Summit League Logo Battle: North Dakota State

When it comes to The Summit League, we have some of the best nicknames in all of college sports. And what better way to embrace our team monikers than to take a look at their visual equivalences: the team logo. For all of our analyses, we used the primary logos for each team listed on the venerable website SportsLogos.net. (Please note that any digs thrown at the schools are just for fun and do not necessarily represent our true feelings about them!)

Program: North Dakota State

Nickname: Bison

Origin of Nickname: Bison was chosen by the NDSU football coach in 1919 to replace Aggies in order to give the school a stronger, fiercer mascot. The name is a nod to the large animals that were once fixtures of North Dakota. (h/t: The Summit League)

Philosophical Take: There are a few themes featured prominently with this here Bison logo, all revolving around one particular aspect of the bison itself: the smoke. At first glance, it may appear as if though our large friend is either extremely angry or simply exhaling a little rougher than normal. In fact, neither are true. The small smoke plume is actually symbolic of the smoke the NDSU program blew up our collective rear-ends during the 2008-09 season. Capitalizing on a devious plan beginning with the redshirting of an entire recruiting class five years prior, the Bison saw its senior-laden team find its way to the top of The Summit League standings and into the NCAA Tournament. That game was played a mere four hours away from the NDSU campus, and immediately the entire nation was under the assumption this was a powerhouse program that could win conference tournaments and pack the NCAAs. Sadly, the likelihood of such a combination of lucky breaks happening again are slim to none, as our friend, The Bison, indicates. Alternatively, the smoke emanating from the bison's nostrils could be a side-effect of an unfortunate disorder known as Bison Fever. This virus tends to affect the brain, causing thousands of people to hop aboard mysterious wagons carrying bands. Bison Fever has most often been found amongst members of the national media.

Final Judgment: Overall, this logo is one of the best in the conference. The bison, while mostly hidden in this depiction, still stands out as a fierce subject. And it's not too cartoony, which is a trend that plagues many of The Summit League's other logos. Stylistically, we don't favor the use of "NDSU" and "North Dakota State University" in one graphic. This is fair, though, because the university just isn't to the point where people automatically know what this hodgepodge of letters means, especially considering the state of North Dakota has never had a DI program before NDSU. That said, we'd hope to see the university stick with a single form of the name in future renditions. Oh, and please use a better font as the rounded edges used on the full-length name are far from invoking the spirit of an intimidating program.

How We'd Fix It: For this one, we'd only change the lettering. To take from our "Final Judgment" section, we'd make it so that the name of the school is only present one time. In place of the original "NDSU," we're adding the school's nickname. However, instead of the actual version of the name, we thought it best to use a "z" where one would normally see an "s" since they all pronounce bison with the 26th letter of the alphabet anyway. Next, there has been an upgrading of the font used to spell out North Dakota State University. The children's book typography used before has been exchanged for an edgier replacement. Note that the fumes from the nose remain in honor of the program's One Good Season.

An Elementary Visual Representation:

See our other Summit League Logo posts thus far: Centenary College, IUPUI, Southern Utah, and UMKC.

Summit League Logo Battle: UMKC

When it comes to The Summit League, we have some of the best nicknames in all of college sports. And what better way to embrace our team monikers than to take a look at their visual equivalences: the team logo. For all of our analyses, we used the primary logos for each team listed on the venerable website SportsLogos.net. (Please note that any digs thrown at the schools are just for fun and do not necessarily represent our true feelings about them!)

Program: UMKC

Nickname: Kangaroos

Origin of Nickname: The kangaroo was first proposed as a potential mascot in the 1930s; there were mixed feelings on the name until Walt Disney became involved by contributing a drawing of the animal alongside Mickey Mouse for the university's humor magazine. The name took hold shortly after and has been around ever since. (h/t: The Summit League)

Philosophical Take: It's really too bad that the logo we are featuring today is not the same one shown on SportsLogos.net as the school's primary logo because analyzing a sweater-clad kangaroo would have been a lot more fun than this comparatively normal one. With that said, there isn't a lot going on with this interpretation of the logo. We have an angry looking kangaroo heading left, or forward, which is puzzling considering the program has been taking giant steps back as of late. The typography slants down signifying UMKC's fall to the bottom of Division I and eventual collapse into a lower division. Quite literally, we see the lettering of the university grabbing hold of the beloved marsupial as it tries to escape; Kasey, after all, enjoys his status as the only kangaroo mascot in Division I and would rather abandon his lifelong partner institution than suffer through the constant questions of whether he too could be downgraded to DII or worse. The one thing the kangaroo has managed to avoid is the beating the lettering has taken, as its black and blue facade showcases. Nope, Kasey has gone relatively unscathed in recent years as he has embarked on many vacations to visit the 423 players who have transferred out of UMKC in the last four years. His favorite: Reggie Hamilton.

Final Judgment: This is a very solid, contemporary logo. The aforementioned "kangaroo wearing a sweater" design appeared dated, so this one serves as a great upgrade. The UMKC typography is edgy, and the deep blue looks excellent juxtaposed with the kangaroo's yellow tone (also a great nod to the school's uniform scheme). "Roos" is slightly out of place, and I wonder why it lacks a border of any sort. It's difficult to imagine a kangaroo as angry or fierce so the program gets a pass despite the animal's lack of many defining features.

How We'd Fix It: Since we dig the typography used for the logo, we'd only make a minor adjustment here. To honor the program's lack of direction, we're accentuating the letters with some colorful arrows. These nifty pieces of flair point in all directions because no one really knows where UMKC will go next. Kasey is clearly confused, too, as his facial expression (hopefully) indicates. To make matters worse, the Australian transplant is also perplexed as to why it became acceptable to shorten his name from kangaroo to 'roo. Consequently, his expression of confusion could be considered one of misery. In fact, we wouldn't doubt it.

