Aaron Johnson – Sports Editor
Thunder sticks clapping together, music blasting, and chants rang out of Jess Dow Field on Wednesday night, as Southern students and athletes came together for the first ever “Bring the Noise” event hosted by the “Blue Crew.”
“I think the turnout went really well,” said Nick Charnysh, co-chair of the Blue Crew. “There were a lot of people, a lot of hype, and definitely a lot of spirit. Just what we were looking for.”
Students that came out were treated to pizza, contests, and prizes all in support of the “Blue Crew,” a movement that started last spring that has infused Southern’s campus with a new passion and school spirit.
“I think everyone’s major goal,” Charnysh said, “is that these events and these traditions we are creating, we see as an opportunity for them to become Southern Connecticut State University traditions.”
The energy from the crowd was contagious as several Southern Connecticut athletes came out to show support for the Blue Crew, including the members of the football team who addressed the crowd. Senior defensive back, Dion O’Joe said that all the people that came out in the Blue Crew was really something that was exciting to see.
“This is different for me,” O’Joe said. “I think this is awesome. It’s great, you know word spreads fast and friends tell friends.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5lg6_Qj0MI&feature=youtu.be
The Blue Crew section became a big hit on campus during the men’s basketball run to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight last year. Students came to the games decked out in blue, cheering on the Owls through both the NE-10 title run and trip to the Elite Eight. O’Joe said that he looks forward to seeing that same support for the football team this season.
“It will definitely help us out during the game,” he said. “This would be great. For the first day of having it, I think this is awesome. I hope this keeps on going; this is a big help believe it or not. Fan support definitely plays a big part. It’s like the 12th man.”
Bring the Noise also gave the new students at Southern a chance to experience the Blue Crew for the first time. Freshman and transfer students participated in the chants that will be heard throughout the athletic events this year, as well as some of the contests that were held during the night.
“I thought tonight was awesome,” said Chelsy O’Leary, a freshman from New Milford. “The people that came out were fill of spirit they wanted to go it was great.”
O’Leary said that the energy that the Blue Crew showed really make her excited, not only for the upcoming football season, but also the entire Southern as a whole.
“Everyone was very amped up,” she said. “A lot of people wanted to participate, everyone was into the chants, and everyone was raring to go. No one was really afraid to jump in.”
The Bring the Noise event was a way for students to get a sense of how the intensity of the crowd can help the athletic teams and also school spirit. Charnysh said that the purpose of the Blue Crew is to be the catalyst for this and future Southern Connecticut State University traditions.
“In the future people aren’t going to think that wow this is a Blue Crew tradition that happens every fall in October,” he said. “But it’s going to be this is a Southern Connecticut State University tradition and this is what we do as a whole university and not just the Blue Crew. We’re just kind of their stepping stone to get to traditions for the whole university.”
Photo Credit: Aaron Johnson
Video Credit: Aaron Johnson
