It was late on a chilly, rainy Friday afternoon when the buses to Santa Barbara fired up their engines, but that didn’t stop Cal Poly students from taking the hour-and-a-half bus ride to Harder Stadium. All to show support for the men’s soccer team in its final game of the season.
As the bus neared the stadium in Isla Vista, the mood rose in anticipation. The ever-classic “Tommy Boy” finished, and every-one’s focus turned to arguably the biggest soccer rivalry in the nation. It was as if the students were preparing for a game of their own. Several avid supporters, or let’s say leaders, started to rally the rest of the bus in chants. The adrenaline was rushing, possibly due to the nerves related to the uncertainty of what was to come.
Two hours later, the destination was reached. Everyone gathered their belongings, grabbed their limited edition vuvuzelas and headed toward the stadium. The Cal Poly Green Army was equipped and ready for battle.
Cal Poly students excitedly entered the stadium of bright lights and colors. The athletic environment was similar to the one at Cal Poly. However, there was a higher student attendance for the home team at Cal Poly than here.
The Mustang supporters were guided to the visitor’s section — this was where the fun began. With vuvuzelas in hand, students started to make that obnoxious noise that everyone not partaking in it hates. The noise continued and rang intensely throughout the visitor’s section all night. It was probably these vuvuzelas that prompted reactions from the opposing crowd.
The Green Army was met with various rival fans.
There were the respectful opposing parents who smiled and flaunted their team’s colors. Along with them were the occasional timeworn alumni who thought they were still in college; more power to them. Then there were those opposing Santa Barbara students who felt they could do whatever they wanted — flip off the opposing students, use profanity or throw tortillas.
What was really attention grabbing was the amount of kids — elementary to middle school ages — who followed suit and were, in some respect, worse than the Santa Barbara students. It’s expected that opposing students would clash, but never would one imagine little kids acting the way they did. The tension in the air built up exponentially throughout the game, but Cal Poly fans remained calm, composed, and collected … for the most part
Never once did they let down on the chants, and despite the Mustangs trailing for a good portion of the game, they made their voices heard loud and clear.
Cal Poly freshman Paul Ringelstein said he was impressed by “the fact that, even though we lost, everyone still cheered and sang the whole time.” This was probably the most unforgettable: experiencing the incredible spirit and faith Cal Poly students had for their soccer team.
At the end of the game, Cal Poly goalkeeper Patrick McLain pointed toward the student section, recognizing and thanking them for their continued support. It was a sight to remember.
Despite the loss, Cal Poly students remained faithful, cheering on their team no matter what the score. From beginning to end, the support stayed consistent and Cal Poly fans made their presence known. From alumni to current students, Mustang pride was shown somewhere other than San Luis Obispo.
Everyone knew they gave their best and that was all they could do. The trip didn’t turn out in Cal Poly’s favor, but it was still an inspiring experience.
The ride back was filled with laughter while the movie “Stepbrothers” played. As the buses stopped at Cal Poly, the fans reemerged, undaunted by loss that night — a night where everyone involved stepped off the bus and onto campus proud to be a Mustang.