It's a thing here at Grand Canyon University.
Basketball is a thing. Going to the games on a regular basis is a thing. Paying $25 to be a part of the student section all season long is a thing.
Want to know why?
The Havocs.
Now typically referred to as the biggest party in college basketball by various media outlets, our student section has become something of a national phenomenon.
From sumo wrestling costumes to a Scooby-Doo costume squad to students in (fake) diapers, we have it all in our incredible student section.
For 10-15 minutes before the start of each game, we hold what is known as the Purple Pre-Game Party. Basically, we all lose our minds and jump and dance and shout to EDM and dubstep, whilst performing our choreographed moves in the stands. Take a look.
It's as natural to a Lope as going to class.
The opposing team and their fans are usually watching us in stunned silence, and we have our fair share of amusing harassment geared towards them via cheers and finger points.
We also intimidate the refs with the infamous "TAKE HIS WHISTLE!" chant any time a ref makes a bad call. Oh, and when the opposing team is losing and there's barely any time left in the game, we get our keys out and jingle them. As in, get the bus started, you losers are outta here.
It's scary. I wouldn't want to play us if I was the opposing team. This guy agrees:
Literally, some teams try avoiding playing us at all costs because of our student section. Then there are teams that barely walk away from playing us with their hearts intact.
After barely scraping a win from GCU in 2016, Louisville Coach Rick Pitino famously said, "In college basketball, my 40-plus years, that was the toughest crowd I’ve ever faced."
Keep in mind, this guy played at Duke and Kentucky. Yeah.
#LopesRising, am I right?
The regular season is now over, and since it's my senior year, I will proudly admit I shed some tears when the final buzzer timed out at the last game this past weekend.
Before my senior year, I was more of a casual basketball fan. I would definitely attend games, but I wasn't diehard with making sure I attended each game.
This year, I knew I would be a fool not to officially join the Havocs. I bought my $25 pass which included a ticket to the whole season, gear, and other perks, and it's been one of the best decisions I ever made in my four years at GCU.
Games became super important to me. I would leave class early on game days to get ready, I would stand in line for a long time with friends, and I would not make plans with people if I knew there was a game on a Saturday night.
You get the point. I'm a diehard. I knew what we had here was something special and unique, and I had to soak up every moment before graduating.
Every penny and every second was worth it. The memories I made, the photos and videos I have that I can watch forever, and the experiences I had were simply worth it.
In a couple days, I'll be heading to Las Vegas with a couple of my co-Havocs (my buddies in the above photo) to see our guys compete in the Western Athletic Conference. I'm sure the Havocs are going to go even harder there than at home. That'll really be my final hurrah.
But, I've already committed to the notion that I'll sneak my way into the student section next season as an alumni. I'll have my warrior purple face paint on, my Havocs jersey, and knowingly dance the moves. Who would be the wiser?
Thank you, Havocs, for making my final year at GCU the most purple and intense it has ever been.
Party till we die.
