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Show Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012 Page 15 StatesmanSpOrtS UNIVERSITY NEWS Hurd expands membership BY CURTIS LU N DSTROM sport senior writer STUDENTS SING THE SCOTSMAN during a basketball game last season. Backed by Nike, Hurd membership will include the entire student body starting this year. CURTIS RIPPLINGER photo Duke has the "Cameron Crazies," San Diego State has "The Show" and now Utah State officially has "The HURD." Once an exclusive student group, the HURD has broadened its membership to include any and all Utah State students in the stands at sporting events. "We wanted to make it so that every student would be a part of the HURD and be a part of that energy THE UTAH STATE VOLLEYBALL TEAM celebrate after scoring against the University of Utah on Friday,August 24.The Aggies forced the match into five sets after and excitement that goes along with it," said HURD President Skyler Clements. "We'll be working more with ASUSU for the direction of the HURD." ASUSU athletics vice president Karson Kalian explained how students are part of the HURD. "It's no longer exclusive, now it is all-inclusive," Kalian said. "Every student is a member of the HURD. The HURD is the student section. We're trying to bring more people to games by opening the HURD to everybody. We don't have membership fees, there's no dedicated HURD section, it's just everybody." Along with redesigning the university logos, Nike branded the HURD with its own logo –making it the only student section in the country with a national brand name sponsor — and donated more than 3,000 t-shirts to the organization. University Athletic Director Scott Barnes said Nike representatives were impressed by what they saw at an Aggie basketball game in February 2011, when "Wild" Bill Sproat dressed in a teapot costume and danced during free throws while the rest of the student body sang "I'm A Little Teapot." "It wasn't one of those things that was scripted," Barnes said. "Nike saw that and was so enamored and excited about what was going on with the HURD that they said they wanted to do something with it. They were so impressed with the support our students gave that they wanted to help." With membership ► See FANS, Page 16 getting down 2-1, but the powerful Ute attack proved too much to handle. Utah went on to win the tournament with a 4-0 record. CURTIS RIPPLINGER photo VOLLEYBALL: Aggies can't get it done against Utah Utes in the Spectrum *From page 13 with a 2-1 advantage. Utah State rallied from a 19-10 deficit in the fourth set to force a decisive fifth set but the late rally ultimately came up short as USU fell 16-14 to drop to 1-1 on the season. Utah State 3, SUU 1 a The Aggies picked up a win over another in-state rival, beating Southern Utah in four sets Saturday in the Utah State Invitational. The Aggies overcame a first set meltdown in which they led 20-14, only to see the Thunderbirds finish on 12-4 run to take the groove and took control ment with a win over first set – their first of over the final two sets in-state rival Weber the season – 26-24. to win three straight State in straight sets Ana Mailoto finished – including a 25-14 shel- Saturday. with 11 kills for SUU, lacking in the fourth. White had a matchwhich nearly overcame a high 11 kills to lead five-point deficit in the Utah State 3, Weber the Aggies, and the second set before comState 0 Wildcats were unable ing up short at 25-23. to overcome a strong Led by a game-high The Aggies emerged defensive showing from 15 kills from White, the victorious in the final the USU blockers. Utah Aggie offense found a match of the tournaState finished with 10.5 team blocks and held Weber State to a -.192 hitting percentage. Seniors Elle Brainard and White, as well as sophomore Ashlan Rogers, were named to the all-tournament team. – curtis.lundstrom@aggiemail.usu.edu USU SURPLUS SALES has what you need to get all set up! Some dings and dents, all in great working order. YOU SAVE PLENTY! Easy to find. Easy to deal with. Open to students Monday-Friday, 8 am-4pm. Located in the north parking lot of Romney Stadium, east of the softball diamond. •Computers •Monitors •TVs •Couches •Desks •Chairs •Tables •File Cabinets •Shelving •Cars/Trucks •Lamps •MORE |