I am not exactly sure what the appeal of the “Snuggie” is (I rock the good old fashioned robe when I watch my Saturday Morning Cartoons), but more than 20,000 donned the armed blankets during the first quarter of the Cavs-Pistons game on March 5 for five minutes to set a world record.
Cav fans setting Snuggie World Record...Where is Stonehenge? (Via Associated Press).
That is, of course, except one fan wearing a Celtics jersey and another who thought ahead and brought a Pistons Snuggie according to a report on NBC.
Even though the stipulations for setting a world record (via Guinness) are: Having a Guinness official present, at least 250 people have to participate, they must all wear their own Snuggie, they need to wear it for five minutes and they all must be the same color…please don’t try and break this record.
Dr. Venkman in the 2009 St. Patrick's Day Parade - on the right. (He will be back this year)
It isn’t really a fan law, it is more of a self-respect thing. Don’t dress up like a Color Blind Tusken Raider just to be part of a record.
According to NBC: “All of the Cavaliers players were given their own personalized Snuggie. Shaquille O’Neal’s needed 9 feet of material — 2 to 3 feet more than a typical Snuggie for the 7-foot-1 O’Neal. Rookie Danny Green wore his Snuggie on the court for pregame shootaround.” Sorry Dan, but you looked stupid (I figure you had to do this because you are a rookie).
After taking a spin through the Feb. 10 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience (oh yeah, we are ThatSmart here at ThatFan). We found a really interesting piece under the title Sports Fans Have a Selective Memory (we actually found an easier to understand/read report by Dan Peterson on his blog SportsAre80PercentMental.com).
Krang from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles...the most famous brain ever
Basically, the study, which was conducted at Duke was, “aimed at understanding the links between emotion and memory that might affect Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and how well people recall their personal histories,” according to Peterson.
Scientists used the Feb. 3, 2000 game at UNC’s Dean Smith Center, which Duke won 90-86 in overtime, to test both Tar Heel and Blue Devil fans on what they remembered best about the game (fan’s were chosen after passing a basketball literacy/super fan test…wish I could have taken those at school).
“Using game film gives researchers a way to see the brain deal with powerful, rapid-fire positive and negative emotions, without creating any ethical concerns,” Peterson said in his story.
It seems obvious to us that, “Test subjects were more accurate at remembering a successful shot by their own team than a miss by their team or a successful shot by the other team,” but since they literally put fans in an MRI machine and tested their actual brains and took pictures of them this is pretty cool. In layman’s terms, the idea of witnessing your favorite sports team win or lose is going to help us treat soldiers and first responders that deal with much worse.
Now, here comes the controversy…”A pilot study for the basketball experiment included a half-dozen women who had passed the super-fan test, but even after five or six showings of the game, their recall of the shots was too low to be useful.”
Did you just hear that? It was the sound of every single woman in America punching their boyfriend in the arm for reading that statement out loud. So, guys are better sports fans, huh (I’m just asking ladies…I’m a bigger fan of you than guys anyway)?
That wasn’t the end of the fun either…”the Duke fans and the UNC fans did equally well on the recall test, though the Duke fans tended to answer quicker and tended to be more sure of themselves.” (Remember, that the study was done at Duke and, “was supported by two grants from the National Institutes of Mental Health,” so it was a real study still)
College GameDay was held at Syracuse yesterday for the big-time showdown between The Cuse and Villanova. I was hoping that a monster crowd would show up and surpass Kentucky’s GameDay record set a couple weeks ago, but it didn’t happen. There was still a solid crowd in attendance though. If you were at GameDay and you have pictures of signs we don’t have here, let us know so we can post them!
Digger went with a yellow tie/highlighter combination this week for those of you that pay attention to that odd sort of thing. The Syracuse student who shot the half-court shot for a scholarship missed pretty badly. That makes fifteen straight shows with a miss, and Duke and North Carolina remain the only schools to ever have someone make the shot. On to the signs!
