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Watch as members of UB's spirit teams talk about their experience at the NCAA men's basketball tournament in Boise, Idaho. Video produced by Meredith Forrest Kulwicki and David J. Hill.
Published March 17, 2018 This content is archived.
BOISE -- UB sophomore Craig Adriaansen is standing in the hotel lobby, calmly answering questions about his role as "Coach Craig" as a member of the university's pep band.
Coach Craig, however, doesn't describe a leadership position he has within the band. It explains the Incredible Hulk-like alter ego that Adriaansen unleashes once the game starts.
"I have a reputation for being quiet or mild mannered, but at the games it's a different environment. There's a lot of people and it's so exciting. I just get out there, make some noise and get the team pepped up," Adriaansen says.
Adriaansen is just one of the many personalities that make UB's spirit squad a fun force to be reckoned with at Bulls basketball and football games. At full force for UB home games, the spirit squad includes the entire pep band -- only about a third of the band made the trip to Boise for men's basketball's NCAA Tournament games -- the cheerleading team and the UB Dazzlers dance team.
Check out the video to hear how a few members of the spirit team are peppin' up the Bulls in Boise, all while continuing to study and even take midterms on the road.