At any given home basketball game, the RBC Center is full of fans in red and white. Student organizations have grown in recent years, to the point that ESPN recently highlighted the Student Wolfpack Club. Aside from first-year basketball coach Sidney Lowe and junior pitcher Andrew Brackman, Technician talked with students about their passion for N.C. State — or their love elsewhere.
“Our fans are great. I don’t know if people understand how important they are to a team. You talk about that sixth man — it’s not that guy coming off the bench really. A lot of times, that sixth man is your crowd. And when they come out and support you, that means a lot to the team. When you’re playing teams — nonconference or whatever — and you see a packed house, that tells you what the people think. And it shouldn’t matter who you play. If you’re a fan, then you come to see your team. You don’t come to see the other team. You come to see your team. When you look at the big time programs in this country, when they’re playing non conference, Division II teams, it’s packed. And that’s the support that you need. And we have great fans. We have loyal fans. We have fans that have been with us for years. And that’s where we want to be.”-men’s basketball coach Sidney Lowe on State’s fans
“How goofy Ben McCauley is. They beat Carolina. They’re a great group of guys. They go out there and play as hard as they can and give as much as they can to the game and to the fans every time.”-junior pitcher Andrew Brackman on the basketball team
“I have always loved N.C. State athletics. I just want to be as loud and enthusiastic as I can in hopes that I can get the rest of the student body to do the same and ultimately have the student body become what commentators call the sixth man. And this year, with a new look and a coach who knows what championships feel like, it definitely appears that N.C. State basketball is on an upward swing. It’s no longer just going to be ‘Carowhina’ and Duke any more. We will be a contender from here on out.”-Adam Parker, sophomore, aerospace engineering
“I’m a Carolina fan. I’ve grown up in Chapel Hill for the past 19 years. It’s a tradition in my family. My dad and grandparents went there.”-Layne Huntington, freshman, mathematics
“We have the best fans. Duke and Carolina fans are fans because they win. We unfortunately don’t win as much, but our fans are still loyal.”-Britni Jones, sophomore, civil engineering
“It’s something to do.”-London White, senior, business management
“I like the band. They’re peppy. And I like the food.”-Ashley Porter, sophomore, zoology
“I love the environment. The RBC Center is huge, with everybody yelling. And it’s a good break.”-Justin Jornigan, sophomore, animal science.
“I love Courtney Fells — just him. I think he’s awesome.”-Riane Miller, junior, criminology and political science
“I love the sense of family — bringing Sidney Lowe and Monte Towe back for a victory.”-Owen Hooper, senior, sports management
“I love the intensity Sidney Lowe brings to the team, something Herb lacked. He brings a spark and puts a fire under the players. The student section brings a whole new intensity to it. It’s a great tradition. Sidney Lowe places value on the tradition of N.C. State. It’s not just about the guys on the floor. There are lots of other people who carry on the Wolfpack Tradition. There’s a real family atmosphere.”-Will Clayton, senior, communication
“I’m not really into sports. I don’t really care.”-Ashley James, freshman, chemistry