We get started with one of our favorite sign themes, co-eds begging parents for money for some random occurrence that they don’t want to spend money on themselves:
"Dad - send $ 4 Spring Break"
There were a ton (yes, a ton) of E.S.P.N. signs that said something with Syracuse on the S, and Nova on the N. We’ll spare you from 99.9% of them because they all basically said the same thing:
"E.S.P.N. - Eat Syracuse Pulp Nova"
"E.S.P.N. - Crowd, Help Syracuse Punish Nova!"
"E.S.P.N. - Everyone in Syracuse Pitties Nova"
This sign/costume combo is just AMAZING. Boeheim was so GQ in the 80’s:
"I'm with Jim"
The majority of you will have no clue what this next sign means, so head over to Urban Dictionary to figure it out. Is it just me, or does Andy Rautins look like he came straight out of the “My New Haircut” videos?
"Not now chief, I'm in the 2-3 zone!"
Every week on GameDay there are the huge cardboard head signs in the crowd, and this week was no different. You had all the GameDay guys, Jim Brown, Carmelo Anthony, Rautins, and this guy? Who the hell is this guy?
For some reason I don’t think Carmelo has any eligibility left…maybe if the Cuse goes out and hires Calipari they could make it work though (low blow I know, sue me):
"Carmelo: One more year!"
There always has to be someone to embarrass themselves on national TV:
Our favorite signs every week are the ones that include the GameDay crew. This young lady is proposing to Bobby Knight…why do I get the feeling that he would be grumpy and angry if he read the sign in person (not great quality but had to post it anyway)?:
"Bobby Knight, will you marry me"
My personal favorite for the best sign of the day:
"Digger: Dance with our cheerleaders"
This guy was mad Digger went with yellow instead of orange, and we don’t blame him!:
"Digger, where's your orange tie??!!"
Speaking of Digger’s accessory selection, here he is in all his glory. Leave a comment below and caption this picture:
"Hey buddy, don't worry about what color my tie is!"
Another week, another Erin Andrews sighting, and whatdya know…she tried to kiss me again for the third time this year!
Be sure to vote in the poll below for your favorite sign. At the end of the season we will have a tournament of all the best signs. If you haven’t voted for last week you can do so HERE. As of right now “Rece – Wear my Snuggie” is in the lead.
Next week College GameDay will be at Duke to watch the Blue Devils take on North Carolina, and we will be back with all the signs. I believe this is the last broadcast of the year…if you’re going to be there let us know!
He is certainly not the first fan to seemingly lose his way to the pool and find himself behind a glass backboard in a gym, but he might be the most patriotic.
UGA's Patriotic Speedo Kid (via Facebook)
The University of Georgia has produced some of the best fans this side of the Mason-Dixon Line. Of course, the Peanut Butter Kid leaps to mind, but ThatFan presents to you, UGA’s Speedo Kid.
A self-proclaimed BAMF, the 20-year old Joey Summer hails from Gainesville, Georgia and is single, while not leaving much to the imagination, ladies. His latest three Facebook videos are dedicated to his exploits, both shirt and pant-less, in the UGA student section.
Dr. Venkman was able to track this Patriot down for a few questions.
Dr. Peter Venkman: You are obviously a great American, but what was the inspiration behind you supporting UGA/USA in this way?
Speedo Kid: First of all, let it be known that although I am a die-hard Bulldog fan, I have been a patriot of the highest order my entire life. Since this is an Olympic year, I figured what better way to simultaneously show my support for the Dawgs and Team USA than to wear a speedo emblazoned with the stars and stripes? During basketball games, when I thrust my hips into the air I do it for America–and if in the process I end up helping the team by causing opposing players to miss a few free throws, then so be it. I’m not trying to distract players or promote myself, I’m just trying to love my country and my team in the only way I know how: with massively suggestive squats and dance moves.
Dr. Peter Venkman: How long have you gone with the swimwear at basketball games?
