College Colors Day: Beth wears U of L Red and Black!
Beth keeps her House Divided civilized on Game Day!
Beth with Dr. Liebschutz.
This College Colors Day post comes from my friend Elizabeth Leibschutz-Roettger, a dedicated U of L fan who also serves the University of Louisville as Director of International Programs at the College of Business. Thanks to Beth for sharing her experience in a House Divided! -- HCW
I was born a Louisville fan! My Dad, a Louisville native, earned his Bachelors of Science and Medical degrees from the University of Louisville. After a residency in Iowa (go Hawks!) and an Army post in Louisiana, he brought his family back to Kentucky, settling in Danville. Growing up a UofL fan in Danville, I had to be tough skinned. From a young age, I knew being a UofL fan set me apart from my friends. (Literally... sometimes they would not acknowledge me during rivalry games!)
Through my allegiance to UofL, I have experienced the jubilation and disappointment of great victories and painful losses. One of those losses came on the gridiron in the fall 2006 against Rutgers University. Had Louisville played better that evening, I might have met my husband, Bart, as we were watching the game with mutual friends. As chance would have it, we would cross paths again in 2007 (thanks again to our mutual friends) the evening of the UofL/UK game. UofL lost the game; which made me give second thought about going on a date with a UK fan I met that evening. One of the greatest triumphs was watching the Cardinals win their National Championship game in 2013 with my Dad on his 70th birthday (even more meaningful as he passed from brain cancer a year later). The National Championship game is just one of many cherished memories of watching UofL play through the years with my family.
Beth and Bart -- a House Divided
And while always a UofL fan, my dedication to Louisville continues to grow stronger. Our house divided rivalry is a special bond for my husband and me. I think of us as modern day Montagues and Capulets (without the grisly ending!). It is not uncommon to find my little family on Sundays in the spring at Patterson Field watching UofL baseball with our young son who loves running the bases when the game is finished. He loves the “Cardinal Bird School” (but can be heard frequently saying, “Go Big Blues” too). And I am not just a fan of the UofL athletics. I also work for UofL as the Director of International Programs in the College of Business. Furthermore, I will earn my PhD from the University of Louisville and join my Dad in its ranks of alumni.
Beth and Bart
Now when I go home to Danville and other areas of UK strongholds in my youth, I see more and more representation of the University of Louisville. While I know much of the growth in popularity is connected to our athletic successes, I also know the University of Louisville continues to provide a quality education for the students who enroll each year. From football to Fulbright, UofL is a university where great things are happening. As a member of the Louisville community, a student, and a life-long fan I genuinely believe Louisville First, Cardinals Forever #L1C4.
College Colors Day: Alexia Wears Murray State's Navy and Gold!
For Alexia, cheering for Murray State is a family affair!
This College Colors Day guest post comes from my sorority sister Alexia Schempp Couch, a Murray native and Transylvania alumna. Alexia, a middle school science teacher, lives in Maryland with her husband and two children. -- HCW
Confession time: I haven’t lived in Murray, KY in over 20 years. However, I still get excited any time I see something blue and gold, hear my Racers mentioned in a sports article or see my friends' Facebook pictures of their family dressed for a Murray State Racer football or basketball game!
My obsession with the Racers has always been there. My dad was a theatre professor at Murray State for over 30 years, it is my mom’s alma mater, and my grandfather was on their basketball team in the 1930’s when they still played in Lovett Auditorium. I have been going to games as long as I can remember. At the football games I loved the atmosphere almost as much as the game.: the 101st Airborne division paratrooping the game ball to the 50 yard line, the Racer band would perform the amazing halftime shows and saying hi to the announcer (“Hi, Pete”) , the announcer saying hi back to them over the loudspeaker (“Hi Racer Band!”), and my favorite tradition of a horse running a victory lap around the track surrounding the football field when the team scored a touchdown.
In the winter basketball season was in full swing. We would go to at least one game a week. When I lived in Murray the games were still played at Racer Arena. It was small, it got hot, it got extremely LOUD, and it was GREAT! It only held 5500 people, but for big games closer to 6000 fans packed in. Because it was so intimate you could see the players, get into the game and sing along with the Pep Band. The sea of blue and gold was crazy and usually intimidated the visiting team. I remember one game, close to the end of a season, where us winning meant we clenched the regular season championship. As the clock ticked down the entire arena was chanting and making the hand motions for “O-V-C” (Ohio Valley Conference). I remember cheering for Martin and Mann in the 80’s and Popeye Jones in the 90’s.
Since moving out of the state I do not get to see my Racers play live. However, that has not stopped me from being a huge fan. I have been known to stream the game on my phone connected to an HDMI cable to the television to watch it. I have even Facetimed my parents (who have also moved from Murray) to show them the game when I could get it through my cable company and they could not. I’ll find the game being broadcasted on the local Murray radio station online and listen to it. I get excited to hear the basketball announcer, Neil Bradley, say “One minute, one minute left in the game.”) My Maryland-born children cheer for the Racers, loved Isaiah Cannan and Ed (the hair) Daniels, and watched them win the CollegeInsider.com Tournament with me this year. They have not been to a MSU basketball game since 2009, but constantly ask when we can go back to see them play.
Repping the Wildcats and the Racers on the classroom door.
Where I live now people tend to cheer for professional teams. However, I’m an NCAA girl through and through! During THE tournament I put my Murray State sign up on my door (along with another sign, because I am from Kentucky!) Murray State is my favorite team to cheer for and I can’t wait for this season to begin! I’ll be watching with my Blue & Gold pompom and my Racer shirt waiting to see if Cameron Payne can lead the Racers back to the NCAA tournament and hopefully past that second round to the Sweet 16. GO RACERS!
College Colors Day
Today is College Colors Day, the nationwide celebration of College Football. Join us today as we hear from Kentucky women who proudly wear their team colors.
A few of our favorite companies have some special deals for you as you stock up on your favorite colors. Check out the latest gear from Fanatics.com and save $5 when you purchase two collegiate Tervis Tumbler designs.
We'd love to hear from y'all: What college colors are you wearing today?