Student-led organization expand its participation

Junior Tatenda Tavaziva, standing above the exit leading from the arena to the locker rooms, chants words of victory while waving a Crusader banner. Basketball team members, with up-stretched arms, point in his direction and shout “T.”

“Thank you Tatenda,” Coach Ken Deweese says.

Tavaziva is a member of the Couch Cru, which has gained popularity and momentum since its official recognition in 2004. The group’s presence has become a recognizable force in Division III athletics, but its history and current participation span beyond the realm of the football field.

Senior Kevin Guyden is a guard on the basketball team.

“It means more than words can say to have the students, faculty and even the city come out and support us,” he said. “With the fans cheering you on, it gives everyone energy to keep pushing and keep playing.”

To promote sporting events, Couch Cru members actively rally students to attend games.

“The size of the crowd builds motivation because you know the fans could have been anywhere else, but they chose to be here,” Guyden said. “You want to give them something to remember so they can tell others to come to the game as well.”

The Couch Cru is a conglomerate of former student cheering sections which continues to evolve.

Dr. Steve Theodore, vice president of Student Affairs, was a member of one of the school’s original spirit squads, the Phi Tuba Luba.

“It was fun. It was a silly name that we came up with that sounded like a fraternity,” he said.

During the mid-1980s, basketball was the dominate sport on campus.

“We were a loosely organized group,” Theodore said. “We were not a charted organization, just a bunch of guys who liked to get together and cheer on our team. The object was to dress as goofy as you could. We even did half-time shows during the basketball game.”

But how did it transition from the Phi Tuba Luba's to Couch Cru?

It began with a group of friends who supported their friend, soccer player Barry Elkins, in 1994.

Mike McCarthy, director of campus activities, was an early member of the group.

“Back then, you could drive onto the fields,” he said. “We would load up the trucks with couches out of the house, barbeque (grills) and go cheer him on.”

Elkins recalled when his friends started accessorizing the field.

“Loading up the furniture, Mike (McCarthy) broke five of our tables,” he said, laughing.

Elkins, who still lives in Belton, said it was great to see how the Couch Cru has developed.

“Soccer was the big sport on campus back then. The fields were located closer to campus, so you knew when the games were going on. We used to draw bigger crowds back then.”

During his senior year, the furniture began showing up on the field.

“I lived in a house with three other guys. They used to come to all my games. That year they thought it would be funny to bring one of the couches out … and set it up on the hill,” he said. “When people saw it, they thought 'oh I should bring my couch out here.' So the next thing we knew, there were three or four couches.”

Soon it seemed everyone was doing the same thing.

“It became a little bit of a problem when the street entrance was blocked, so they were asked to move to the other side of the field in a flat grassy spot."

Elkins’ friends decided to start moving the entire living room out to the field shortly thereafter.

“Couches, coffee tables and lamps just to be funny,” he said.

The initial Couch Cru members went on to graduate, but left a legacy for upcoming underclassmen Eric Jackson and Jerrod Wittman who kept the new tradition going.

“I had heard about the students who did it before,” Jackson said.

“We added TVs so we could watch the games.”

The inaugural UMHB football team took to the field in the fall of 1998, and the Couch Cru became more associated with them and the sport.

Last fall, the Couch Cru returned to their roots and went back to the soccer field to support the teams. Their presence helped the men’s team to a 2-1 victory over Howard Payne University.

Junior Mickey Kerr is a midfielder on the squad.

“It was the largest crowd we have had since I started playing soccer here,” he said “We really appreciate all the support.”

The student-led organization will continue to support the remaining team sports this semester.

Senior Grant Hickman became involved with the group after transferring to UMHB and is one of three captains.

“The major role of the Couch Cru is to unite students under one banner in order to support our teams,” he said. “It is a fun, easy way to support the Cru. Also, the more people who participate, the louder we are and, thus, the more effective we are.”