One of my biggest pet peeves about sporting events is the fan wears jerseys or t-shirts from a team that’s not even playing. Going to Coors Field in the summer means I’ll see at least 50 people wear a Red Sox cap, or a Yankees shirt every game. Unless the Colorado Rockies are playing the Red Sox or Yankees, I don’t want to see that. We’re not in Boston or New York. Fans at Coors Field should at least wear a jersey from another Colorado team, although our other professional teams are pretty dismal.
In all seriousness though, I’m tired of going to sporting events here at Mesa State College and seeing students wearing Colorado State or University of Colorado gear. We aren’t affiliated with any of these schools. It doesn’t just happen at sporting events here either. Walking around campus I’ll see students wearing various college t-shirts. Where is our school pride?
It’s embarrassing to go to a game and see students wearing CSU Pride t-shirts. How about a Mesa Pride t-shirt? It’s not that hard to get your hands on an MSC t-shirt. Every week, there is some club or organization handing out free shirts with Mesa State all over them. You can also join The Herd, which is the college’s official student fan club. You get a t-shirt for signing up, and as you go to events here, you can earn points to get clothing items. It doesn’t get much easier than that. Even if you can’t get your hands on an MSC t-shirt, wear maroon or black.
Take pride in our school. Our athletic teams play well, and we need to show them our support. With the school’s potential name change, we must establish our identity.  It’s going to be hard to do if our student body can’t show some spirit.
Tuck that CSU t-shirt into the bottom of your drawer. Throw away your Ralphie the Buffalo stuffed animal, and start waving your MSC flag from your balcony. It’s time to show this school that we’re proud of it.

hrrutt@mesastate.edu