REDZONE set to hit stands cheering
Ryan Tubongbanua / The Collegian
REDZONE students hoop it up at a Fresno State basketball game last season. This year the student club plans to lend its vocal support to ticketed sports, including volleyball, football, basketball and women's softball. |
By Benjamin Baxter
The Collegian
The REDZONE is back this year, but plans to boast more sports and incentives.
Students already familiar with the student-driven organization know that it exists to boost student attendance and participation at sporting events through a special cheering section.
“What we want to do is enhance the student experience,” said REDZONE President John Migliazzo. “We want to make it fun, the thing to do on campus.
Membership doesn’t even require an interest in sports. “You may not even like the sport,” he added, “but it’s fun just to hang out.”
Psychology senior Jessica Kroeker might agree. “I like being in the student section,” she said. “I like the atmosphere, and it’s just a good time.”
In addition to boosting the cheering section this semester, the REDZONE will offer an incentives program to reward students who attend football games.
Migliazzo didn’t want to give too much away, but hinted that incentives could include some substantial prizes. “We’re working on a rewards trip to an football away game,” he said.
This year, the REDZONE will focus on ticketed sports — volleyball, football, basketball and women’s softball, he said.
Unlike last year when membership was complementary, this semester REDZONE membership will cost some money. “The $10 is to pay for things like the T-shirts,” Migliazzo said. “It’s just something to cover expenses.”
Since founded in December, the REDZONE has been involved with basketball games. It focused on getting student awareness out about the 2,000 free student tickets to non-football campus athletic events that regularly went to waste.
More than 500 students this semester have already joined REDZONE, helped by a season ticket package that includes REDZONE membership.
Migliazzo anticipates the club can only grow from here. “Our goal is to have at least 2,500 members by the end of the spring semester,” he said.
Junior business major Stephen Crosby is going to Bulldogs football for the first time with his friends and decided to join the REDZONE. “I’ve never been to a game in my life, and it’s my fifth year at Fresno,” he said. “I bought season tickets, and I saw the option to join the REDZONE.”
Senior construction management major Dave Landefeld will be sure to cheer on the Bulldogs in the REDZONE. “I was already going to the games,” he said. “The tickets were free last semester for basketball, and the seats in the student section were good for football.
“Anyway, school’s expensive, so the free T-shirts are great.”
Migliazzo is obviously excited for the first game. If you were to ask him how he thinks we’ll do against the Wolf Pack, he has only one response.
“We’re gonna win.”
Visit www.gobulldogs.com for more information.
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