In a country rich with college tradition, UVU seems to be missing out. Growing up in Las Vegas, I would regularly go to UNLV basketball games. Since the football team struggled, the basketball games were the most exciting sporting event around town. Nothing quite got my heart pumping like going to the games. The fight cheer was shouted before each game. I can’t remember much outside of “U-N-L-V! GO! FIGHT! WIN!” That would be followed by every member in the stadium chanting the word “Rebels” while moving their hand behind their head then thrusting their hand forward towards the court. Whenever the band would play a certain tune, the whole crowd would yell, “You suck!” Not the classiest of cheers, but still fun to chant.
UNLV isn’t the only team with traditions; Utah State has its “I believe that we will win” chant they do regularly before football and basketball games. They also have the infamous “winners, losers” chant that has gained national attention. BYU will pull down a giant banner of the school’s logo, covering the entire student section during a media timeout late in the second half of a football or basketball game that re-energizes the crowd. Across all sports and all colleges, there are things each school does to build new traditions and their fan base.
UVU is a young university, but that doesn’t mean we can’t build new traditions like other schools. Men’s basketball head coach Mark Pope started Midnight Madness this year to kick off the season, which drew a large crowd and got people talking about the upcoming season. At each game, we have the Green Man Group. This artistic group of musicians is active, exciting and involved. They are a great tradition that has been started at UVU.
UVU men’s soccer coach Greg Maas began the 12th Wolverine as a way to gain a home field advantage for the Wolverine soccer teams. With the attendance records that have been set over the past two seasons, it shows that people enjoy that tradition and want to be a part of it.
Traditions get people involved in the athletic programs. Having students set up a tent city outside the UCCU Center for an upcoming UVU basketball game or having a pep rally prior to a major soccer game are traditions that build team spirit.
UVU became an NCAA Division I school in 2003. It is still growing and trying to build a fan base. But one thing is for sure: there is a need to build up more traditions that will draw people in and get people excited about what is going on with the Wolverine athletic teams.
