Jeff Sliger had one of those ideas that everyone has thought of while sitting on the porcelain throne and reading Maxim, but just never put into practice.
Looks Familiar Doesn't It? (FanHarmony.com)
He has come up with a social networking site for sports fans, granted, the site (FanHarmony.com) is in its infancy, but he has popped up in a few places, so we here at ThatFan gave him a shout.
He came back with the following reply, “FanHarmony is meant to be serious about sports like the Onion is serious about news. Sports are meant to be a break from what we all have to deal with… One of the developments that has happened since we started to publicize our site is that I have been contacted by sports writers in the UK, cricket fans in India, soccer fans around the world, hungry to interact with US fans. The “Team Picker” is a tongue in cheek quiz poke at those who take their sports a little too seriously. We live in the northwest so we’re used to disappointment. Heck our basketball team up and left town. If we got all hurt every time our one of our teams didn’t make the playoffs we’d all be suicidal. ”
Dr. Peter Venkman: What kind of reaction has the site gotten thus far (are there a lot of fans networking)?
Jeff Sliger: About what I expected. Slow to catch on but we have only just begun to push it out there.
Dr. Peter Venkman: What was the inspiration for starting the Facebook of Sports Fans?
Jeff Sliger: Having watched the internet grow from the moment it went public until present, I have seen the social phenomenon of FB kind of leave those involved “over exposed.” I think there will be niche markets opening up, like ours for instance, that give users a chance to be “social” online in a more limited way so they don’t feel like they’re walking around town in a hospital gown. I used to tell my son that I had to go clear across the state to find a pretty girl to marry me. He has found that because he has a FB presence and a lot of friends across the country, all the girls where ever he goes already know him. Not exactly a good thing.
Dr. Peter Venkman: What are some of the more popular portions of the network?
Jeff Sliger: A little early to tell. The compatibility test is a novelty right now so it is getting some use. I get some traffic to the blog posts because we tend to be a little different. What we want to be is a little more edgy than typical. Plus it is really designed to be driven by the fans themselves. The long term goal is for them to build the content.
Dr. Peter Venkman: Do you have a lot of people writing on the site or is it more of just a meeting place?
Jeff Sliger: Right now (and we are strictly at the very beginning) it is pretty even but not enough of either. We just need users and input to see what to attack next. The next big project is to have mobile access, so fans can send photos or status via phones right from the sporting event they’re at.
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.
One of the most popular events at the Winter Games thus far has been curling, most notably the women’s side of the competition for obvious reasons.
ThatFan was lucky enough to have Agent J, one of the throng of local NBC personalities helping with the television coverage, contact us and become ThatFan’s official 2010 Olympic Winter Games Fan Correspondent. (We only withhold his name so Papa Network doesn’t jam him up).
A rare miss by Dr. Venkman that our correspondent caught on the Olympic Curling Ice. Carmen Schaefer. (via the Associated Press)
“Good call on the ladies of curling,” agreed J with ThatFan on its breakdown of the Hottness on Ice. “I’m in the venue [and have] been here since practice sessions. You are pretty spot on but missed Schafer from Switzerland – tongue piercing and all. Anna Sidorova for Russia is a 10 out of 10. The Duponts are over-rated.”
With an embedded correspondent ThatFan took the liberty of finding out a little bit more about the curling fans, who have garnered quite a bit of attention themselves, but also about our favorite sparks on the ice sheets.
Dr. Peter Venkman: You are at the curling venue. There has been a lot of talk about the Canadian fans being a little bit too crazy for a sport with the demeanor of golf. What have you seen there?
Agent J: At the start of the bonspiel (great word), it was rowdy in here. Games were sold out – probably people that couldn’t get hockey tickets because the etiquette rules for curling (yes, they exist) were not being followed. Andrea Schopp was the first to complain about the lack of silence while curlers were in the hack – the thing similar to the starting gate for runners.
Then came the Denmark/Canada women’s match.
