My first Aggie basketball game

Well, I survived my first week as a graduate student. Even better, tomorrow is MLKJ day so no class. I will most definitely be spending most of the day studying. Yesterday I spent almost 2 hours just reading and taking notes on one chapter for my research design class. Yay. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but I still have one more chapter to go before Tuesday and three chapters for program eval. and it takes so long!

Last night I went to my very first Aggie basketball game (if you hadn't guessed that already from the title). Wow. I had heard that Utah State is a basketball school and they take it seriously, but wow. These fans are crazy! Okay, maybe not crazy, but definitely intense. I'm not much of a basketball fan, but the fans were enough to keep me entertained (that and a couple very attractive players). Here are some of the traditions that I found amusing:

1) if a player on the opposing team misses the basket and the backboard entirely, every time he touches the ball for the rest of the game, the crowd chants "airball!" Mean, but a little funny.

2) (this has to be my favorite) So, there's this guy...who's, well, to put it gently, we'll say "full-figured." He positions himself strategically directly behind the hoop of the opposing team. Then, as the opponent lines up to take a free-throw, he removes his shirt and shakes his body right in front of him. Pretty much disgusting, but also pretty much fantastic. Last night was a special night, too. He wore a pirate hat and shook a sword and his hooked fist at the players. I should have been appalled, but it was too dang funny.

3) At the end of the game, with about a minute left, when the Aggies had acquired a substantial lead, the crowd began to chant "winning team, losing team, winning team, losing team..." all the while pointing at the appropriate benches back and forth. Heh....talk about rubbing it in.

So there you have it: a brief glimpse into the phenomenon that is Aggie basketball. I think they have a little bit of growth room in the sportsman-like category, no? At least you can't say they don't have school pride! They....we?! When am I going to start considering myself an Aggie? Probably never. I bleed purple! Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat. GO K-STATE!

In that school of thought, here's a brief list of things I miss about K-state:

1) the rec center. I don't know why we complain about it...we could still be stuck in the fieldhouse like they are here.

2) The institute. Yep, they have a huge institute here, but it's not the same. It doesn't feel like a second home and Prez Knapp isn't there. Plus, I could park right there next to campus for free.

3) Willie. Utah state is the Aggie's but their mascot is a bull. I don't get it either.

4)The people. You know who you are.

5) Manhattan. or should I say ManHAPPENin'!?

6)Football. SO much better than basketball. (I'll include BIG 12 sports in general)

7) the squirrels. I almost forgot about those guys! They always made me smile.

8) The buildings/campus. Kstate is beautiful. The limestone, the castle-like feel, all of it...I miss that.

9) Purple. What? I like the color!

10) My heart. Yep, cheesy, but it when it comes to schools, it belongs to KSU.

Okay, but to be fair, here's a list of the cool things I've learned about Utah State:

1) Mormons. I can look around campus, see a hot guy and know that there's a chance he could take me to the temple or at least be a cool friend with similar standards.

2) Aggie Ice Cream. I haven't had it yet, but I hear it's amazing.

3) The shuttle. Okay, it's a little different and it has its downfalls, but you can park pretty much anywhere within a few miles of campus and they have buses that take you up into campus and back all day. Kind of cool.

4) The people. They're pretty cool here too.

5)Free sports. Yep, if you're a student, you get in free. Even football! (not that it's a huge deal here. I guess they're not very good.)

6) True Aggie Night. So, apparently there is this campus event where one night they have people that hand out official "True Aggie" cards to anyone who stands on this "A" statue and kisses someone. Old couples, married students, boyfriends and girlfriends, and sometimes random strangers join in for some good old school-endorsed PDA. Now...if only I can find someone to make me a True Aggie...... That might help me feel a little more Aggie pride!