Not Giving Up Hope

[Marc Wigim]

Yesterday I ran into a freshman football player in Dancer Hall. His name was Osayi Ehigiamusoe, and he was a quiet, imposing presence. At least he tried to be quiet and imposing until a group of freshmen got on the elevator.

"You play football, don't you?" one of the freshmen asked.

"Yes," he said.

"I know you! #58, right?" he continued.

"That's right," he said in a calm and eerily quiet voice.

"Well, we're gonna tear up Iowa, and it's gonna be because of you," he said. The elevator stopped on his floor, and he got off.

These are the signs of the times. The "Purple Hawk Society" here at UNI is under pressure from an increasingly loyal student body to ditch the Hawks... what have they done for you? I make no amends to my crusade on this campus to get the student body interested in UNI. It seems to be working. T-Shirts are for sale around the campus featuring a Panther devouring a Hawk. The number of students wearing Iowa gear gets smaller and smaller. In short... the battle is winnable.

I will not give up hope. I am shrouded by an aura of optimism and blinding loyalty to my institution. I am one with the Purple and Gold Force. I am a member of the marching band, and have been since I got here. Not because I enjoy marching band music (although we have some pretty sweet moments on the field), but because of my love for this university. This is the best way I can show my support. Same goes for the Pep Band, which I intend to be a member of yet again this year.

I will not give up hope. This student body is not unreachable. Rather, they are beginning to define themselves outside the Iowa context. A spark of faith has become a flame... we can beat Iowa, the students begin to think, if only for a second. Above all else, it is the support of the Panther Nation that allows these strides to happen. And I will not rest until the University of Northern Iowa is an entity on par with that of the Big Bad Hawkeyes and their lesser cousin, Iowa State.

And I will not give up hope.

[#1pantherfan]

where are this shirts being sold at. I would love to get my hand on 2 or 3 or 4 or a million.

Yesterday I ran into a freshman football player in Dancer Hall. His name was Osayi Ehigiamusoe, and he was a quiet, imposing presence. At least he tried to be quiet and imposing until a group of freshmen got on the elevator.

"You play football, don't you?" one of the freshmen asked.

"Yes," he said.

"I know you! #58, right?" he continued.

"That's right," he said in a calm and eerily quiet voice.

"Well, we're gonna tear up Iowa, and it's gonna be because of you," he said. The elevator stopped on his floor, and he got off.

These are the signs of the times. The "Purple Hawk Society" here at UNI is under pressure from an increasingly loyal student body to ditch the Hawks... what have they done for you? I make no amends to my crusade on this campus to get the student body interested in UNI. It seems to be working. T-Shirts are for sale around the campus featuring a Panther devouring a Hawk. The number of students wearing Iowa gear gets smaller and smaller. In short... the battle is winnable.

I will not give up hope. I am shrouded by an aura of optimism and blinding loyalty to my institution. I am one with the Purple and Gold Force. I am a member of the marching band, and have been since I got here. Not because I enjoy marching band music (although we have some pretty sweet moments on the field), but because of my love for this university. This is the best way I can show my support. Same goes for the Pep Band, which I intend to be a member of yet again this year.

I will not give up hope. This student body is not unreachable. Rather, they are beginning to define themselves outside the Iowa context. A spark of faith has become a flame... we can beat Iowa, the students begin to think, if only for a second. Above all else, it is the support of the Panther Nation that allows these strides to happen. And I will not rest until the University of Northern Iowa is an entity on par with that of the Big Bad Hawkeyes and their lesser cousin, Iowa State.

And I will not give up hope.

[panther2317]

Now that's a passionate student!!!! Keep working on these kids! I'm behind you 100%...this is a winnable battle and UNI will be better in the future for your efforts! Con't give up and always stay positive when trying to get more and more students to 'buy in' to following the Panthers. Hopefully more and more UNI students will start to post here about the purple and the gold! Come on students...can't wait to have you join us here...and in the DOME!!!!!

Yesterday I ran into a freshman football player in Dancer Hall. His name was Osayi Ehigiamusoe, and he was a quiet, imposing presence. At least he tried to be quiet and imposing until a group of freshmen got on the elevator.

"You play football, don't you?" one of the freshmen asked.

"Yes," he said.

"I know you! #58, right?" he continued.

"That's right," he said in a calm and eerily quiet voice.

"Well, we're gonna tear up Iowa, and it's gonna be because of you," he said. The elevator stopped on his floor, and he got off.