The game went to extra ends and when the Dutch girl (Dupont) got in the hack, the place was going insane. You have to understand that all of the seating in here is that steel/metal scaffolding. So the Canadian fans were stomping on it like a flaming bag of dog poop on your door step at Halloween. Dupont missed her shot. Cheryl Bernard came up and nailed it. After the game, Dupont was in tears and complaining about the fans.
There have been three instances of “O Canada” breaking out during different games.
Overall, the crowds have been great…loud as a hockey game. And the Women’s games have been more rambunctious – probably because the guys are jacked up seeing the ice queens.
Dr. Peter Venkman: What is the overall buzz in the air in the city?
Agent J: Party vibe. Vancouver unlike it’s ever been before. There are “houses” for each country that people line up for early in the morning so they can pay $20 to get into a white-tarped tent. But the real party is in the streets.
Shoulder to shoulder on some streets and the cops were so concerned about trying to control the masses of vomiting revelers that they imposed some old school liquor license law and shut down all the beer and wine stores downtown at 7 p.m. People were standing in line for booze, buying it, coming outside and re-entering the line while drinking their booze. Also those red mittens that are THE accessory for these games are great for hiding a bottle in.
Dr. Peter Venkman: Have their been any trials or tribulations about being a fan at the Games?
Agent J: Like I said, I’m working…but everyone is upbeat. This city is going to sleep for about a year after this is done.
Dr. Peter Venkman: What country has the craziest fans (other than Canada)?
Agent J: The Americans have been loud – they even made Eve Muirhead (Scottish Lass playing for Great Britain) get choked up as they started chanting U-S-A on her last shot…which she muffed.
One of the best Olympic fans out there, Patrick Plys, the father of American curler Chris Plys. (via Associated Press)
U.S. curler Chris Plys father has been a great story – he’s a cancer survivor and has been at every match, front row, with his shaved head, face and even arms painted differently for every match. He looks like a wrestler. And even hit someone in the head with a piece of his cowbell.
Canadians have done well here so the fans sometimes pull for the underdog. Some cheers have been for China (the men – who are brutally bad), some for Sweden and plenty for Norway’s pants…yes, cheering for pants – if you haven’t seen them, they are John Daly style but much slimmer. It’ll get loud again for the semis…they best be working on some hand signals for the finals because ‘hurry hard’ is going to be drown out.
—
Thanks for the help J. We’ll be finishing up Olympic coverage later this week with another gallery of the best Vancouver has had to offer.
A couple weeks ago That Fan introduced the world to Bill Sproat, AKA Shirtless Bill AKA Wild Bill. We aren’t saying we are the only ones who knew about Bill, but we are the site that got the word out and took his story national. Bill was amazing enough to do an interview with That Fan in between harassing opposing players during free throws, and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed doing it. We also want to congratulate Bill on winning “That Fan of the Month” for February 2010! In the next couple days we will be providing a statistical breakdown of the Utah State opponents during games Bill was in costume. For now, sit back and enjoy the view!
Shirtless Bill in his Little Mermaid outfit, with an "I am That Fan" sign!
That Fan:
Before we get started, give me some information about yourself.
Shirtless Bill:
My name is Bill Sproat and I’m a red-shirt junior liberal arts major at Utah State University. Most people call me Wild Bill.
That Fan:
How and when did the Shirtless Bill persona get started?
Shirtless Bill:
It all got started last season. I actually hate basketball and hadn’t been to a game, but I have a good friend on the team who finally talked me into going. Another friend of mine sits in the front row and saved me a seat. During one of the games last year I decided to take my shirt off. Last season it was just me with my shirt off and basketball shorts…no costumes.
That Fan:
Have you seen the Duke speedo guy who used to do something similar?
Shirtless Bill:
I had never seen it before I started taking my shirt off at games but I looked it up after someone told me to watch it. Remember, I’m not a college basketball fan so I hadn’t heard about it. Someone had told me to watch it and that I should wear a speedo, but I don’t want to copy off of him, I’d rather do something original.
