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Supporting Toreros Is Serious Business

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By SARAH HOYE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 24, 2008

They were the little fans who could.

A group of some 20 San Diego students screamed, clapped and raised their spirit fingers in the stands Sunday to cheer on the Toreros at the St. Pete Times Forum.

Following the school's upset win Friday against Connecticut, the students decided to change things up for Sunday's game.

With a $20 budget, a few of the men swapped their baby blue Toreros T-shirts for a last-minute thrift store run to buy blue blazers, flowered board shorts, knee-high socks and straw hats.

They went to bed around 3 a.m. and woke up at 5 a.m. to get ready. They painted their faces and chests, spray painted their hats and made more signs.

"We mean business," said Hector Zepeda, a junior communications major, who sucked on a cough drop to help sooth a sore throat from all of his yelling. "We're just loveable, how can you not root for the Toreros?"

The small crew in blue stood, clapped and hollered from the time San Diego hit the court for warm-ups to the final buzzer. They heckled the referees and slapped seat backs during Western Kentucky free throws.

"The support is imperative. We might be a small contingent, but we pack a powerful punch," said Steve Becvar, San Diego department of athletics associate director. "The students are a special group, and are what college athletics is all about."

Between games, halftime and timeouts, strangers would approach the group to have pictures taken with them. When they walked around the arena trying to recruit fans, passers-by would cheer for them like they were players.

"I'm at all the games, because I do stats, but I never get to be a fan," said Sarah Luster, a sophomore marketing major. "I didn't know anybody coming on this trip, but everybody gets along. This is the epitome of what college is."

On Monday, a $200 travel package that included a seat on the team's chartered plane plus shuttle service to and from games, was made available by the school.

"I've been to every home game I could, I had to be here," said Jeffrey Walters, a junior business major who left spring break in Virginia early to attend the games. "It feels good, because everyone loves a Cinderella story. I wouldn't have given this up for anything."

They moaned in unison following a missed shot and waved their handmade signs after a score. They danced along with the Siena pep band, who were on loan to the school because San Diego's band was traveling with the women's team.

"It's fun, and the kids are enjoying it," said Mike Patrizio, the band director for Siena, who added that it is not uncommon for bands to play for other teams during tournaments.

"But it's a little tiring for a 57-year-old," he joked.

Despite the school's 72-63 loss, the kids in blue never stopped cheering.

"I'm a little disappointed, but we had a great season, and it was definitely worth it," said Nicole Buonviri, a junior with a double major in sociology and communications who flew in from her spring break in Phoenix. "It was absolutely amazing. Next year, we're bringing twice as many fans, and we'll be twice as rowdy."

Reporter Sarah Hoye can be reached at (813) 259-7832 or shoye@tampatrib.com.

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