Speedo Kid in all his glory. (via Facebook)
Speedo Kid: The UGA-Vandy game was the speedo’s maiden voyage, and since then it has made two more appearances. Let it be known to all SEC rivals that the speedo is 3-0 at Stegeman.
Dr. Peter Venkman: Do you attend football as well as hoops…in the same gear?
Speedo Kid: Negative, I take the opposite approach at UGA football games. I opt for the full body red/black spandex suit fully equipped with fanny pack. The thing about the speedo, or any outrageous outfit for that matter, is it can’t be overdone. The more you break it out, the less novel it becomes. Just look at the Naked Cowboy. Where is that guy now? Probably auditioning for roles in a Brokeback Mountain spinoff. Spontaneity is the key.
Dr. Peter Venkman: A lot of great authors read other great authors. Do you follow other fans?
Speedo Kid: Of course I like to keep an eye on other superfans like myself. But I don’t really view it is a competition (i.e. fans trying to outdo each other). I think anything that draws attention and support to the team is a positive. I am particularly inspired by Utah State’s Shirtless Cupid Guy–he is an innovator.
Speedo Kid behind the backboard (via Facebook)
Dr. Peter Venkman: Would you join Michael Phelps relay team or the UGA bench if you had the choice?
Speedo Kid: As much as I would love to be the anchor on a gold medal winning relay team, I doubt Phelps would allow someone on his squad who looked so much better than him a speedo. Cheering on the Dawgs court side would be a dream come true. No way John Wall goes over 6 points if the speedo is at eye level.
Dr. Peter Venkman: I see that you are a computer guy at heart (Computer Science and Management Information Systems Major). Could we call your supporting style IT guys gone wild?
Speedo Kid: I don’t know about that, but I do know this: Dwight Schrute, Milton Waddams, and Steve Urkel are all fans of the UGA Speedo Guy. I’d like to think that below the surface of every introverted software developer lies a wild hairy beast just waiting to be unleashed by an American flag speedo. If my antics cause others like me to come out of the cubicle, lock up your daughters.
Even though it is still in its infancy, here is a quick look at what the future of broadcasting might look like. Basically, it is going to give fans a more comprehensive view of certain players or the ball during broadcasts, which is never a bad thing (especially with HD).
Seems like R2-D2, Robocop, the Robot from Lost in Space, Wall-E, C-3PO, Mechagodzilla, The Terminator, Bishop, Johnny-5, Bill and Ted’s Robot Doubles (both good and evil), Bender, and Optimus Prime all have something to watch now.
On Saturday night the Kentucky Wildcats rolled into Nashville and escaped with a 2-point victory over Vanderbilt. Kentucky has seen it all from opposing teams’ fans this year, but nothing would get as bad as the bottle-throwing treatment they got from Mississippi State. That is, until a Vandy fan did the unthinkable.
While watching the game you saw nothing but a sea of yellow and a red spot of color in the crowd. It was this fan wearing a Louisville jersey:
So this begs the question, is this guy a Vandy fan who was trying to be funny, or is he just someone that hates Kentucky so much that he bought a ticket to the game just to cheer against them? Either way, we like it! Interestingly enough, the one UK fan in the student section sat right behind him (also pictured). We also have to give him credit for braving that one out!
Let me first say that I was a bit disappointed in the Washington crowd for College GameDay yesterday. We were probably a bit spoiled after Kentucky’s record performance last week, but I would still expect more people to show up. The attendance figure was around 1,500, easily the smallest crowd of the year. To be fair, GameDay started at 8am PT, and I’m sure many students were too hungover tired to get out of bed. I still have to give credit to those fans that did come, because without them, we wouldn’t have this post! If you were at GameDay and you have pictures of signs, let us know so we can post them!
Digger went with a pink tie/highlighter combination this week for all of you fashion buffs. The Washington student who shot the half-court shot for a scholarship had good aim but fell a couple feet short. That makes fourteen straight shows with a miss, and Duke and North Carolina remain the only schools to ever have someone make the shot. On to the signs!