That Fan:
Can you list all of the costumes you’ve had?
Shirtless Bill:
My very first costume was as a Chippendales dancer. I’ve also done Nacho Libre, a Pirate, a snorkler, cupid, a Mardi Gras outfit, a hula girl, Peter Pan, and the little mermaid.
That Fan:
How do you come up with your costume ideas?
Shirtless Bill:
People are always asking me to do certain costumes but most of them I come up with myself. My best friends help me a lot and came up with pirate idea.
That Fan:
You’ve only got a few home games left…can you reveal any of your future ideas?
Shirtless Bill:
I don’t know even know what I will do yet. The cupid idea came about an hour before I got to the arena. Some of them are planned a couple days in advance but most of them are done right before the game.
That Fan:
So will you continue to do this next year?
Shirtless Bill:
Yeah, I probably will!
That Fan:
Have any of the opposing players ever reacted to you? Spoke to you? Laughed at you? Cussed you out?
Shirtless Bill:
A lot of the opposing players laugh. I’ve also figured out that if they laugh while they’re at the free throw line they usually miss at least one. I have never had a guy look at me and laugh and then make both free throws.
That Fan:
So you feel it has actually impacted players shooting free throws?
Shirtless Bill:
It definitely makes an impact but I’m not sure how much. The impact is obviously not enough to win a championship, but it may impact one or two points per game.
That Fan:
Have any players/coaches from Utah State said anything to you about what you do? What about anyone from the school’s administration?
Shirtless Bill:
The athletic director told me a few weeks ago that I had to calm it down because people were complaining. I was upset so I stopped going to the games. One of my friends on the team told me that the team wants me there so I started coming back. The AD hasn’t said anything since, and I try to get the costumes approved with him beforehand.
That Fan:
Tell me about the procedure of getting dressed in whatever costume you choose for the night.
Shirtless Bill:
I don’t get into costume until the second half when the opposing team is shooting on my side of the court. Only a couple people know what I’m going to do. The cheer-leading coach lets me go into her office at halftime to change.
That Fan:
What has all the publicity that you have gotten the past couple weeks been like?
Shirtless Bill:
It was cool that Sportscenter.com contacted me for an interview. I get recognized more when I’m out eating and people I don’t know will come up and talk to me. I’ve had little kids ask for autographs sometimes. I’ve even had companies approach me saying they want to advertise on my belly.
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Special thanks to Bill for doing this interview. Be on the lookout for the Shirtless Bill statistical analysis in the coming days, and in the meantime, check out this website that is dedicated to Bill: http://youwantbill.com
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.
“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.
With the vast majority of his nearly 900 photos posted on his Facebook account devoted to his crazy outfits, body paint, and overall support of his Georgia Bulldogs, Drake Scott was already a campus legend before he decided to cover himself in sandwich spread.
As of last month, he became a national phenomenon.
Now, the junior Sagittarius speaks with the blind devotion that is expected and demanded of every true sports fan.
Dr. Peter Venkman: Who is the man behind the Peanut Butter (major, name, etc.) or would you prefer to just keep your anonymous place in the fan-dom lore like Zorro or the guy who is in the Big Bird suit?
Peanut Butter Kid: Names: Drake Mason Scott, Wombat, Chief Long River Runs Smoothly Through Canyon
Major: Consumer Economics
Etc: Brewing for 2+ years, Avid Bowler, Firm Supporter of Raising Hell at every game I attend which is 99.5% of Basketball Home Games, Every Home and 76.34% away football games, 87.5% Baseball games and a significant amount of tennis, women’s soccer, and gymnastics. I am roommates with the Ultimate Georgia Warrior Fan which has become quite the Youtube Star and Also the Rocky Guy that runs to the top of Stegman every game he attends.
