. We just want you to come and try it out and see what fits you best.”
The “Midnight Yell,” implemented last school year, gathers students, players and coaches to prepare for upcoming games by practicing cheers and learning about the opponents. This is just one aspect of the effort to include more students in athletics.
“One of the things that we’re working on is assisting international students in participating with the HURD by teaching them the rules of sports that they may be unfamiliar with and teaching them the cheers we do at games,” Bennett said. “We will be working with the inclusion office and the International Student Union on getting a night where we can go over those kinds of things with them. And then we’ll be personally meeting them as a committee so that they have a friend to be with at the games.”
Chloe Hirst, associate head coach for USU Volleyball, played collegiate volleyball at Idaho State University before becoming part of the coaching staff at Weber State and the University of Utah. She believes the environment at USU is unlike any other.
“I will say, hands down, this is my favorite game day atmosphere environment,” Hirst said. “A sold-out Estes of 1,500 people is the loudest gym that I have ever been in. The HURD is right on top of the athlete who’s serving, and it is unbelievable to hear how loud they get. I know our players love, love, love playing here because of the home-court advantage.”
Hirst acknowledged some of the challenges that come with trying to build a fanbase for a sport more unfamiliar to students. She believes it’s important to have an educational aspect of the HURD. Not only will more fans attend, but they’ll feel a part of the team.
“I think not a lot of people know when or how to cheer at volleyball games,” Hirst said.
She appreciates the work the HURD is doing and hopes it will continue to evolve.
“Over the last three years, it’s obvious the fan base has grown and you can tell that they’re really starting to love volleyball and starting to understand volleyball as well,” Hirst said.
One obstacle many incoming and current students face when trying to go to events is not feeling like they have anyone to go with. The HURD says it is here to help.
“I think the biggest thing that we, as a committee, want students to understand is that if you want to come to a football game and you have no one to sit with, come sit with us. Come get to know us,” Carter said. “We’d love to have you there.