{"id":37393,"date":"2016-01-26T15:35:41","date_gmt":"2016-01-26T19:35:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/?p=37393"},"modified":"2016-01-26T15:38:34","modified_gmt":"2016-01-26T19:38:34","slug":"fans-fever-spreading-at-brock","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2016\/01\/fans-fever-spreading-at-brock\/","title":{"rendered":"Fan fever spreading at Brock"},"content":{"rendered":"

Brock University fans consider themselves the best in Canada.<\/span><\/p>\n

School spirit and Badger pride continues to grow with every game.<\/p>\n

Once empty seats are now full. Where once there were 300, now there are 1,000.<\/p>\n

A lineup out the door for the recent President\u2019s game, well into the fourth quarter of the men\u2019s basketball game, is an example of the fandom that\u2019s spreading throughout the Brock community, said Bawe Nsame, co-ordinator of the #WeAreReady campaign.<\/p>\n

He hoped 700 fans would show up. There were more than 1,100, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom September to now, we\u2019ve seen a huge increase in people attending games and showing interest,\u201d he said. \u201cThe pride is there to back up our school.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"#WeAreReady

#WeAreReady organizers Mohamed Hassan and Bawe Nsame, Brock University students, show off the new fan website at www.weareready.co<\/p><\/div>\n

Bleachers awash in red, the clap of thunder sticks and the deafening roar of excited Badger fans are the new normal at varsity sporting events.<\/p>\n

And, the fans are even taking to the road to support their teams.<\/p>\n

A hundred fans made their way to a recent game against Laurier \u2013 the Badger rallying cry taking over the other school\u2019s gym.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really cool how it\u2019s spreading,\u201d said Mohamed Hassan, who has set up a new website<\/a> aimed at the fans, showcasing videos, updates and stories.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey can go to stay updated and they may see their faces on the site,\u201d Hassan said.<\/p>\n

Creating a fan culture at Brock is about motivating and inspiring students.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt ups the morale. Students are smiling more, they are proud to be from Brock,\u201d Hassan said.<\/p>\n

He said having a strong fan base also makes Brock more attractive to new students.<\/p>\n

He said potential recruits for the men\u2019s basketball team attended\u00a0a game and witnessed the power and pride of Badger fans.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt showcases us in such a positive light,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Nsame said when you are choosing a university, you look at academic standings, but you also consider the school community.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou always look at the activities happening at that school,\u201d he said. \u201cYou want to be part of something.\u201d<\/p>\n

Craig Hyatt, an Associate Professor in Brock\u2019s Sport Management program who studies fan culture, said rallying people around their teams goes a long way in creating community.<\/p>\n

It reinforces the fact that students like it here at Brock and there\u2019s excitement here.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to build up the atmosphere, the culture and the pride,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Hyatt is impressed by the #WeAreReady movement and how it continues to grow.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt reinforces the fact that students like it here at Brock and there\u2019s excitement here,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s important because traditionally this is not a school people would go to and expect to get caught up in athletics.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hyatt said it\u2019s not a stretch to believe Brock\u2019s fans could be the best in Canada.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt wouldn\u2019t take much for us to zip past rivals,\u201d he said, noting there aren\u2019t nearly as many fan-driven schools in Canada, as in the U.S.<\/p>\n

He said getting first and second year students on the bandwagon will help them take over the cause.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis could go on forever,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Nsame and Hassan hope it does and said they have a committed crew of volunteers who work hard to come up with innovative ideas to make the fan experience one to remember.<\/p>\n

“Everyone who we’ve been able to get into the gym, they buy in,” Hassan said. “They are the best fans in Canada.”<\/p>\n

Watch the video shot during the recent trip to Laurier:<\/p>\n