Thunderous cheers and a haze of red smoke: welcome to the Red Terrors experience.
Ultras are a quintessential part of soccer culture, from Dortmund’s Yellow Wall to the American Outlaws, ultras bring the passion and energy that gives watching soccer in person its distinctive feel. From leading chants to making tifos to throwing smoke bombs, ultras know how to cheer, and the NC State soccer teams have some ultras of their own: the Red Terrors.
The Red Terrors, officially founded last year, are a student-led supporters club for the NC State soccer teams which lives up to its motto of, “Stand. Sing. Participate.” in every sense. Led by President John Corley, a junior studying industrial and systems engineering, the Red Terrors bring an unmatched level of energy and passion to every soccer game.
“We like to sing chants, we like to stand during the game,” Corley said. “And we hope everybody participates in the fun with us.”
With the atmosphere provided by the Red Terrors over the last two years, Dail Soccer Field has become a fortress. This season the two teams have a combined home record of 6-2-0 and last season the men’s team went undefeated at home with eight wins and three draws.
“It is great having a steady group of people that support the team and are into it,” women’s soccer head coach Tim Santoro said. “Our girls recognize when they are there. They can hear it. They can see it. It is a bonus. It is something we didn’t have. Before that group, we didn’t have anything.”
That game atmosphere not only helps the players already at NC State, but it also helps to attract new players to the programs.
“The Red Terrors are as important as every member of the team,” men’s soccer head coach George Kiefer said. “When you look at the atmosphere we have created at NC State, it is because of them. What does that feed? That feeds energy in matches but it also [helps with recruiting]. We had a top-level player here that had visited a couple of other ACC schools and he will choose NC State because of the game atmosphere.”
Of all of the chants that give players and fans that extra boost, there is one that the Red Terrors do which is a clear favorite among players on both teams: the iconic call and response of Wolf and Pack.
“I like when we go Wolf-Pack,” said men’s soccer sophomore Kuda Muskwe. “It starts off quiet, there is always someone to start it and it’s kind of lowkey, it’s like ‘Wolf’ and then someone over there will say ‘Pack’. And as it goes on for another couple of chants it gets bigger and bigger and by the end of it everyone is saying ‘Wolf’ and ‘Pack’.”
Muskwe’s sentiments about the chant were shared by those on the women’s team, especially senior co-captain Kia Rankin.
“I think when we hear the call and response Wolf and then Pack that is awesome,” Rankin said. “It is a simple one but it gets the crowd involved. It gets us on our toes and it’s pretty awesome. I love that it is interacting and nine times out of ten the entire crowd is in it to win it. It just helps us, that extra boost to keep succeeding.”
One of the most recognizable traditions of the Red Terrors can be seen just after the Wolfpack finds the back of the net. Following every goal, the Red Terrors release the unmistakable red smoke that lingers across the field signaling a Wolfpack goal.
“I can’t even explain the feeling,” Muskwe said. “It is not just when the red smoke goes off it’s like for the next 2-3 minutes you look over the field and you just get this cloud of red smoke traveling over the field. It is just an amazing feeling.”
This year the Red Terrors have not been confined to just Dail Soccer Field either, with a large contingent of the group traveling to Durham to cheer on the women’s team in its ACC opener against Duke.
“That is awesome,” women’s soccer co-captain redshirt sophomore Lulu Guttenberger said. “I remember Duke my freshman year, their fans are pretty loud too so it is awesome to have people there from our school too that are having our backs… Especially in an in-state rivalry.”
With the atmosphere provided by the Red Terrors, Dail Soccer Field has become one of the best places to catch a game in all of college soccer, especially if you are looking for somewhere that gives you that iconic feel of watching soccer in person. That feeling is something that can only be provided by a loud and proud group of fans, and the Red Terrors fit the bill.
“The Red Terrors are a huge part of our home atmosphere,” men’s soccer junior David Norris said. “We have been giving them as much love as we can this season because they really do help us out. Every game they are showing out. Every game they make it one of the best atmospheres in college soccer. We really appreciate what they do for us.”
For those interested in joining the Red Terrors and being a part of the stunning atmosphere at Dail Soccer Field, the best way to do so is to show up and sign up at their table next to the student section prior to a game. The table will be behind the goal closest to the entrance to Dail Soccer Field.
