Blue Crew changing names Billikens build new traditions
As the great, classic-rock band The Who clearly exclaims in its 1978 mega-hit: “Blue are you? Blue, blue, blue, blue? I really wanna know. Blue are you?”
Or so I think that’s what the song exclaims. I’ll be honest, sludents, I don’t listen to music; I just do not care for it. Catchy lyrics, melodies that make you boogie? Forget about it; that’s just not for me. However, what I do have a passion for is good, old-fashioned, bring-the-peanut- butter-and-pump-up-the jam Billiken basketball.
From head basketball coach Rick Majerus’ black-on-black clothing ensemble, to Kwamain Mitchell leading the offense, all the way to the student section on the west end of Chaifetz Arena, Billiken basketball has undergone a serious transformation recently: from the doldrums of Division I hoops to being primed for a run at excellence.
At the heart of this transformation is the student section that steadily increases in attendance as the Legend of Chaifetz grows.
The words I think that The Who sang are very applicable when describing the student section at all home basketball games: Blue are you?
Well, for the past decade or so, the group in charge of organizing student section participation called itself “Blue Crew,” yet the group is currently in the midst of an identity switch and name change.
The name is too dated and generic, the leaders and Athletic Department claim. I agree. Any school with the color blue could be deemed “blue crew.” Students here at Saint Louis University (sludents, if you will, and I will) are much more creative than that.
The current campaign to rename the student section and its organizational governing body is a fantastic opportunity for sludents of all ages to take part in their fan-ship and University.
This is a great chance to showcase the creative habits of student fans here that have already permeated into the crowd at basketball games.
The imaginative prowess of the student section, regardless of its name, is already on display in the form of inflatable dolphins, ridiculous cardboard cutouts, student costumes and crowd surfing the Billiken.
Some could chalk this up to the draught beer on tap in the arena concession stands, but I’ll give the credit of these hijinks to the ingenuous student body, which keeps adding to the fun nature of Billiken basketball.
If students put their creative muscle (which scientific texts refer to as “the brain”) to work, then this new name to the student section will add to the Billiken basketball experience, give more ownership of the group to students and put a distinctive answer to the question: Who are you?
We are Billikens.
