Conch Shell Fan Joey DiFrancesco. (via E-mail)
Most people would be honored to have their name spoken in the say breath as Duke head basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, but Miami Hurricane basketball fan JoeyDiFrancesco is more worried about his conch shell.
“I never got the shell back. Some kid is probably sitting on his couch, laughing, and trying to blow it with his friends,” said DiFrancesco about what happened to his shell after Coach K had security confiscate the hollowed out mollusk-home during the Blue Devils come-from-behind win on Wednesday.
DiFrancesco has definitely changed the history of conch shells and, because he has never really broken any NCAA rules, he has been bringing his shell to Hurricane games for quite some time now.
“I walked right into the game with it,” DiFrancesco said about the shell. “I’ve always just walked right in. I’ve been doing it for 4 years now, in previous years I was at every game (when we had Jack McClinton). Finally, I blew up.”
Conch Shell Fan, right, at a game earlier this year. (via Facebook)
DiFrancesco, an obvious fan of puns, took some time to answer a few questions for ThatFan as well. Of course we could spin these into a comprehensive exploration in unlocking the psyche of a crazed supporter, but everyone probably just wants to hear what the kid has to say:
Dr. Venkman: What is your major/interests outside of hoops/year of school (who are you basically)?
Conch Shell Fan/Elephant Boy: My interests are to graduate and build my company. As a sophomore I co-founded a college lifestyle magazine called back\slash. The publication is entirely unrestrained and is literally a snapshot of college lifestyle. Currently, the publication is localized for 5 cities in Florida: Miami, Orlando, Gainesville, Tallahassee, and Tampa – and we plan to expand nationally within a year. We envision becoming the first national platform for students to express themselves without restraint – THE national college brand. For more information check out
backslashmagazine.com – that’s my life, I put every ounce of my day into building my media brand.
Conch Shell fan enjoying a Hurricane win. (via Facebook)
Dr. Venkman: What did it feel like when Coach K forced security to take your shell?
CSF/EB: When Coach K told security to take my shell, I was shell-shocked. Listen, I’m not gonna say it’s not distracting – because it is (players shoot 50 % when I blow it). But I wouldn’t walk right into Coach K’s house and just make myself a cup of mokai tea. So who gives him the authority to come into our stadium and tell me what to do? That shell has sentimental value. Coach K is the reason it’s gone and my identity is stolen.
Dr. Venkman: Do you have a lot of experience with conch shells?
CSF/EB: The conch was passed down through my family and was originally my great grandfather’s from Puerto Rico. Yea, and now some kid has it. Because of Coach K, I lost one of the most important gifts I’ve ever received. I learned to use it when I was 5. I mastered it by age 5 1/2.
Dr. Venkman: Do you go to a lot of Miami games (football or basketball)?
CSF/EB: As a freshman, sophomore, and junior I went to every home game with that conch shell. This year I’ve missed 4 games, but I’ve been doing this for a while.
Conch Fan and friends doing their Dumb and Dumber impression. (via Facebook)
Dr. Venkman: Where does the elephant come from – I mean, I know the ibis is your animal?
CSF/EB: Birds feed off insects that swarm around an elephants back right ? The Miami Hurricanes, and entire crowd feed off me, they ride the energy that hat gives off. It’s symbolic. Also, I wear an elephant hat because it is relevant to the sound. Lastly, my mom gave me it, and I want to rep it hard.
Dr. Venkman: Do you play any other shells/naturally occurring phenomenon?
CSF/EB: Yes, I can play a strand of grass. I can also levitate.
Dr. Venkman now has the conch (Lord of the Flies style), but if you want it send him an e-mail!
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Related posts:
- Miami Conch Fan, Who Didn’t Really Violate NCAA Rules vs. Duke, Identified
- Miami Hoops Fan Adds to Conch History as Coach K Takes Away His Shell
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- Our Cheerleaders Are Hotter – Miami Style
This entry was posted on Sunday, February 21st, 2010 at 5:35 pm and is filed under Crazy Fans, Interviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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[...] The Miami fan with the conch answers a few questions [ThatFan] [...]
[...] The tool you are using to create more noise comes from nature. Let us not forget the Conch Shell Fan that made Coach K have security take away his shell because it was distracting his foul [...]