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If you’re a UMass student, fan, alum, administrator or elected official at the state level w/ some power and you’re enjoying tonight, PLEASE don’t think this can exist without your continued support (emotionally and financially). Sustained success requires sustained investment.
I say this a few times a yr but it starts w repping the shit out of the school’s teams and being unapologetic in doing so. No one bats an eye at ppl who devote their summers to the Sox and their winters to the B’s. Do the same with UMass. Rep that hockey champs hat down the cape
Throw on the natty title merch when you’re bringing your kids to the Big E or picking up pizza on the South Shore. There’s a zillion good schools in the Bay State and a bunch of great pro teams but UMass should always have a place on the regional sports landscape. It starts w us
Donating, buying season tickets, traveling in big numbers to away games, demanding excellence from administrators—all this matters a great deal too. But it starts with just owning your fandom, not seeing it as a quirk.
I didn’t go to UMass but when I got to my undergrad w ppl from all over none of the kids I knew from Austin or Columbus thought it was unusual that I planned certain days around UMass. They all did the same w their home state teams. Know who thought I was weird? Boston kids
That will always be a roadblock to some extent but it can be surpassed. People said the same thing about Rutgers and they’re in a zillion times better spot than they were because they didn’t quit on their mission. And many of those Boston kids now text me when they are UMass on
You don’t have to explain yourselves. UMass is a fantastic place and as much as I enjoyed my college experience and am glad I got away from the area I still often wish I went to UMass. Carvel & his team represent the best of what the school is about: egalitarian excellence
