SRU fans show their support
A devoted contingent of proud parents and alumni braved Saturday's mixed weather slurry of rain and snow to celebrate and cheer on Slippery Rock University's football team. Fortified against the cold with several layers of clothing and optimism, fans of The Rock gathered in the school stadium parking lot to celebrate their team's arrival at the Division II semifinal game at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
Paul Neugebauer celebrated with dozens of people over drinks under a tent covering. He said that he met most of the people during pre-game celebrations. His son, Adam, is working for the first year as the Rock's offensive coordinator.
“He's breaking all kinds of records,” Neugebauer said. “You just meet people being friendly, like Pittsburgh people are.”
Neugebauer said he hasn't missed one game since the season started. While he spoke, Cory Lacek, a 2008 SRU graduate who played defensive end in the mid-2000s, walked over to express himself.
“The buzz around how good this team is doing has brought former teammates and the Slippery Rock community together,” Lacek said. “I'm confident they'll win. It brings a lot of buzz.”
Nearby, Melissa Blandford, Lisa Marx and Simona Erfort warmed themselves with friends and family with “the mom juice,” cinnamon-flavored whiskey, as they steeled themselves against the cold in preparation for watching their sons play against Minnesota State.Blandford said her son, defensive lineman Trey, wants to become a coach when he graduates from SRU.“That's his end goal,” Blandford said. “He's had so many great coaches over the years, and he wants to be that guy for other kids.”Blandford and the other mothers said they have developed elaborate rituals to keep the good luck the team has had. They said they always wear the same clothes for each game and the Rock's coach has to hug all of the players' mothers before a game starts.“You have to wear the same thing and keep up the ritual because that's how you get the tickets to Texas,” Blandford said. “We never miss this,” Erfort said. “We've come to support our children. Many of us have been coming all year. These kids have been doing this their whole lives, so today is a culmination of all that hard work.”
Marx added, “That's why today is so poignant.”And with that, they all downed a shot with the other families.On the other side of the parking lot, David Malone, Rick Allen and other SRU alumni gathered under the covering of a camper.“We all enjoy coming to this game. It's just exciting that they have this chance,” said Malone, who graduated from SRU in 1996 and played on the football team.For Allen, a 1982 SRU graduate, Saturday's game represented progress in the team's history.“This year we have a higher level of players across the board,” Allen said. “The quality of players has dramatically improved. We're on an upward projection.”As Allen spoke other SRU grads arrived to celebrate Saturday's game.“It's a great brotherhood that spans the years,” Allen said.Unfortunately for the Rock faithful, Minnesota State scored a 58-15 victory over Slippery Rock.