A Lesson In Elementary Graphic Design:

Summit League Logo Battle: Southern Utah

When it comes to The Summit League, we have some of the best nicknames in all of college sports. And what better way to embrace our team monikers than to take a look at their visual equivalences: the team logo. For all of our analyses, we used the primary logos for each team listed on the venerable website SportsLogos.net. (Please note that any digs thrown at the schools are just for fun and do not necessarily represent our true feelings about them!)

The following entry in our Summit League Logo series is a guest post by Danny Malendowski. Danny was featured previously in our Student Section Chronicles for Oakland U as a Grizz Gang leader. He is a loyal Grizzly and, as we find out below, full of clever thoughts when it comes to logos in this conference!

Program: Southern Utah

Nickname: Thunderbirds

Origin of Nickname: The Thunderbird is to Southern Utah what the Grizzly is to Oakland, with Broncos being the original mascot of the former, as Pioneers was the initial mascot for the latter. Like most schools that have gone through a transition in the past 100 years, Southern Utah changed mascots when they made the transition to a four-year college. A thunderbird is a Native American deity, and the logo as we know it now was designed by a student in 2001. Furthermore, their mascot is named Thor, which apart from being awesome, should certainly be incorporated in the official “Extreme Golden Grizzlies Gameplan Logo Makeover.” (h/t: The Summit League)

Philosophical Take: The Thunderbird nickname may be fitting for Southern Utah, if only for the reason that someone has the same reaction upon hearing their mascot as one does when they hear the fact that Southern Utah plays in a league with teams from the Rust Belt and the Badlands: *insert statement of incredulity here*. However, I feel that the name Thunderbirds (or at least the logo design) is fitting for this school, and not simply because the name combines two things native to the heavens, through which every Summit school must traverse in order to play this geographically-secluded conference opponent. Upon first glance at the logo I noticed the bottom lightning bolt looks very similar to the logo of the Tampa Bay Lightning, and although I guess lightning is a rather uniform thing to draw, making comparisons between the Cedar City cagers and the oddly located hockey team is not fruitless:

• Both have languished in terms of fan support and attendance in their respective conferences.
• Both are second fiddle in their towns; the Lightning to the NFL's Buccaneers, and the SUU T-Birds (rather pathetically) to the school's football team. Remember, the football team plays in the pointless storied Great West Football conference. They use the term “great” quite liberally.
• Both are participating in sports which do not fit their geography (hockey in Florida and basketball in Utah).
• Finally, both have had one good year (Lightning in 2003-04 and SUU in 2000-01).

Final Judgment: Although overused in the realm of sports, the black and red adds an intimidation factor to an otherwise uninspired logo design. If you look closely, it appears as if the bird is running into a clear plate of glass (look at the beak up close). The amalgamation of the Lightning on the bottom and the bird on top makes the logo seem disorganized overall. We need some direction in this.

How We'd Fix It: I believe just about everybody (Roger Reid included) would agree that the SUU program needs a boost right now. The NHL equivalent of the T-Birds (the Tampa Bay Lightning) also felt like they needed a boost back in 2008. This is when they created an alternate uniform, featuring the moniker "the Bolts." Short. Sweet. To the point. This is what I propose for Southern Utah. The name of the Thunderbird mascot which prowls (or in recent times sulks) the sidelines of basketball games is Thor. There is no one, perhaps outside of Chuck Norris, who doesn't think the name Thor is sweet and intimidating: the two things which a mascot should be. It would also be a much better mascot than a demonic (or blind) eagle which is defecating lightning. I would propose the Marvel comic version of Thor, as opposed to the mythological figure. I mean come on, anything created by Stan Lee is automatically awesome. It is because of this awesomeness that I would change the name of the squad from the Thunderbirds to The Thor, a la the Stanford Cardinal. This promotes the change, unity, and toughness which Southern Utah will require in order to rise like a Thunderbird from the doldrums of the Summit League. Did I mention the logo will be designed by Stan Lee?

Rough Artist's Rendering:

Piecing Together the 2010-2011 Golden Grizzlies Schedule

There has been a lot of movement in the college basketball scheduling realm lately as programs slowly begin to release their 2010-2011 schedules. Oakland University's schedule has been shaping up nicely in recent weeks, although an official version has yet to be released. With that said, using a variety of sources we've attempted to piece together as much of the schedule as is publicly known at this point in time (note The Summit League schedule is complete). We'll be updating this page (and providing a static link on the home page) whenever new pieces are released, eventually culminating in a new post with initial breakdowns when official word comes from OUGrizzlies.com.

Please note this is a "best guess" version based on the information available. This should not be viewed as an official schedule. You will find that when it is released at the OU Athletics website.