Dr. Venkman: Was it chunky or smooth, Jif or Skippy?
PBK: Smooth Kroger Brand that slowly turned to a crusty concoction of what appeared to be feces
Dr. Venkman: What was the inspiration for your exploits? Were you just in the dining hall for the pre-game meal when lightning was caught in the bottle?
A different kind of shot of Georgia's Peanut Butter kid.
PBK: My professor, Diann Moorman, randomly showed us a picture of someone else covered in peanut butter in class just days before the big game and I thought it was a genius idea. I have painted my body everywhere and every way you, or better yet I, could imagine, and have sort of gotten bored. Fans can be an essential part of the game and all I can do is bring the energy and intensity of a rabid flounder every time I open my eyes. We also were filming a scene for Campus Movie Fest that showcased the mysterious spread as a rejuvenating face cream.
Dr. Venkman: Is there a Jelly Girl out there?
PBK: There is a Jelly Girl in all of us.
Dr. Venkman: Any plans for a repeat performance or change of condiment or are you just going to leave a single indelible standard for all sports fans to attempt to reach?
PBK: I have thought about ketchup, mustard, or a giant suit of raw chicken, but requests and donations are always helpful (old beans, rotten cheese, six-year-old eggs)
Dr. Venkman: What was it like getting onto sites like That Fan, Deadspin, ESPN, and Fox, while not having to make a 3-pointer, kick a field goal, or get a hat trick?
PBK: I do what I can to better my teams chances of victory. Screaming at and distracting the other teams players is my goal and If that takes a little help from such a great crop that Georgia is famous for then that is what it takes. The TV time and Internet are awesome, but that is a side note to seeing an amazing win.
If a photo is worth 1,000 words than here are 9,000 more about what Drake Scott brings to the Bulldogs (Photos courtesy of Scott via Facebook):
Ask any University of Southern California football player or coach who the #1 fan of the USC Trojans is and you will undoubtedly get one name: Jake Olson. Many of you have likely seen Jake’s inspirational story on ESPN over the past couple months.
Jake is a twelve year old seventh-grader who has lost his vision in both eyes due to cancer. When he was very young he was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a condition that causes cancerous tumors around the retina, in both eyes. His left eye was removed at a very young age but the doctors fortunately saved his right eye, which Jake has used to form his everlasting vision of this world.
The cancer came back on eight separate occasions and each time Jake would beat it, until this past September when he was informed that the treatment didn’t work. Jake would soon have his right eye removed as well.
For more information on his touching story watch the ESPN video clip below:
I was fortunate enough to chat with Jake about a number of topics after congratulating him on winning January’s “That Fan of the Month” award. Here’s a rundown of my interview with Jake:
That Fan:
First off, how long have you been a football fan, and what made you become a fan of USC?
Jake Olson:
My dad went to USC for his master’s degree and as soon as I could understand football he starting telling me all about USC football, and I’ve liked them ever since.
That Fan:
Favorite USC quarterback: Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, John David Booty, Mark Sanchez, or Matt Barkley?
Jake Olson:
It’s definitely Matt Barkley.
That Fan:
What other sports, teams, and athletes do you like besides USC?
Jake Olson:
Football is probably my second favorite sport behind golf, and my favorite golfer is probably Jack Nicklaus. I also like basketball and my favorite team is the Lakers. I’m a big fan of Kobe Bryant and actually got to meet him before I went blind. He gave me his shoes and autographed them for me. My favorite NFL team would be the Bears, and my favorite player for them is probably Brian Urlacher. I also like baseball and used to play. My favorite team is the Angels and my favorite player was Chone Figgins, but unfortunately he went to Seattle like Pete Carroll. I also love to swim.
That Fan:
Speaking of Coach Carroll and Seattle, what are your thoughts on that situation?
Jake Olson:
I think he really wanted to go back to the NFL, and this might have been his last chance, so he jumped all over it. It was the best thing for his family and we all want to do what’s best for our families. I’ll still support him and hope that we can keep in contact.
