AC Hooligans strive to unite sports teams
School spirit is returning to Adrian College sporting events, thanks to a group of fans calling themselves the “AC Hooligans.”
The group was organized by sophomore Joe VanGeison and sophomore Alexander Gettys. The goal of the group, VanGeison said, is to establish a unified support system for all AC sports teams.
“It represents the importance of unity,” he said. “[That’s] something I feel Adrian College lacks and needs to improve. The majority of Adrian College is involved with AC athletics. We have successful teams but not a unified support system for those teams.”
VanGeison also said the Hooligans’ “dream” would be to have all of the baseball players cheering at a basketball game. Then, when spring arrives, the AC Hooligans would like to have the basketball team in the stands rooting for the baseball players.
“We want this [to happen] with all sports, rather than having individual teams,” VanGeison said. “Our goal is to have one athletic program, everyone for AC athletics.”
Gettys, who created the Facebook page for the group, believes the AC Hooligans “represent the bond that is enjoyed between the athletes at Adrian College.”
“For the most part, I would say about 90 percent of the student body were recruited to play sports or had the intention of trying out for a sport when they got here,” Gettys said.
He said it doesn’t matter whether or not a student still plays a sport. Rather, he said, the group sees itself as a way to link the entire student body together by sharing a common bond.
Adrian’s fraternities have been a big supporter of the Hooligans. In fact, the idea for the group came from a Tau Kappa Epsilon meeting.
The group had its start at a varsity hockey game. Gettys said the group arrived a few minutes early and found a hockey player had used stick tape and a Sharpie to write “We Are One” and stuck it to the glass, indicating where the group was to stand during the game.
“It instantly clicked,” Gettys said.
According to VanGeison, the slogan got students excited about going to games and increased their pride in AC athletics.
“I don’t know what the hockey team had in mind, but we feel that the slogan gives everyone a sense of self-worth, or a place in AC athletics,” VanGeison said.
Kourtney Price, student government association (SGA) president, said the Hooligans have rekindled school spirit at athletic events.
“Not only are we Bulldogs, we are insane, out of control, Adrian College sports fans,” Price said. “They yell for the home team, they provide entertainment for the fans. They are an all around cheer team for all the sports teams on campus.”
The group’s founders think their first year has been pretty good. Next year, they hope to stage a contest for the new T-shirt design for the 2010-2011 season. They also plan to have more scheduled events during halftime, possibly sponsored by the SGA.
“Look out for surveys and possibly a calendar with major Hooligan events,” VanGeison said.