Date	Versus	Location	Time
Saturday, November 13	West Virginia	Morgantown, WV	TBD
Monday, November 15	Ohio	Athens, OH	7:00pm
Sunday, November 21	Purdue	West Lafayette, IN	7:00pm
Tuesday, November 23	Wright State	Dayton, OH	7:00pm
Friday, November 26	Southern	Chicago, IL	3:30pm
Saturday, November 27	Austin Peay/Charleston So.	Chicago, IL	12:30/3:00pm
Thursday, December 2	Southern Utah	Rochester, MI	TBD
Saturday, December 4	UMKC	Rochester, MI	6:00pm
Wed, December 8	Illinois	Champaign, IL	7:00pm
Saturday, December 11	Michigan State	Auburn Hills, MI	12:30pm
Tuesday, Dec 14	Tennessee	Knoxville, TN	7:00pm
Saturday, December 18	Michigan	Ann Arbor, MI	Noon

Lou Henson Award Tournament w/ Valparaiso, Eastern Michigan, Rochester College

Monday, December 20	Rochester College	Rochester, MI	TBD
Tuesday, December 21	Winner of Valpo/EMU	Rochester, MI	TBD
Thursday, December 23	Ohio State	Columbus, OH	8:00pm
Tuesday, December 28	Centenary	Shreveport, LA	8:00pm
Thursday, December 30	Oral Roberts	Tulsa, OK	8:05pm
Thursday, January 6	IUPUI	Rochester, MI	TBD
Saturday, January 8	Western Illinois	Rochester, MI	TBD
Saturday, January 15	IPFW	Fort Wayne, IN	TBD
Thursday, January 20	South Dakota State	Brookings, SD	8:00pm
Saturday, January 22	North Dakota State	Fargo, ND	8:30pm
Thursday, January 27	Oral Roberts	Rochester, MI	TBD
Saturday, January 29	Centenary	Rochester, MI	TBD
Thursday, February 3	Western Illinois	Macomb, IL	TBD
Sunday, February 6	IUPUI*	Indianapolis, IN	1:30pm
Saturday, February 12	IPFW	Rochester, MI	TBD
Thursday, February 17	North Dakota State	Rochester, MI	TBD
Saturday, February 19	South Dakota State	Rochester, MI	TBD
Thursday, February 24	UMKC	Kansas City, MO	8:05pm
Saturday, February 26	Southern Utah	Cedar City, UT	9:30pm

* This game will be played at Conseco Fieldhouse, not IUPUI's on-campus arena, The Jungle.

Sources: Ohio University, Chicago Invitational, Wright State University, Oakland University- Tenn Press Release, Oakland University Chicago Invitational Press Release, Oakland University Season Ticket Brochure, Washington Post, The Summit League, August Grizz Talk from The Oakland Press, University of Illinois, Michigan State University, University of Michigan, West Virginia University, Ohio State University.

Summit League Logo Battle: IUPUI

When it comes to The Summit League, we have some of the best nicknames in all of college sports. And what better way to embrace our team monikers than to take a look at their visual equivalences: the team logo. For all of our analyses, we used the primary logos for each team listed on the venerable website SportsLogos.net. (Please note that any digs thrown at the schools are just for fun and do not necessarily represent our true feelings about them!)

Program: IUPUI

Nickname: Jaguars

Origin of Nickname: Jaguars replaced original nickname of "Metros" when the university made the jump to Division I in late 90s. Chosen to reflect the spirit of Indianapolis and IUPUI: powerful, swift, and confident. (h/t: The Summit League)

Philosophical Take: The placement of IUPUI beneath the word Jaguar and in a much smaller font size is indicative of the university's desire to keep its name as hidden as possible. Due to years of torment and one too many "ooeepooee" jokes, the program instead chooses to embrace its animal spirit. The Jaguar here is menacing and its fangs sharp, paralleling the basketball program's tendency to consistently compete well against even the fiercest of opponents. Yet unlike most contemporary logos, the Jaguar's face is turned to the left as opposed to the right or forward-looking; this was likely done in an attempt to conceal the many facial lacerations the Jaguar has faced over the years from its demanding parents, the Hoosier and Boilermaker.

Final Judgment: The Jaguar is an animal already represented well by an NFL football team, yet IUPUI's version is original enough to avoid confusion. Unfortunately, the overwhelming use of black, gray, and teal (which is odd considering the NFL's team use of it) does come off as slightly misguided given the program's crimson and old gold uniforms. Moreover, the typography used for "Jaguars" is fairly amateurish, bringing to mind a rough sketch more than sophisticated graphic design.

How We'd Fix It: Instead of glorifying all things jaguar, we'd seek to embrace the city of Indianapolis. While its skyline may not be immediately recognizable to most, people from the state of Indiana - those most likely to care about IUPUI - surely know its main features. Because of this, we'd make the skyline a central figure in IUPUI's logo (think the Seattle Supersonics of old), establishing the Jaguars as THE program in Indianapolis. Moreover, we'd scrap the sketch-drawn Jaguars font for the Jaguars script of the early 2000s. Only the actual school colors are used, and the name of the school pops more. Finally, because the current Jaguar hides its face and contains too many colors, we'd go with the old Jaguar for now - it's still fierce, and with it peering through the shadows of the skyline, this feline is still poised to strike unsuspectingly. IUPUI, Indianapolis is yours.

(Beginner) Artist's Rendering:

Summit League Logo Battle: Centenary College

When it comes to The Summit League, we have some of the best nicknames in all of college sports. And what better way to embrace our team monikers than to take a look at their visual equivalences: the team logo. For all of our analyses, we used the primary logos for each team listed on the venerable website SportsLogos.net. (Please note that any digs thrown at the schools are just for fun and do not necessarily represent our true feelings about them!)

Program: Centenary College

Nickname: Gentlemen or Gents

Origin of Nickname: Football players at Centenary were in a fight during a 1921 game. President of the college sat team down, telling them to act more like gentlemen. Name stuck. (h/t: The Summit League)

Philosophical Take: The giant "C" in the middle of the logo is representative of the college's little man complex. As the smallest school in Division I (soon to be transitioning to Division III), Centenary has to overcompensate with its massive logo. The red is a two-pronged symbol: 1. It represents how far in the red the school would have been had they stayed in Division I in this struggling economy, 2. It is indicative of the years of bleeding the program has suffered (no NCAA Tournament appearances in 50 years of D-I basketball and a .249 conference win percentage over 7 years). The bland look of the Centenary trademark paints a picture of a department that is either efficient with its resources or has lost all regard for what people think of them after all those years of losing.