That Fan:
Have you talked to Coach Carroll since he gave the news?
Jake Olson:
Not yet, but he is supposed to call me. I still talk to a lot of the players though.
That Fan:
What was it like to meet Coach Carroll and all the players?
Jake Olson:
It was amazing and I’m really thankful that I got to meet them. Just hanging out with them took the burden off my back. I felt like I didn’t have to worry about anything else in life because when I was with them I didn’t have a worry in the world. It was really cool.
That Fan:
If there is one favorite vision in your memory of USC football that you will keep with you forever, what is it?
Jake Olson:
The day before my surgery I got to blow the last blow-horn at practice. Jeff Byers and Butch Lewis came behind me and put me on their shoulders and brought me to where the team was huddled up. Pete was talking to all the guys and told me to come back after my surgery, which was real cool.
That Fan:
You’ve become somewhat of a celebrity the last month or two…what has that been like?
Jake Olson:
It’s been really cool. People come up to me and tell me that my story has inspired them which is great. I just want to help people overcome their challenges and help change lives. One of the reasons I wrote my book is to inspire little kids with cancer.
That Fan:
I’ve heard about this book, can you tell me more about it?
Jake Olson:
It’s called “My Life with Cancer Holding Jesus’ Hand”. It’s basically about how I’ve gotten through the cancer with God and Jesus by my side. I wrote it to help give other kids hope and let them know that everything is going to be okay.
That Fan:
I also hear you’re coming out with a second book?
Jake Olson:
Yea, my dad and I are working on it. It’s basically a story about how our family got through our situation. I will give stories about things that have happened to me and some of the book will be based on my dad’s perspective.
That Fan:
What are your goals for the future?
Jake Olson:
I want to be a professional golfer when I grow up. I want to be the first blind person to win the Masters.
That Fan:
So you golf now?
Jake Olson:
Yeah, I do. Right now I’m getting lessons and if you have the right mechanics everything works out, and I actually play pretty well. I typically shoot between an 88 and a 92, so I try to play bogey golf.
That Fan:
Do you have any final words for all of your fans out there?
Jake Olson:
First of all, Fight On (USC fight song), and if someone faces adversity, stick with it and everything will be okay. Even with the Trojans, they need to stick with it, and with their new coach they’ll be okay.
****
Getting the opportunity to interview Jake was an awesome experience and I hope he continues to tell his story. The family is having a website set up so that people can order a copy of his book. They just ask for a $10 donation which will go towards the hospital that Jake stayed at during his procedures. As soon as they pass the website address along we will let everyone know.
Speaking of donations, Jake was kind enough to add another “I Am That Fan” picture to the site, so we will donate another $1 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation fund (click HERE to read more about this effort). Thanks again to Jake and the rest of the Olson family!
Jake Olson and his twin sister, Emma, along with their pets
Chances are Tom Pounds will never be a household name, although in my eyes he should be. As all you faithful readers know, I like to recognize fans for going above and beyond and being That Fan. Tom Pounds is about as good of an example that I have come across, and that is why he is That Fan of the Month for November 2009.
So who is Tom Pounds you ask? Let me walk you through how I found him…when I started this blog about a month ago, my goal was to write about a side of sports that you can’t get elsewhere, the sports fan. You can go to a million sites to talk sports, but where can you visit a site that focuses solely on fans? One of the best scenes of amazing fans is on Saturday morning College Gameday broadcasts. I’ve always watched College Gameday, but only after starting this blog did I start watching it in extreme detail, including all of the scenery in the background (signs, flags, hand gestures, etc.).
