For four decades, Gonzaga University's Kennel Club has had one mission: to be the heartbeat of every home game. Since 1984, this vibrant student-run club has been the pulse of the Zags' basketball experience. Picture booming chants and swaying masses, a sea of 1,200 Bulldog fans creating an atmosphere that's been electric from the 1980s, through the Cinderella runs of the '90s, to the powerhouse era we see today.
Jay Hillock, who coached the Zags from 1981 to '85, once credited the Kennel Club with adding an extra six to eight points per game. That’s the kind of impact this crowd can have.
However, recent events have stirred the pot. Some students feel the Kennel's roar has softened after the university took "corrective action" against some members earlier this season for conduct violations.
Opinions are mixed. Some students insist nothing has changed, while others remain tight-lipped about the situation.
In early February, Dan Nailen, Gonzaga's assistant director of media relations, confirmed the Kennel Club faced repercussions for hazing and alcohol policy violations. Yet, details about who was punished and the potential impact on the Kennel Club's presence at the West Coast Conference Tournament remain under wraps.
Sophomore Cade Spencer doesn't see a drop in energy at the games. Meanwhile, fellow sophomore Colin Korver, cousin of NBA veteran Kyle Korver, suggests distractions like the mobile game Clash Royale might be affecting enthusiasm. "It’s unnerving to have to get people to stand up when there’s a game happening," he notes.
Despite these concerns, fans at the Zags' final home game against the Portland Pilots on February 25th witnessed the usual jubilant, gyrating crowd. The chants and cheers were as loud as ever. So, what's the real story?
According to students like Spencer, Korver, and his sister Liana, the issue lies in the club's organization. Many, including these three, plan to head to Vegas for the WCC tournament. As for the hazing incident, they feel the university is keeping things under wraps.
Kristian Rorvik, a senior, believes there’s been a noticeable change, though the specifics remain unclear. Others, like senior Kennedy Child, argue the energy hasn't waned. Child admits the cheers aren't as coordinated, and ticket distribution for the WCC Tournament was delayed this year, but she feels the energy level is comparable to previous years.
Alumni like Kenny McKerlick, who graduated in 2008, observed that while the front row of the Kennel Club isn't quite as lively, the overall enthusiasm remains strong. Bob Weisbeck and Bill Vauvel, both class of '81, echoed this sentiment, noting that the energy ebbs and flows but was particularly high at the Portland game.
Freshman Connor Hitchcock, sporting red, white, and blue overalls, rated the energy of the senior night game nearly perfect, a 9.5 out of 10. Sophomore Patrick Link described the Kennel as slightly quieter but still electrifying.
The Kennel's energy seems to vary depending on who you ask. For the Korver siblings and Rorvik, the senior class carries the responsibility of keeping the Kennel alive, even as some students might be tempted by distractions like Clash Royale.
"I feel like it’s easier to leave early when there’s no hype," said Irvine, another student. "The Kennel Club was better at keeping people engaged last year."
In the end, the Kennel Club remains a force to be reckoned with, its legacy of passion and support continuing to fuel Gonzaga's basketball success.