Final Judgment: This logo lacks the visual appeal of others in the conference, and generally gives off a very archaic vibe which likely satiates the old-timers who would do anything to conjure up the image of Robert Parish in his Centenary uniform.

How We'd Fix It: We'd nix the C and much of the red, for starters. In an attempt to reinvent the program for its new level of play, we'd also ditch the Gents nickname. While fans would likely toss around a lot of new ideas, we'd suggest, quite simply, the Parishes. It serves a triple-purpose. First, as a private United Methodist college, the parish nickname could pay homage to local parishioners. Second, counties in Louisiana are known as parishes. Finally, since the team would likely avoid the nickname "Chiefs" after their most famous basketball alum's own nickname, why not simply honor the man by calling the team by his true name, Parish. Three birds with one stone.

Artist's Rendering:

Student Section Chronicles: Oakland + Wrap-Up

Many words have been and will continue to be written here about the Grizz Gang. As Oakland's official student section, it is the organization that supports and cheers on the basketball teams every year, (hopefully) through the good seasons and the bad. It was a place I revered more than any other during my time at Oakland, where my friends and I would come together to have a good time and cheer the Golden Grizzlies to victory. During my senior season, we had some of the best times of my four years in Rochester, occasionally painting our faces, making signs, and getting our non-basketball friends to come check it out in an attempt to win them over with the atmosphere.

Just as often, however, I enjoyed the games over breaks when bodies in the student section were hard to come by, and the game could be enjoyed for the game from a seat in section E2. That's the basketball nerd in me. Games like this might be a thing of the past in the near future as the Grizz Gang continues to grow and reach more students across the grounds of Oakland U who may be more inclined to make trips to the O'Rena during wintry breaks from school. One thing is for sure, they will have a dedicated group of individuals leading them every night. One of those individuals, Danny Malendowski, will be serving as a Grizz Gang leader this season in what will be his senior year, attempting to help bridge the gap between the seminal leaders of years past and those of the near future. Due to his current position and loyalty to the program, I knew Danny would be a great person to wrap up our Student Section Chronicles with in featuring the Grizz Gang.

Name of the student section: Grizz Gang

Describe the history of your student section. How long has it existed in its current state?

Well, although my knowledge of Grizz Gang lore is far from being the best, I would say it has existed in its current state for about 5 or so years. Like all organizations, we have evolved and hopefully improved over time. We are just trying to keep everything moving forward.

Does your student section require/recommend a certain shirt (or shirt color) be worn?

We have a number of shirts that could be considered Grizz Gang shirts from our various events. However, we do have a main shirt that people associate with the Grizz Gang (left), though I must say my favorite is the student designed one (right).

How are tickets allocated for students in the student section?

We do not have tickets. Like many small schools students get in free, but we do have an allocated section which holds 250ish. We overflowed by a lot last year versus Oral Roberts and hope to do that more frequently in the future.

Where are you located at in the arena, and what is your favorite part about such placement?

We are right behind the visitor bench, which is awesome because it makes you feel like you are being heard by the opposition. We kind of make that whole corner ours with the band and the over flow. It is a cool visual effect.

What are the two to three biggest games for your student section each year?

Well, whenever we play Michigan or MSU those are big, but they are normally at the Palace. Without a doubt the Oral Roberts game is the biggest. The NDSU and IUPUI games have been phenomenal games, but unfortunately they have often been during winter breaks, so there has been lower student attendance.

What struggles does your student section face every year?

Well we have been growing significantly every year, so this year's crew is just trying not to screw things up. Obviously you always want as much attendance and recognition as possible. As long as we are always moving in a positive direction that is good. We just need to sustain this following in years where we aren't necessarily one of the favorites in the Summit League.

Describe your most original chant, or a memory of a particular experience in the student section?

I will never forget how electric the Oral Roberts game was this year, and Johnathon Jone's game-winning shot. I thought the 'O' was going to explode! I can't think of an incredibly original chant but I would categorize us as a somewhat mean student section. Kevin Ford and Dominique Morrison were by far our least favorite players last year and we are getting better at doing research before the game on the players. Historically, Grizz Gang's least favorite player is Robert Jarvis (former Oral Roberts point guard). We referred to him as "Midget Mac" after the dude from "I Love New York." Honestly Google him. He looks just like him.

Do the students at your school have any unique rituals performed before big games? Or do you have a specific experience to share if it is not something customarily done?

Every year before the Oral Roberts game we have Guard the Grizz where we get together - in the single digit temperatures - the night before the Saturday game by the Grizzly statue the adorns the front of the O'Rena. We have an eagle pinata that we destroy, and it is always fun chilling late into the night before the game the next day. It is good to get everyone's energy up.

Why do you ultimately choose to be a part of the student section at your school?

I have always loved basketball, and I think to be a part of OU basketball at this point in time is really special. We are growing in support and notoriety. We are ultimately all in a student section to be with our friends and enjoy this awesome game in a group atmosphere which cannot be replicated. I love being a part of this!

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Over the past three weeks we have attempted to shine a light on student sections across The Summit League. While we were unable to interview representatives from all of the schools (if anyone from Southern Utah is reading, please get in touch!), we hope that the preceding posts offered as comprehensive a look at these entities that can be found on the net. After reading through all of the pieces, it's fairly clear that all the schools in this conference face similar struggles: lack of student attendance, subpar student participation, and little to no long-term stability. Even though life isn't always peachy in Summit League student sections, they still offer many dedicated fans the chance to support their basketball teams while having a good time in the process. These common traits tie us all together, because even when we're heckling the other team's players and coaches, we're all fighting the same fight in the end, one hoarse voice at a time.