As I started covering the show for That Fan, I noticed I was seeing two Washington State flags at every broadcast. It didn’t matter what school the show was at, those flags were there. I was completely fascinated by this, because let’s be honest, Washington State hasn’t really had a great program lately. I mentioned the flags on a few of my posts and thankfully a reader pointed out that there was a fan out there who had been organizing this to happen. I immediately did my research, found out the tradition was started by Tom Pounds, and reached out to him for an interview which he agreed to. This weekend will mark the 87th consecutive broadcast that the Washington State flags have been flying on Gameday, an amazing accomplishment. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed doing it. My goal is to get this amazing story out for all fans to read!
That Fan: How did you become a Washington State fan and how long have you been cheering on the Cougars? Tom Pounds: I am a WSU alum from the class of 1981. I have been a fan since I was a kid.
That Fan: What was the first time you had the WSU flags present at a Gameday and why did you decide to start the tradition? Tom Pounds: The first time I did the College Gameday show was Oct 4, 2003. I knew the show was going to be in Austin that Saturday and I was going to be there visiting relatives. 2 weeks later a Coug fan in Minneapolis asked me to ship him the flag and he drove 300+ miles to the show in Madison, WI. A week later a guy in Olympia, WA volunteered his daughter to do the show in Bowling Green. After that, I just kept finding people to ship the flag to, week after week. From Madison, on, it has been 87 shows in-a-row (as of 11/14/09). Why? There is a phrase known to WSU fans and alums alike, “It’s a Coug thing”. We WSU fans and alums have been known for some crazy things on campus.
That Fan: Has anyone from College Gameday ever contacted you about the streak and what you do? Tom Pounds: Several Northwest newspapers picked up on the story in 2003 and 2004 — I had several interviews. USA Today did a story on the flag last year. ESPN also interviewed me on camera last year:
That Fan: I’m sure you’ve seen the WSU flag commercial for Gameday (shown below), did they contact you before they did the commercial? What did you think when you first saw it?
Tom Pounds: Yes I’ve seen it. Several Coug fans got to see an advance copy of the promo a week before it supposedly aired. A friend of my brother says he has seen it on-the-air, but I haven’t seen it except on Youtube and in the advance-viewing. I didn’t have anything to do with ESPN making the promo, but I absolutely love it!
That Fan: College Gameday’s Twitter account said a new Washington State flag commercial would be unveiled this week at College Gameday. Do you know anything about it that you can share? Tom Pounds: I don’t know anything about a new commercial, nor have I seen any advance viewings of anything new.
That Fan: Do people travel to each site or do you typically find someone who lives in the location of where Gameday is being taped? Tom Pounds: Typically fans and alums live within 50 miles of where the show is being broadcast that week. This year, the exception has been the show at Penn State. The WSU grad/Penn State grad student who was there, had graduated. New York city and New Jersey Cougs had to drive 250 miles to cover it (my Pittsburgh guys were nowhere to be found either).
That Fan: How do you find people in other cities? For instance, if a school is getting a broadcast for the first time, do you have to track someone down or will people reach out to you wanting to do it? Tom Pounds: Back in 2003 and 2004 finding people was difficult. Other than the first 2 weeks in-a-row (as mentioned before), I used a network of Coug alums and fans from the Scout.com sports board: Cougfan.com. It was strictly by word-of-mouth and through Cougfan that I found people to do the shows. Some people had to drive hundreds of miles to get to the shows. Eventually I got a ‘critical mass’ of WSU alums and fans on my list but even in 2005 some weeks I was ’sweating it out’ on late Thursday (deadline to ship overnight to Friday). Last year and this year WSU fans are e-mailing me ahead of time wanting to wave the flags on the show. I now have (at latest count) 134 people on my list in just about every city ESPN normally goes to. Sometimes the WSU alumni office will assist in finding someone, but that’s rare that I have to ask for help.
That Fan: Are the flag carriers always Washington State fans or are they people who have agreed to help you out? Tom Pounds: I’d say 90% of the flag-wavers are WSU alums. Certainly the other 10% are *fans* of what we do. Some regular flag-wavers are actually alums of other schools.