First up is our favorite sign of the week. Bobby Knight’s chair-throwing legacy will live on forever:
"Throw it here Bobby"
Speaking of Coach Knight, he apparently has a couple Washington cheerleaders in his fan club…I bet Digger is jealous:
More members of the Bobby Knight fan club:
"Bob Knight is a saint"
Bobby Knight wasn’t the only person at ESPN getting attention. Washington students pleaded with Rece to wear a Washington snuggie, which he agreed to:
"Rece - wear my Snuggie"
Rece Davis in a Washington snuggie
Washington’s women like their men with a few extra pounds:
"We like our men Husky"
These fans are well aware of the apparent east-cost bias that ESPN has, and I don’t think they are too happy about it. It looks like they aren’t happy about losing their NBA team either:
"We exist too! have you seen our Sonics?"
Washington fans arranged signs to spell Niiikolaa for UCLA’s Nikola Dragovic, which I think is a play on the Ricola commercial:
Last but not least, our favorite part of yesterday’s broadcast (although getting a kiss from Erin Andrews comes in a close second). Watch the fan on the left as he mimics punching Digger Phelps in the background:
Be sure to vote in the poll below for your favorite sign. At the end of the season we will have a tournament of all the best signs. If you haven’t voted for last week you can do so HERE. As of right now “In Kentucky we love our Cousins. In Tennessee they marry them!” has a commanding lead.
Next week College GameDay will be in Syracuse to watch the Orange take on Villanova, and we will be back with all the signs. Will Syracuse break Kentucky’s attendance record? If you’re going to be there let us know!
It seems as if this has become somewhat of a tradition in the SEC, as Mississippi State fans somehow found out University of Kentucky’s DeMarcus Cousins’ cell phone number (no word yet on which bathroom stall it was posted in). Fortunately he has the unlimited text message plan, because fans bombarded him with thousands of text messages, and hundreds of phone calls. And no, those weren’t good-luck calls either.
How did Cousins respond? Only with a solid 19 points, 14 rebounds performance in Kentucky’s overtime victory over Mississippi State. In the LSU article mentioned above, I have pictures of the players involved flashing a “call me” sign to the crowd, my favorite part of the whole story. Cousins did not disappoint:
Check out this SportsCenter video for more, including some great fan shots (one holding a “can you hear me now” sign, and another actually calling Cousins in front of the camera):
Note to all fans out there: calling opposing players doesn’t help your team, but it sure gives us something fun to write about, so keep doing it!
A central theme of That Fan is how sports fans can impact games and provide a home-field advantage. In football this has been called the 12th man, and in basketball it has been called the 6th man. The NBA put together a nice little commercial here emphasizing the fans. My favorite part of the commercial is where the fans throw the powder into the air with Lebron. I knew he did that every game but I wasn’t aware the fans in the crowd did it as well.
ESPN College GameDay was live from Lexington, Kentucky yesterday at Rupp Arena, the site of the showdown between #2 Kentucky and #12 Tennessee. I have been saying for the last few weeks that I expected this crowd to be the biggest ever for a GameDay because of how fast the tickets sold out. I was correct, as 22,144 fans showed up to show the world who the best college basketball town in America is. The crowd nearly tripled the previous record that was set a few weeks back by Kansas State with 8,159. I also heard that the crowd broke the record of the football version of GameDay but I can’t confirm that. The only downside to the huge crowd is that the signs were so spread out that it was tough to get a glimpse of all of them. If you were at GameDay and you have pictures of signs, let us know so we can post them!
Digger went with a green tie/highlighter combination this week. I’m kind of surprised he didn’t play to the crowd like he usually does by going with blue. Come to think of it, I don’t think they make highlighters in UK blue…maybe he should get with Sharpie on that one. The Kentucky student who shot the half-court shot for a scholarship missed pretty badly, but it wasn’t the worst shot we’ve seen all year. That makes thirteen straight shows with a miss, and Duke and North Carolina remain the only schools to ever have someone make the shot. On to the signs!
