Original Retro Brand Blog

Wednesday we were at the “eRUPPtion Zone” in Kentucky for the 9th stop on the Original Retro Brand “I Love College Hoops” Student Section Journey. Tough act to follow, right? Not so much as we visit the land of Lawrence. Lawrence, Kansas.

"UNBELIEVABLE. INSANE. INCREDIBLE."

10th & Final Stop: # 2 Kansas Jayhawks

Student Section: Phog Fanatics

Student Section Case Study: Ashtin Meerpohl, Freshman

The Interview……..

ORB: As a freshman, what’s it like walking into the world famous Allen Fieldhouse for the very first time?

Ashtin: Unbelievable. Insane. Incredible. You see the Championship banners hanging everywhere, and you realize how many legendary players have come through and the tradition literally smacks you in the face.

ORB: Is it tough to become a member of the KU Student Section?

Ashtin: I’d say it’s more about being committed then being tough. There are 3,000 fanatics deep in our student section (16,300 people), and for Late Night (KU’s version of Midnight Madness known as “Late Night in The Phog”) this year, we waited in line from 8am until they let us in at 8pm. When the doors finally opened, it was basically a sea of blue in a mad rush, and my friends and I were able to get seats in the front row – pretty neat. For ESPN College Gameday, we camped out from midnight until the sun came up, until they let us in at 8am for the show that went from 9-11am (both Late Night and Gameday were first come, first serve seating). Normally our group camps out in 3 hour shifts for all the home games to hold down our spot that we acquired earlier that week in a lottery. People sleep on blow-up mattresses and bring books to study in lawn chairs.

NOTHING LIKE IT!

ORB: Wow. That’s alot of fanatics, and alot of 3 hour shifts. Ok, so you’ve told us what it takes to get into a game, and how it felt for the first time. What is the experience like for you during the games?

Ashtin: Aside from it being louder than anything you’ll ever hear (ESPN The Magazine named Allen Fieldhouse the loudest college basketball arena in the country in 2010), the rituals like the Rock Chalk Chant and Alma Mater blow your mind. I’ve only missed one home game this year (not by choice!), and being part of the rituals gets better and better every time.

ORB: Is there anything specific that you personally do during the games that might be considered a little crazy?

Ashtin: Does wearing a Gorilla suit count as crazy? Basically, one of my friends and I dress up in Gorilla suits, while another friend dresses up in a banana suit. When the other team is attempting their foul shots, we jump up and down like the apes we are, and try to distract them – The “Banana Sandwich” seems to be an effective weapon for this.

THE BANANA SANDWICH.

YES to answer your question Ashtin – You are obviously CRAZY about your Jayhawks! Thanks for your time today, and Good luck against Mizzou tomorrow and in the Big 12 tournament. Maybe we’ll see the “Banana Sandwich” at the Final Four in Houston!

It’s been a blast interviewing all of the students from across the country this past month. There is no doubt that “I Love College Hoops” is a sentiment that runs deep. Now that the regular season schedule is coming to a close, it’s time to start thinkin’ brackets. Be sure to stay tuned to the Original Retro Brand blog, as we’ve got a contest up our sleeve that will dish out over $500 worth of Original Retro Brand gear in prizes!