These are the signs of the times. The "Purple Hawk Society" here at UNI is under pressure from an increasingly loyal student body to ditch the Hawks... what have they done for you? I make no amends to my crusade on this campus to get the student body interested in UNI. It seems to be working. T-Shirts are for sale around the campus featuring a Panther devouring a Hawk. The number of students wearing Iowa gear gets smaller and smaller. In short... the battle is winnable.

I will not give up hope. I am shrouded by an aura of optimism and blinding loyalty to my institution. I am one with the Purple and Gold Force. I am a member of the marching band, and have been since I got here. Not because I enjoy marching band music (although we have some pretty sweet moments on the field), but because of my love for this university. This is the best way I can show my support. Same goes for the Pep Band, which I intend to be a member of yet again this year.

I will not give up hope. This student body is not unreachable. Rather, they are beginning to define themselves outside the Iowa context. A spark of faith has become a flame... we can beat Iowa, the students begin to think, if only for a second. Above all else, it is the support of the Panther Nation that allows these strides to happen. And I will not rest until the University of Northern Iowa is an entity on par with that of the Big Bad Hawkeyes and their lesser cousin, Iowa State.

And I will not give up hope.

[5panthers]

Some More Hopefulness!

It's ironic that this thread started today...

We see more and more UNI clothing by freshman at orientation (and those with Iowa or Iowa State stuff get more and more hassling!)

I was in Health Beat (now located in the corridor between the Union and Lang Hall) using the equipment which faced toward the window to the corridor. Needing something to take my mental time working out, I conducted a very unscientific and information "survey" of clothing worn by the students walking by. During this 45 minutes, clothing or hats with something UNI on it outnumbered the Iowa AND Iowa State clothing at about a 5 to 1 ratio.

So, there is a ferocious preditor stalking the nation and taking hold at UNI...we caution you to watch for the cat!

[panther2317]

That kind of information warms my heart and gets me very fired up to get back to campus for next Thursday's football game! Here's to the UNI students who are getting excited about college life in Cedar Falls and supporting their university! Go PANTHERS!!!

[Born-a-Panther]

It's ironic that this thread started today...

We see more and more UNI clothing by freshman at orientation (and those with Iowa or Iowa State stuff get more and more hassling!)

I was in Health Beat (now located in the corridor between the Union and Lang Hall) using the equipment which faced toward the window to the corridor. Needing something to take my mental time working out, I conducted a very unscientific and information "survey" of clothing worn by the students walking by. During this 45 minutes, clothing or hats with something UNI on it outnumbered the Iowa AND Iowa State clothing at about a 5 to 1 ratio.

So, there is a ferocious preditor stalking the nation and taking hold at UNI...we caution you to watch for the cat!

Thanks for posting that 5Panthers... Especially the very last sentence. I got goosebumps reading it

[tcondon]

I've seen many of the same things. This morning all I had that was clean for sweatshirts was an Iowa one. But I made sure to wear my UNI hat, and took the sweatshirt off and wore my UNI Women's Rugby shirt proudly by the time I got to class.

[panther2317]

I think you'll always have your love of Iowa football TC...but I think slowly you're starting to understand how special it can be to jump in with both feet and support everything about the Panthers and UNI.

I hope when you graduate, you maintain a sense of being involved in Panther Nation and appreciate what it was like to help build a fan base and make it strong throughout Iowa. Like I said, I think you'll always be a Hawk fan...but if you ackowledge your love of the Panthers in the same breath...I think that's a major accomplishment with kids who were 'raised' Iowa fans.

Now...we need to get to kids early and 'raise' them Panthers That's hopefully how the evolution will occur. As of now, I'm giddy to hear that there are more and more kids wearing UNI gear and less and less wearing gear from opposing institutions

GO PANTHERS!!!

[Born-a-Panther]

I was in Wal*Mart today... and there was a little girl walking with her mom (probably about three years old)... and she was wearing...

... a UNI cheerleading dress!!!!!

And it's not even game day

Just thought I'd leave you all with a little something to warm your hearts for the weekend.

[Newsbreaker]

That was an fantastic post! I can't wait for thursday. Things are turning, slowly, and it's great to hear that you can see it on campus. I think the University is doing a much better job then just a few years ago of turning out attractive gear for panther fans to purchase and wear with pride.

It's going to be a very long, up-hill climb, but I think things are MUCH better then they were a few years ago.

GO CATS!

[Born-a-Panther]

Kind of reminds me of 17 or 18 years ago!

...time flies...

[ralph]

DANG! I ran into the office just now and put on my UNI hat. GO PANTHERS!