First things first, I could post pictures of what seemed like a few hundred “We love our Cousins” sign, but I will spare you and just go with a couple (if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all). I’m going to withhold my Kentucky jokes here and let you do it in the comment section. DeMarcus Cousins is certainly one of the most dominate players in basketball this year (even if he does play a little dirty), and the fans in Lexington love him:
"We love our Cousins in Kentucky"
"Here in Kentucky we love our Cousins"
As silly as Kentucky fans look holding these signs, at least they aren’t from Tennessee:
"In Kentucky we love our Cousins. In Tennessee they marry them!"
Well played. On to some more Tennessee humor:
"Tennessee can Volunteer to lose"
There were quite a few plays on the “Orange you glad you…” joke. One sign will get the job done here:
"Orange you glad you aint a Vol"
Tennessee’s football and basketball teams have both had an unfortunate series of mishaps with the law this year. Think Kentucky fans won’t be making fun of that? Yeah right…
"Kentucky Pros vs. Tennessee Cons"
Just in case you didn’t get the message the first time:
"Pros vs. Cons"
Probably my favorite con-related humor of the day:
"7 NCAA Championships. 2,000 wins. 43 SEC Titles. What has UT done lately? 4 mugshots."
I was disappointed in the lack of signs making fun of Digger and the crew, however, one reader did send in a picture aimed towards Bobby Knight. Needless to say, Knight isn’t too fond of Calipari so it wasn’t a surprise he didn’t make the trip.
"UK gives Bobby Knight-mares"
Speaking of Calipari…
"E.S.P.N. - Every day is a Caliparty in Kentucky"
DeMarcus Cousins vs. Wayne Chism battled it out for best fashion accessory:
"Battle of the Bands"
Attention all Kentucky fans…I have to find out who this guy is because it is imperative I find out what the rest of this guy’s hilarious sign says. If you know this guy, or you know what his sign said, please contact me!
:
"UK/UT Tix: $50. Hotel room: $80. Breaking up with my girl V-day weekend to ???: PRICELESS!"
Obviously there were plenty of John Wall signs:
"John Wall lives vicariously through himself"
Is it just me or is this some form of blasphemy?
"W.W.J.W.D." (What Would John Wall Do?)
In the words of the great Lee Corso, not so fast my friends:
"11 is the new 23"
Last but not least, Erin Andrews was in the building, and this Kentucky fan wants her as his valentine (don’t we all?):
"Be mine Erin Andrews"
Speaking of Erin, here she is from yesterday’s broadcast:
We also had Erin’s arch-rival (not really, but it sounds cool) and That Fan favorite, Jenn Brown:
Jenn Brown doing the John Wall dance...
This is the third time I’ve seen Gumby at a College GameDay this year…he must be a big basketball fan:
Digger sporting the green tie/highlighter combo…maybe he did it for Gumby?
Speaking of Digger, he sure likes to bust a move with the cheerleaders every week:
While we are still on the topic of Digger, one angry fan in the crowd isn’t too fond of him (maybe the cheerleader in the video above is his girlfriend?). During Rece Davis’ interview with John Calipari, a UK fan can be heard yelling “Digger, YOU SUCK!”
The loudest the crowd got yesterday may have been when Rick Pitino was mentioned:
If you were one of the fans who was boo’ing Pitino (or wish you were there so that you could have), click HERE and HERE because these shirts might interest you:
Lastly, I’ve been waiting to spot fans giving obscene gestures in front of the camera all year, and to my disappointment I haven’t found any…until these guys. These guys get WAY too excited about giving the “forearm jerk” which is the French version of the middle finger:
This UK fan must have seen those guys and wanted to top them:
Be sure to vote in the poll below for your favorite sign. At the end of the season we will have a tournament of all the best signs. If you haven’t voted for last week you can do so HERE. As of right now “Izzo likes Nickelback” is in the lead.
Next week College GameDay will be in Seattle to watch Washington take on UCLA, and we will be back with all the signs! If you’re going to be there let us know!
Posted by Ben Meyers 
is in the lead.
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