 "Photo: Conner Howell")
 "Photo: Conner Howell")
While the University of Texas has its Horn Fans and Dallas Maverick fans are “rowdy, proud and loud,” Wesleyan has its own group of sports fanatics: the Blu Cru.
Founded and funded by the Student Government Association, the Blu Cru is comprised of about 20 students whose main goal is to increase school spirit while getting a rise out of the hometown and opposing athletic teams.
The Blu Cru made its debut at the men’s basketball game when Wesleyan faced Huston-Tillotson Unviersity.
“It was crazy, madness,” said Heath Scott, SGA president. “We were bouncing off the walls, and students came up to me afterwards begging to be on the Blu Cru.”
A few hundred dollars were used to buy T-shirts and face paint for the group which hopes to have lanyards and head and wrist bands soon, Scott said.
The group’s inception is the second leg of a campus-wide SGA initiative to boost school spirit, he said.
Kevin Keathley, senior religion major, said the Blu Cru aims to encourage the Wesleyan team and act as a nuisance towards opponents.
“When the opposing team shoots free throws we start yelling, and I’ll make crazy faces to try and distract them,” he said. “Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.”
Hoping to create a name for themselves, Keathley said the Blu Cru’s presence is probably disconcerting and annoying to opposing teams.
Members said increased school spirit remains their goal above increased attendance at games.
“The ultimate Blu Cru will not only be able to instill support for Wesleyan athletics but school pride, spirit and of course fun on campus,” said sophomore history major Amanda Moten.
“It would be really cool to have enough people to where everyone doesn’t have to show up and we could have smaller Blu Cru squads,”Moten said.
Moten also said she hopes the basketball games are only the beginning and that they can eventually branch out to the other sports.
Trent Sandles, freshman English major, echoes the thought.
“A lot of our teams are top in the nation,” he said. “But not a lot of people know that or get involved.”
The Blu Cru prepares for games by spreading the word and meeting an hour beforehand to hash out a game plan.
“We’ll meet up 30 minutes to an hour [before] depending on the magnitude and go over the routines, yells and huddles we’ll do,” Sandles said.
Moten said the group discusses what did or didn’t work from the previous game and to remind each other about their purpose to be extreme fans.
“The opposing team is never going to enjoy the obnoxious fans,” she said. “But our faculty, players and coaches have told us how much they appreciate us.”
Sandles said the Blu Cru is beginning to make headway.
“We’re seeing a little more school spirit but it’s going to take time,” he said.
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