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Other Q&A pieces from our Summit League Student Section Chronicles:

- IPFW

- IUPUI

- North Dakota State

- Oral Roberts

- South Dakota State

- Western Illinois

- UMKC

Student Section Chronicles: IUPUI

In an alternate realty somewhere, Oakland University doesn't exist as we know it today. Woody Varner never led the Rochester-based school through a transition to end its affiliation with Michigan State University. Instead, the university goes on as MSU-Oakland (MSUO), forever in the shadow of its parent institution. Its name is the laughing stock of the state, and the basketball program is never taken seriously as a result, even when its winning. In this world, all students at the Oakland campus can sympathize with IUPUI.

Perhaps its because of our history as an extension of a larger state school that I refuse to make fun of IUPUI for its name. The school from Indianapolis has been and likely will forever be defined by its very unique combination of letters. When Albany and Buffalo got sick of being known as SUNY-"insert city here," they started going by names like The University At "City." Unfortuantely, IUPUI doesn't even have that option as it would be confused with the already existing University of Indianapolis. Nope, they've had to embrace the four letters that come from Big Ten schools while attempting to make the last letter resonate in a city that is already crazy for another mid-major. In a sense, they have it rough in Indy.

Fortunately, IUPUI still has a lot going for itself. People remember the name, perhaps more than any other team in The Summit League. Their coach is a likeable guy who is known nationally for his charity work. They've got a guy by the name of George Hill playing a major role for the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA. Although they hit a bump in the road with recent NCAA rules violations, it's hardly a scarlet letter for the program. In fact, the Jaguars should continue to be competitive in the conference, as always, despite penalties. It is also expected that the school will continue to pack The Jungle, where the basketball team plays its home games. A major part of the gym they call home is the Red Zone, IUPUI's student section. Michael Hadley plays a leading role in creating a crazy atmosphere for home games, and he also spends time outside of the gym writing about IUPUI basketball, among other things. This summer, he took some time away from the World Cup to answer a few of our questions about all things Red Zone.

Name of the student section: The Red Zone

How long has The Red Zone existed in its current state?

Since 2006. I came to IUPUI in fall of 2008.

Does your student section require/recommend a certain shirt (or shirt color) be worn?

Usually a red shirt or the shirt we have for the section, but really we just want as many people as possible to be there so there's not a required shirt.

How are tickets allocated for students in the student section?

They are handed out at the door, first come first serve. For games at Conseco Fieldhouse, we'll get a bunch of tickets given to the Red Zone's leader, Jesse, and he'll hand them out (there are still some available at the door). We've never been TRULY packed in the Red Zone, so it has never been a problem.

Where are you located at in the arena, and what is your favorite part about such placement?

We are on the side opposite of the opponent's bench. Sometimes I wish we were behind their bench but that would turn into a brawl mainly because we almost get into said brawls and we're 60+ feet away.

What are the two to three biggest games for your student section each year?

Oral Roberts, always. Then whoever is at the top of the Summit. And usually a big name out of conference team, such as UMass or Ohio.

What struggles does your student section face every year?

Attendance, for sure. Then if we do get a decent number of people out, getting them to participate in the chants that we do.

Describe your most original chant, or a memory of a particular experience in the student section.

You're gonna hate me, but the Oakland game last year. We had a white out, we were as packed as we had ever been, the whole nine yards. I was tweeting updates every media timeout, and I realized we were up 6, then 8, then 10, then 12, and every mediatime out the lead kept growing. Finally, we had won by 24. They played T.I.'s "Whatchu Know About Dat", the song I'd play before and after I pitched in high school, and I just got goosebumps. It was one of the coolest nights of my life.

Do the students at your school have any unique rituals performed before big games? Or do you have a specific experience to share if it is not something customarily done?

I'm actually ridiculously OCD and superstitious, though I think they technically overlap. Other students do what typical college students do, of which I do not partake. I, however, always park in the same parking lot even though it's a little further than where everyone else parks, walk the same route, always stepping over things/onto new types of concrete, into buildings and new rooms with my right foot first. And I won't say a word to anyone from the time I leave my car until I walk into The Natatorium of which The Jungle is attached. I think this year we're going to start a student get-together and walk-to-The-Jungle ritual, though it's still up in the air.

Why do you ultimately choose to be a part of the student section at your school?

Being a former athlete and superfan at my high school, I've seen and experienced firsthand the power of the "Home _________ Advantage". When the opposing team is more worried about the noise, chants, etc of the students, they focus less on the task at hand. Which, especially since I've been at IUPUI, is more than enough for our guys to strike. I go to every home soccer and basketball game and away games as much as possible. There's nothing that makes me happier than seeing my teams win.

- Michael is the man. Be sure to check out his website if you are looking for an IUPUI perspective. It is first-class.

Other reports from the Student Section Chronicles:

- North Dakota State

- IPFW

- South Dakota State

- Oral Roberts

- Western Illinois

- UMKC

Student Section Chronicles: UMKC

Since joining The Summit League in the early 90s (then the Midcontinent Conference), the UMKC Kangaroos have generally been a .500 basketball program. Until recently, they had only incurred one truly putrid season; look at the rest of their conference record history and one will find a lot of 7-7, 9-7, 6-8, etc. Lately, however, the team has struggled to find such balance in the win-loss column where losses have been occurring at a far speedier pace than wins. As a result, the Roos have developed into a bit of a fan-favorite in The Summit League because when your team plays them, there is a high percentage chance that the on-court result will be favorable.

