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PITTSBURG —
The weather for Pittsburg State University’s Saturday playoff game against Washburn University was wet, blustery and cold, but the elements didn’t keep Pitt State fans from turning out in force to watch the Gorillas beat the Ichabods 31-22. From local residents to visitors from as far away as Colorado Springs, Colo., fans braved miserable conditions to support their team in its first playoff appearance in three years.
Pittsburg resident Jason Slaughter showed up at 8 a.m. to start grilling hot dogs and sausages for fans at the northeast corner of Carnie Smith Stadium. Slaughter and his wife, Amber, are both Pitt State graduates and are excited about the game and the future of the football program.
“I think they have a lot of talent,” Slaughter said as chilly rain blew sideways into his tailgating tent. “It’s good to see Pitt State back in the game where they should be. We could do without the wind and rain, though.”
Slaughter said he think Pitt State has a chance to play in the Division II national championship game.
“I think they have a shot,” Slaughter said. “It looks like camaraderie is high right now. It seems like really good time to be involved in Pitt State football.”
Roger Burton graduated from PSU in 1975, and has a daughter who was a cheerleader at the university. Burton said he’s glad the Gorillas are in the playoffs.
“If they win, great,” Burton said. “If not, they still had a good year.”
Burton was optimistic before the game started that Pitt State would topple Washburn and get revenge for the Nov. 5 loss to the Ichabods.
“We’ve got a good, young team and I think coach Beck is going to be a great coach,” Burton said in his tent near Gorilla Village. “They’re going to have a good future.”
Camped out under the roof of McPherson Hall, Vicki Horton came to watch the game with her husband, Dick, who is a Pitt State graduate. Their sons, Todd and Chris, both played football at PSU, and Horton became a fan then and has been one ever since. She said Washburn had better be ready to play.
“We’re die-hards and we’re ready to kick their butt,” she laughed.
And the wind, cold and rain? What rain?
“We’ve sat through many a playoff game in the pouring rain,” Horton said, adding that she and Dick are discussing whether to travel to Alabama for the championship game if PSU makes it that far. “It’s a new coach and a new era, and we’re thrilled to be here.”
The weather for Pittsburg State University’s Saturday playoff game against Washburn University was wet, blustery and cold, but the elements didn’t keep Pitt State fans from turning out in force to watch the Gorillas beat the Ichabods 31-22. From local residents to visitors from as far away as Colorado Springs, Colo., fans braved miserable conditions to support their team in its first playoff appearance in three years.
Pittsburg resident Jason Slaughter showed up at 8 a.m. to start grilling hot dogs and sausages for fans at the northeast corner of Carnie Smith Stadium. Slaughter and his wife, Amber, are both Pitt State graduates and are excited about the game and the future of the football program.
“I think they have a lot of talent,” Slaughter said as chilly rain blew sideways into his tailgating tent. “It’s good to see Pitt State back in the game where they should be. We could do without the wind and rain, though.”
Slaughter said he think Pitt State has a chance to play in the Division II national championship game.
“I think they have a shot,” Slaughter said. “It looks like camaraderie is high right now. It seems like really good time to be involved in Pitt State football.”
Roger Burton graduated from PSU in 1975, and has a daughter who was a cheerleader at the university. Burton said he’s glad the Gorillas are in the playoffs.
“If they win, great,” Burton said. “If not, they still had a good year.”
Burton was optimistic before the game started that Pitt State would topple Washburn and get revenge for the Nov. 5 loss to the Ichabods.
“We’ve got a good, young team and I think coach Beck is going to be a great coach,” Burton said in his tent near Gorilla Village. “They’re going to have a good future.”
Camped out under the roof of McPherson Hall, Vicki Horton came to watch the game with her husband, Dick, who is a Pitt State graduate. Their sons, Todd and Chris, both played football at PSU, and Horton became a fan then and has been one ever since. She said Washburn had better be ready to play.
“We’re die-hards and we’re ready to kick their butt,” she laughed.
And the wind, cold and rain? What rain?
“We’ve sat through many a playoff game in the pouring rain,” Horton said, adding that she and Dick are discussing whether to travel to Alabama for the championship game if PSU makes it that far. “It’s a new coach and a new era, and we’re thrilled to be here.”
Horton said part of the reason PSU has been able to maintain football success is the support the university gets from the community.
“Pittsburg is a football town,” Horton said. “From the businesses downtown to everyone else, everybody supports them the whole season. It’s a real community effort.”
The Gorillas are even building fan support from non-graduates. Mike Ladish met Pittsburg natives Russ Lester and Vicki Sinkovic through friends while watching the Kansas City Chiefs on TV in Monument, Colo., where he transferred as a member of the United States Air Force. He came to Kansas to watch the Chiefs game on Sunday, and traveled to Pittsburg with Lester and Sinkovic on Saturday to watch the PSU game.
“It’s an awesome little town from what I’ve seen so far,” Ladish said, adding that he’s becoming a Pitt State fan by proxy. “I’m really impressed with the stadium. And the people are great, that’s for darn sure.”
Bracing himself against the wind and rain, Lester said he thought university official should change the name of Gorilla Village, at least for one game.
“It ought to be the Rainforest,” he laughed.
