Pilot fan group will model itself after ASUP clubs, return to original roots
By Nic LaPonte
Next year will see the return of the University of Portland's most controversial spirit group into student hands. Though it will still remain a department-sponsored club, Purple Pride will be trying to recapture its original feel of a student run, student owned organization.
"A lot of it boils down to getting students involved at games, less giveaways and more focus on cheering and game enthusiasm, less out of our office and more student run," said Tricia Miller, director of athletic marketing.
According to Miller, even though the club will still be sponsored by the Athletic Department, internally the club will change because the student leadership of will take a much more critical role in determining the nature of the club and its activities.
The revamped club will be run more ?like an ASUP club than a promotional program, with students responsible for planning major events, deciding on promotions and maintaining communication within the club.
"A major difference is that this year it was run by the Athletic Department, next year it will be more student run," said junior Clay Williams, one of the two currently recruited student leaders of the program.
Williams, and his partner in the program, junior David Thompson, were recruited by the Athletic Marketing Department to be the first student leaders of next year's Purple Pride.
According to Miller, the two were chosen primarily for their dedication and consistent enthusiasm for Pilot athletics, demonstrating an above average level of passion and involvement in athletic events during their time at UP.
"They've been on the planning committee this last year and have been out there trying to get the students involved," Miller said. "David has put forward a lot of good ideas at the planning meeting."
According to Williams, next year's Purple Pride will be more of a grass roots-style movement, with everything coming from the students. The club will be returning to its original roots, structured more like a big group of friends who get together and bring excitement with them to the games.
This move toward a more student-run and student-owned organization is part of what the Athletic Marketing Department is trying to do to get students to have a sense of ownership in their athletic teams. Though Purple Pride met with some initial success this year, the more student response-oriented Hall Stars program was more successful in getting students excited about going to games. According to Miller, the goal is to get that same feeling of group excitement without as many physical incentives.
Although there is no set leadership structure beyond Williams and Thompson, Williams is confident that as word spreads other leaders and members will step up and further the club's momentum.
"We're going to try to get more student leaders, people going to games and getting excited about it," he said.
There are some plans in the works that Williams hopes will foster a stringer sense of athletic pride in next year's club members.
"Next year, we're trying to get a central location to meet up at beforehand," Williams said. "We're trying to get more efficient communication with Facebook and e-mail."
The student section at games is a particular aspect of fan appreciation that Williams thinks could use improvement.
"I feel all the best student sections at any event are when a group of friends get together and then go to the event," he said.
Miller hopes that the club will be able to work more closely with existing student-led fan groups like the Villa Drum Squad in order to foster a more unified athletic fan base.
"Our mission statement isn't changing, student leadership will have more of an active role," Miller said.
The transition to a student-led program is what Beth Connell, athletics sales manager, hopes will vitalize the fan base here on campus.
"We can try, but (students) don't care what we have to say, they want to hear it from other students," Connell said.
Williams encourages the student body to come out to events and see the changes in the club next year firsthand.
"This club is all about people who really want to support UP athletics," Williams said.
