A privileged society expanded. They built through youth, relocation and generations of families. An outsider sees them as has-beens, who stand out in outfits against the liberal arts norm. On the inside they come together as warriors who support themselves because there is no one else like them who will.
There is a symbol to connect athletes. Some holster it on the side of their backpacks and others present it on top of their desks.
It is the badge of brotherhood, an indication of initiation and the emblem of an athlete.
The Gatorade bottle.
Athletes connect on many levels. They go into battle together and they share defeat and victory. Bonds grow through pursuit of a common goal: to win. These intangibles bring Webster University athletes together, and we recognize them by a green and orange water bottle.
The Gatorade bottles are like pledge pins that proud athletes sport to represent their loyalty as a Gorlok. And since my freshman year, I’ve noticed more objects that separate the athletes from other Webster students.
The Webster bookstore doesn’t sell Webster Athletics gear. They sell overpriced Under Armour apparel with the lovable, fluffy Gorlok logo on them. The Webster Athletics gear is put aside only for athletes, and all of the extras are hidden in the storage closet. I would buy shirts and hats with specific team references and the fierce head of an attacking Gorlok stitched on. But my only options are shirts that could represent the school of education just as much as athletics.
An alumni soccer player told me the team was selling some of its new practice shirts. The next day I was in Men’s Soccer Head Coach Michael Seiner’s office to buy one.
Gorlok Athletics has its own logo and I would proudly sport it in public. But it seems to be hidden from the student body. There are often people wearing clothes with the Webster logo and the creative “undefeated since 1915,” Webster football T-shirt, but those are not Webster Athletic approved.
I have a closet full of shirts to represent the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, St. Louis Blues and USA soccer. But my Webster wardrobe is limited to a single men’s soccer shirt.
Siener’s entrepreneurial T-shirt business helped me become a better fan of Webster sports. Other coaches should follow lead. Sell the Webster baseball shirts and hats that all the players wear. Make the basketball warm-up gear available to purchase so that fans can look like their favorite player.
I want to have more clothes with Webster Athletics’ blue and gold, not Mizzou’s black and gold. But right now Webster is losing.
The best part about being a fan is thinking you are actually a part of the team. And looking like the team is about the closest anyone in the stands can get.
If Webster wants to gain a greater fan base they need to give the fan base, a chance to show their support.
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