Clearly, UMKC is still in a rebuilding stage, attempting to find players who fit Head Coach Matt Brown's basketball philosophy. This task has been decidedly tough for the program as of late as the news of fresh transfers seems to be more common than that of new commits. Next season, they will be without two of their top three scorers from 2009-10, as Latreze Mushatt and Trey McKinney-Jones leave for Murray State and the University of Miami, respectively. If you're counting, that's two solid players leaving for one team that pulled an NCAA Tournament upset last season and another which plays in the ACC. Stories like this are indicative of the place UMKC finds itself in at present, but that is not to say there's no hope.

First, the Kangaroos will finally have some senior leadership on the team in the coming season as leading scorer Jay Couisnard and leading rebounder Spencer Johnson enter their final years. Moreover, Kirk Korver will come to play with a season under his belt, and his last name is basketball royalty in the Midwest (meaning he can do things if he's able to play at the small forward position; there were too many times in The Summit League Tournament where he was forced to guard Will Hudson and Keith Benson due to UMKC's lack of height). Finally, the team will move from historical Municipal Auditorium back to its on-campus basketball arena, Swinney Recreation Center. They'll lose a lot of seating capacity in the process, but as we learned by talking with UMKC's student section leader, Aaron Gray, there is hope that the switch will result in better attendance and participation amongst students. Surely more hype around the Kangaroos would be a great thing for Coach Brown as he attempts to bring further stability to Kansas City.

Name of the student section: Roo Crew

Describe the history of your student section. How long has it existed in its current state?

We have had a student section in existence since we went Division I in 1987. We even had a great student section when were an NAIA school for the years up to 1987. Since 1987, our men’s basketball team played at Municipal Auditorium in downtown Kansas City while our women’s basketball and volleyball teams called Swinney Recreation Center on the main UMKC campus home. Our student section at Municipal was located behind the basket on the visitor team bench side.This upcoming season, our men’s basketball team is moving their home games to Swinney Recreation Center. Our student section will once again be set up under the basket next to the visitors' bench. With multiple venues, our student section has taken on many forms, but the students seem to enjoy being under or behind the basket close to the visitors' bench. (Note: Jessica Dickson from UMKC Athletics answered this question to provide long-term perspective on the Roo Crew).

Does your student section require/recommend a certain shirt (or shirt color) be worn?

We design a shirt every year, however, students are allowed to wear whatever they want. Usually just blue is fine.

How are tickets allocated for students in the student section?

Members of Roo Crew get their tickets a day or two before the general student population at a designated location.

Where are you located at in the arena, and what is your favorite part about such placement?

Under the basket right by the away team's bench. This positioning allows us to see all the action up close and personal.

What are the two to three biggest games for your student section each year?

The first game of the men's soccer season, homecoming soccer game, and our men's courtwarming game during basketball season.

What struggles does your student section face every year?

Overall participation at men's basketball games because of the increase in tests and other factors in keeping people from attending games.

What are your thoughts on moving home games back to Swinney? What will this do for student attendance?

I am extremely excited! Our games at Swinney produce an overall better student turnout. Also with a limited space the fans are more compact and easier to get to participate.

Describe your most original chant, or a memory of a particular experience in the student section?

At an exhibition game against the University of Kansas, our student section was located at a very high-back corner of Allen Fieldhouse. We had a few good goals against the KU powerhouse. Our little yellow student section started chanting “D...D....D....Defense” during a silent part of the game and we could be heard all across the stadium. Of course this was the year that KU went on to win the National Championship. However, being able to silence the fans of the Jayhawks, ranked number 4 overall, [was great].

Why do you ultimately choose to be a part of the student section at your school?

There are so many perks! I love supporting the athletes at our school; I have been roommates with a basketball player. I am also friends with several soccer players, volleyball players and track athletes. They let me know on a regular basis how much it helps to have a very supportive student section.

- We'd like to extend our thanks to Aaron and Jessica for taking the time to answer our questions about UMKC. Be sure to check out some of the other pieces in this series below.

Other reports from the Student Section Chronicles:

- North Dakota State

- IPFW

- South Dakota State

- Oral Roberts

- Western Illinois

Student Section Chronicles: Western Illinois

If anyone ever wrote a detailed history of The Summit League and all its past formations, the part of Western Illinois would figure prominently in the story. The Leathernecks have been a member of this band of schools since its inception and are the only remaining original member, outlasting many which jumped ship to join the Horizon League, MAC, and Missouri Valley, amongst others. Key to the narrative of WIU would be why they were left out of conference alliances so regularly, often to remain in a league that would have to rebuild yet again with an even more geographically-challenged line-up.

One likely reason for WIU's continued membership in this conference entity is the simple fact that they have never been particularly amazing on the court. Despite being the longest-standing member, the Leathernecks have never made the NCAA Tournament, never hoisted a conference tournament trophy. It's an especially sad fact considering they've watched relative newcomers like North Dakota State and IUPUI join and win immediately. Even Southern Utah has been a part of March Madness. When Western Illinois was good during the mid-1990s, they had the unfortunate luck of running into Homer Drew's Valparaiso teams featuring NCAA Tournament legend Bryce Drew. From 1994 to 1997, WIU made it to the conference championship only to be beaten all three times by Valpo, including an 88-85 triple-overtime loss in 1995.

Despite unfortunate luck and a lot of despair, WIU is still alive and kicking. The hiring of Jim Molinari as Head Coach has widely been viewed as a solid move for the long-suffering program. The team posted a perfect Academic Progress Rate over the past four seasons, indicating academic success and program stability. Moreover, since the conference switched names in 2007, the Leathernecks have won more conference games than they did during what was an otherwise dreadful decade on the court. In a sense, the program is turning a corner - and doing it the right way. Their attendance has been down lately, no doubt affecting student attendance in the process. The answers provided by longtime student section member Hutch Retarski below surely indicate such, but with a renewed sense of hope in the program, the haze surrounding Western Hall should surely be thicker in coming seasons.

