Colorado basketball hasn’t been mentioned in the same breath as Duke, Kansas or Syracuse for a long time. Now, though, the C-Unit student section at the Coors Events Center is getting as much attention as any other top-tier basketball program in the country.
Colorado has been chosen as one of almost 80 schools to vie for the title of 2012 Naismith Student Section of the Year Award, according to the CU Buffs athletics website.
The C-Unit cheers after the Buff's first field goal in Feb. 2 win over Oregon State. The C-Unit has been nominated to be one of 80 schools in the 2012 Naismith Student Section of the Year Award. (CU Independent/Andrew Kaczmarek)
The C-Unit has been at full force this season, helping the CU men’s basketball team go 13-1 (7-0 in the Pac-12) at home.
“We try to make [the student section] as hostile as possible,” said CU freshman Griffin Bohm, who leads the student section “roller coaster” cheer at halftime.
The roller coaster is one of the things helping to get C-Unit noticed. Bohm said the roller coaster is the most fun because its uniqueness and the fun in participating.
The student section even has its own twitter now. If you Follow @CUnitBuffs you will read things such as “It’s official… We have the best home court advantage in the #Pac12.” This was tweeted on February fourth immediately after the men’s basketball team defeated Oregon 72-71.
Kyle Longwell, who works in the marketing department of CU athletics and runs the twitter account said it’s been a fun season and the student section is continually improving and impressing people across the Pac-12.
That’s not all the student section does though. Around seven students and three faculty meet together in order to come up with new ideas and coordinate with the cheer team, Chip, and the PA system.
“The Athletic Department helps us out a lot,” says Bohm.
There are about 10 people or so that meet up every other week to prep the student section for the men’s games.
“That meeting is where we come up with the Buffalo Chips and cheers that we do at the games such as ‘Roll-Tad’ and ‘You Can’t Win at Altitude,’” said Matt Collegeman, CU student and one of the few who helps prepare the student section.
According to the C-Unit Facebook page their goal is to “create an insane and fun environment for Buffs fans as [they] simultaneously turn Coors Event Center into one of the most hostile places for opposing teams to play college basketball.”
They have this year and will continue to the rest of the season. The Buffs have only two home games left this season, both Pac-12 opponents. Expect the student section to be in full force and prove they belong with the top schools in the nation.
Contact CU Independent Writer Robert Annis at Robert.annis@colorado.edu
