SMCHoops wrote:
I see your point and I wasn't calling you out as a ranty. But other people were calling for mass emails and talking about withholding funds. So I spoke up.

Everybody is entitled to their own take, but my reaction is what in the hell are you guys talking about with “The Fear Dearg.” And I'm pretty sure that was their reaction. Even at this point, I don't know what it is, it's confusing, it sounds weird, and I have a hard enough time explaining to my friends what a Gael is. I wear Gael gear to every game, but you won't see me in a Dearg shirt. I say this not to be a prick or offend, but again I'm trying to explain how others might view it.

But if it floats your boat, make some T-shirts. Maybe it catches on. The best traditions are organic and slowly grow over time. I don't get why the school has to push it or make it offical. If I hadn't read this, and I got a flyer about The Fear Dearg and asked to join, I pass. And I'm a pretty die hard fan.

And if I'm the compliance office, I wouldn't be telling the school to formally do something with a new alum group that I don't have the time and resources to properly oversee. If it's a cool idea, just do it. Nobody asked the school if they could wear the rugby gear. And that's pretty of cool.

The school already provides a decent number of events and the tip off club. I don't think they need to have an offical alum rooting club. That's basically what this blog is.

That's my .02

I don't quite have the same take on this.  If you break it down MJ's proposal, a lot of it makes sense.  First there's the mascot.  I think upgrading the mascot and having a mascot is really a no-brainer. 

When I was in highschool our basketball team was almost as interested in ways to hype up the crowd especially during introductions as they were in playing basketball (and before anyone says it, they played for a CCS championship that year.)  Again, I'm not sure if everyone would take to bag pipers during the introductions.  I personally think it would be cool and if it worked would establish a tradition.  Right now what are our game traditions?  I'm positive if you asked our 20 year old basketball players if they wanted bag pipes at the game, you wouldn't get a positive reaction.  But if it became steeped in our tradition and it got the crowd going, they would love it.  There is still plenty of time to play the latest Drake and Wiz Khalifa to make the players and students happy.

To me going to an SMC game tradition wise is like going to a restaurant that doesn't have a cuisine it specializes in.  We sell Chinese food and Sushi but you can find burgers and spaghetti on the menu.  Those restaurants are never good. 

The club is mainly a way to finance the thing so the school doesn't have to worry about allocating funds from somewhere else.  It also gives an additional sense of community to its members.  People generally like to belong and feel like they belong.  A cool social club of like minded fans wouldn't hurt anything and is a break from the norm of tri tip and cheese filled torellini.  We could have an A. Rafanelli and steak night or a crab feed (I understand that this can be done without the school's blessing etc. but it's just an added benefit.)

I do get your point about how the school would want to oversee something like this and that means resources.  The four guys that submitted the business plan are extremely passionate about the program, school and alumni relations.  I know that at least three of them are on a first name basis (and probably considered friends) with Randy.  It's not like MJ is all of a sudden going to organize "no pants day" at McKeon.  I doubt there would need to be much college faculty involvement past the initial set up.