Name of the student section: Officially, The Purple Haze. But nicknamed by me as Section H.

How long has it existed in its current state?

I have been doing this for 4 years. Officially, The Purple Haze has been around for two seasons.

Does your student section require/recommend a certain shirt (or shirt color) be worn?

Yes, the "dress code" is a purple tye-dye t-shirt.

How are tickets allocated for students in the student section?

There are no tickets for students. Admission is paid through student fees.

Where are you located at in the arena, and what is your favorite part about such placement?

I am located next to the pep band. I like standing there because they are the biggest and loudest section in Western Hall and it allows me to join them in supporting WIU basketball.

What are the two to three biggest games for your student section each year?

Oral Roberts is a big rivalry for me as well as UMKC. A lot of those returning players remember me so it made for a great time.

What struggles does your student section face every year?

The biggest problem that we have is getting people out to the game. They come to a game here or there, but the following has not been loyal enough.

Describe your most original chant, or a memory of a particular experience in the student section.

My favorite chant was "Boo-Hoo Williams." I forget what school he is a part of but we just got in his head and he complained to the ref about us so we started with that chant.

Do the students at your school have any unique rituals performed before big games? Or do you have a specific experience to share if it is not something customarily done?

We do not have any rituals in my experience. But I like to listen to the school's fight song a couple of times before each game.

Why do you ultimately choose to be a part of the student section at your school?

I have a lot of friends on the pep band, so originally it started as me going to see them play. At the first game I started heckling the other team. The Leathernecks went on to win that game, and it was asked that I come to the next game. It was that very day that Section H was born.

- We'd like to thank Hutch for taking the time to answer our questions about Western Illinois.

Other reports from the Student Section Chronicles:

- Oral Roberts

- North Dakota State

- IPFW

- South Dakota State

Student Section Chronicles: Oral Roberts

For Oakland fans, Oral Roberts University is not a polarizing force. There's no love 'em or hate 'em discussion. You just hate 'em. Since OU began playing Division I basketball, ORU has more or less always been in contention for the conference title. They've handed the Golden Grizzlies a number of heartbreaking tournament losses, not to mention many during the regular season. Golden Grizzlies versus Golden Eagles may just qualify as basketball's most unlikely rivalry game because of the distance and differences between the two institutions. Despite the odd circumstances of their relationship, this match-up that happens twice a year every season continues to mean something in Summit League play. And it also means a lot to the fans.

While this rivalry may exist in the minds of Oakland fans more than those of Oral Roberts, there is no doubting the importance of the series to the league. ORU has been a dominant program, representing The Summit League in three straight NCAA Tournaments during the latter part of the past decade. They bring in big-time opponents to their areana, the Mabee Center, and they pull upsets just as often. While they are located in a city with another solid basketball program (Tulsa), they still draw the best attendance numbers in the conference. And as we find out a little later in this post, student support may rank in the top part of the league as well. Oakland, on the other hand, has been hot lately but has yet to achieve the kind of long-term success that ORU has sustained. While OU is one or two more NCAA Tournament bids away from getting to that point, ORU still sets the bar in this nation-spanning league. No amount of OU Juice changes that fact.

In our series on student sections in The Summit League, I have been most excited to learn more about the one at Oral Roberts due to their success and rivalry with Oakland. Kyle Krajenka, who serves as an Athletics Marketing Intern and Athletic Experience Director at ORU, was kind enough to field our questions to learn more about what makes the enemy tick.

Name of the student section?

There is no name currently. We were formerly known as the Mabee Maniacs, but I'm leading us through a transition year.

Describe the history of your section? How long has it existed in its current state?

It's been a rocky road the last 4 years. Again, it's all changing this upcoming year.

Does your student section require/recommend a certain shirt (or shirt color) be worn?

It does not. My priority right now is to get the students involved. We get about 400 students per game and we just want them to want to participate. I'm working on a system right now that will encourage students to wear blue as the athletic department really wants to push "True Blue ORU."

How are tickets allocated for students in the student section?

No tickets. Just scan in with your school ID. There has never been a problem in recent years with students not being allowed to enter games.

Where are you located at in the arena, and what is your favorite part about such placement?

We are located to the right of the visitors' bench. My favorite part is being so close to the opposing team, and we are visible on TV.

What are the two to three biggest games for your student section each year?

Tulsa (when we play them at home), IUPUI, and Oakland.

What struggles does your student section face every year?

The student section has a bad reputation. People think one must "go crazy" in order to participate. With Summit League basketball it's unrealistic to expect people are going to be going crazy when we're blowing out Centenary, IPFW, etc. I think a fantastic start would be to have people in the stands all wearing the same color. We have the attendance...now let's unify.

Describe your most original chant, or a memory of a particular experience in the student section.

There are no chants out of the ordinary, but the best memory so far is the last-second winning lay-up to beat Missouri last season. The student section from front to back was on their feet going crazy. It was quite a sight to see (from the scorers table where I work).

Do the students at your school have any unique rituals performed before big games? Or do you have a specific experience to share if it is not something customarily done?

No. I wish we did, but again, it's unrealistic at this point.

Why do you ultimately choose to be a part of the student section at your school?

I love that ORU has an opportunity to play D-I sports. I see basketball as great exposure. Just look at what basketball has done for Xavier, Butler, George Mason, Davidson, and others.