That Fan: Are you ever worried someone is secretly a Washington fan looking to sabotage you? Tom Pounds: Back in 2003 and 2004, sabotage was always a concern. Through 2005, 2006, and 2007 not so much, as I had my crew of regulars doing the shows. As the effort gained popularity and more people asked to be put on the list, I started to worry more about sabotage, again. The WSU alumni office will verify anyone claiming to be an alum and I have used this service many times. Other fan websites (scout.com, rivals.com etc. — for the school hosting Gameday) will always post about the CGD show coming to their school. Reading those threads is very telling. I have read posts of host school fans plotting against the WSU flag, but in every case they are chastised by the majority of the others on that board.
That Fan: Is there anything else in it for the flag carriers other than knowing they are a part of the streak? Do you pay them or do they get to keep the flags? Tom Pounds: Everyone who does the show and waves the WSU flag is a volunteer. An organization called the Ol’ Crimson Booster Club, a grassroots organization of WSU alums and fans collects money to pay for shipping costs, but if someone has to travel more than about 100 miles we will pay for their gas. Doing the show is a great experience.
That Fan: What is your typical week of preparation like in getting the flags there for Gameday, starting with when you find out where the show will be located? Tom Pounds: My typical week for getting the flags on the show starts with reading the ESPN site late Sunday afternoon to find out where they will be the following Saturday. Keep in mind — even the ESPN producers do not generally know where the show will be more than 6 days in advance. Once I know where they will be, I look on my list to see who is in that city (or geographic area) and I send out e-mails. Sometimes I will make a phone call, too. Usually, by Monday I have a name of someone who is available to do the show. Back in 2003 and 2004, “Usually”, was Thursday — talk about stress! Once I have a name (and address), I simply pass that information to the person who has the flags. This comes as a standard set of instructions for how to fill out a FedEx Airbill, complete with the account number. The flags usually arrive at the next person’s home by Friday afternoon and they take them to the show the next morning. FedEx hasn’t failed us, yet.
That Fan: I think I read somewhere that you make the flags, is that true? Tom Pounds: Like I said before, the first flag was hand-made by my mom (visiting at the time). All the rest of the flags have been hand sewn by my wife, Syndie (who passed away last January).
That Fan: How many sets of your flags are out there? Tom Pounds: There is one set of flags, only: a burgundy/crimson nylon flag, a white nylon flag, and a commercial nylon flag (donated by the WSU book store in 2003). In addition there is a cloth flag for autographs. Some of the past flags have been retired but replaced with newer identical ones. 3 have been lost in transition — 1 off the back of a pickup truck; two fallen out of a broken shipping tube.
That Fan: How much money do you spend on doing this? Tom Pounds: Back in 2003 a non-profit corporation was set up in Washington to raise money and distribute funds for this effort. WSU fans have donated thousands of dollars over the years to keep this thing going. Our annual budget is approximately $2,500.00. That includes all shipping costs, things like new flagpoles, material for new flags, and paying for some people’s travel expense. Remember that guy who volunteered his daughter to go to Bowling Green? He’s the one who set up the corporation — the Ol’ Crimson Booster Club.
That Fan: You seem to be quite the Washington State celebrity. Does anyone from the school administration ever reach out to you? Tom Pounds: The WSU AD asked me to speak at 2 fundraisers earlier this year. I also spoke at a fund-raiser in 2004. The athletic department wants me to help set up a web site with information on the flag.
That Fan: How long do you envision keeping this going? Tom Pounds: My immediate goal is to see the flag present at 100 CGD shows in-a-row. This will happen next year. After that I would like to see ESPN bring the show to Pullman, WA. Even then there isn’t any real reason to quit. I might have someone else take over if I get tired of doing the organizing.
That was a great interview. If any of you have additional questions for him, let me know and I will try and get them answered. If you’d like to donate money to the cause you can find more info HERE. I’m looking forward to seeing if a new WSU flag commercial is unveiled this week on Gameday. Tom – you ‘da man!
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