- Much appreciation goes to Kyle for taking the time to dutifully answer these questions. We wish ORU's students the best as they transition to a new name and brand for their student section. Hopefully they'll bring it hard in the upcoming season.

Other reports from the Student Section Chronicles:

- North Dakota State

- IPFW

- South Dakota State

Student Section Chronicles: South Dakota State

In South Dakota State's first season as a member of The Summit League, something very unfortunate happened: the rivals from North Dakota State captured the conference crown and earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament. To most outside of the Dakotas, this was all that was needed to establish NDSU as the front-runner in the battle for Division 1 supremacy amongst the two state schools. With the slip-on of a shiny slipper, NDSU had become the North Carolina to SDSU's South Carolina. Both respectable in their own right, but one needing no introduction to observers around the country.

I'm positive SDSU fans would have something to say about such a dichotomy existing so quickly. Fortunately, their basketball team did enough in the 2009-10 season to prove the Jackrabbits would not play the role of the perpetual second fiddle. After leading The Summit League standings in early January, the crew from Brookings cooled off a bit but did end up with a very respectable 10-8 record in conference (a 3-win improvement from the year before). What was most impressive, though, was that the team earned a couple wins on the road, a task they failed to complete during their inaugural run.

Where SDSU represents the hardest is at The Summit League Tournament in Sioux Falls, South Dakota each March. They picked up an unlikely win against Oral Roberts during the 2008-2009 season there before Oakland dispatched them in the second round. This season I was in attendance for their first round game against upstart IPFW. Looking back, it is still mind-boggling to me that they lost that game, especially given the fan support. While it was hard to notice a discernable student section, the entire arena was full of yellow and blue-clad fans of all ages, always ready to stand-up during the fight song and every important possession. It was one of my lasting impressions of the Tournament and a sure-fire indication that South Dakota is as fine a venue for Summit League basketball as any. Since I didn't get a chance to see their student section in action, I was especially anxious to reach out to South Dakota State for this series. What follows here is a brief question and answer with Tony, an SDSU student section participant.

Name of the student section:

I'm not sure if there is a formal name. Frost Arena is referred to as "The World's Largest Rabbit Den." I found a link to a group of fan's being called the "Jacks FanAddicts" but I'm not sure if it is still active. If it is, I haven't heard anything about it.

(Update: After publishing this, we had another reader/SDSU supporter give us this bit of info on the FanAddicts: It is still active, though I can see how some might be confused about it. The group is sponsored by Cubby's and it is for SDSU students only, and to become a member all a student has to do is pay $5, fill out a short form, and then they would receive a Jacks FanAddict T-shirt. With membership, the student gets a Jacks FanAddict T-Shirt which makes them eligible for the Cubby's FanAddict of the game contest (where a student would either shoot 1 free throw, or shoot multiple free throws against another FanAddict to see who made the most in thirty seconds during a media timeout, and the winner would receive a Cubby's gift certificate worth $25), though there were many times this year someone not wearing a Jacks FanAddict T-Shirt participated due to lack of people wearing them or the ones wearing them did not want to participate in the contest.)

Does your student section require/recommend a certain shirt (or shirt color) be worn?

Yellow and blue shirts are expected.

Describe the recent history of your student section? How long has it existed in its current state?

The student section has been pretty lousy recently, other than for women's games. When the women made a WNIT run, the crowds were supposedly amazing, but that was before my time as a student. The men's team has recently improved, slightly, and this past year the crowd was definitely better than it was the previous year, but it still wasn't that great. The WBB game against USD was the best crowd I've witnessed in my 2 years as a student. I personally enjoy MBB much more than WBB, so I'm hoping that the men's increased support continues. There was recently an article here about our poor student section (Link).

How are tickets allocated for students in the student section?

Students are admitted with a student ID. An activity fee is paid by all students in their tuition. At one game (SDSU vs. USD WBB) students were required to get their tickets before hand.

Where are you located at in the arena, and what is your favorite part about such placement?

Along the entire side of the court behind press row and the benches, except for a section for the opposing team's fans. The seats are great and with a good crowd the atmosphere is intimidating.

What are the two to three biggest games for your student section each year?

NDSU, and either Oakland or IUPUI, depending on which is the team to beat that year. Both teams drew big crowds this past year. USD will turn into the biggest draw in 2012 with the rivalry restarting. I went to one of the USD-SDSU games in Frost as a kid and it was incredible.

What struggles does your student section face every year?

Filling the student section is a problem that we shouldn't have but still do. A lot of students aren't aware when games are because 18-23 year olds are too lazy to look it up online. The athletic department started sending emails to students this past year to alert them to games and I think that helped. If they started advertising around campus that would definitely help too. Another problem is just cheering in general. Even when the entire section is standing, there is rarely any cheering besides an occasional "DE-FENSE" or "Here we go Rabbits." Creativity definitely needs to be improved.

Describe your most original chant, or a memory of a particular experience in the student section?

I can't think of anything particular. Like I said, our student section, even when cheering, lacks creativity. Hopefully it can be improved this year.

Do the students at your school have any unique rituals performed before big games? Or do you have a specific experience to share if it is not something customarily done?

Not that I know of or can think of off the top of my head. One thing that wasn't addressed in the questions though that I'd like to mention is that the band is usually really good and they cheer loudly.

Why do you ultimately choose to be a part of the student section at your school?

I love watching good basketball and it is definitely an enjoyable experience even when the crowd is poor. When the crowd is better, it's an even greater experience.

- Thanks to Tony for representing SDSU with his answers. Much appreciated. The next piece in this series will be posted on Monday.

Other reports from the Student Section Chronicles:

- North Dakota State

- IPFW