|
| Gallina is a walking testimonial for Oakland. He not only earned his bachelor’s degree at OU and now has a career in the admissions office; he met his wife, Victoria — also an alumnus — through the Grizz Gang. |
To Anthony Gallina, SBA ’08, Oakland University is everything.
A self-proclaimed OU addict, Gallina was one of the founding members of the Grizz Gang — Oakland University’s official athletics spirit squad — in 2008. Since then, he’s watched membership within the student organization nearly double. It’s the largest student organization at OU, with nearly 900 members.
Fun to be a fan
Gallina, 29, has parlayed his school spirit into a career, and is now the
Alumni Admissions Ambassador Program coordinator for the University’s Undergraduate Admissions Office. He’s also the student adviser to each new class of Grizz Gang leadership and has already begun a graduate program this semester.
“I’ve had so much fun being a fan, and I’ve never let any small bit of it go away because it’s too much fun,” says Gallina, “and even now as a staff member, seeing other staff members on campus — and of course fellow alums — it’s infectious. Even if you’re not a student, you still want to be.”
It’s not hard to spot Grizz Gang members at any given sporting event. Students with painted faces, golden wigs and Oakland attire regularly attend basketball, soccer, volleyball games and more, making noise and rooting for the Golden Grizzlies.
The group has designated chants for certain points during basketball games, such as during free throws, says Gallina. Members also show up at OU swim meets — a sport that traditionally hasn’t had a large fan base, but has seen attendance grow in the six years the Grizz Gang has been around.
Impact beyond the O'rena
Jean Ann Miller, CAS ‘77, OU’s director of student activities and leadership development, says the student organization is highly visible all over campus and promotes campus spirit “all over the place on and off campus. You will see and hear the Grizz Gang at away games and NCAA tournaments.”
“The Grizz Gang partners with several other student organizations and departments for different events, so they have a lot of exposure and impact,” explains Miller. “They enhance the college experience and give students the opportunity to really embrace their university and future alma mater.
“They also offer a lot of incentives like pre-game tailgate parties, free food, OU swag and other giveaways.”
Senior Brittany Hall, a current president of the organization, says the new, fall homecoming weekend gave the student organization the opportunity to make winter — traditionally designated homecoming season — as event-driven as possible.
“We’re planning on creating a rivalry weekend between OU and University of Detroit Mercy,” says Hall, “and now that we don’t have homecoming weekend in the winter, we have the ability to create other new traditions in place of it.”
Win-win
Oakland’s Athletics Department notes the Grizz Gang as being part of the reason the men’s basketball team has the third best home record in the country. That’s something Ryan Mostiller, SECS ’10, who took over when Gallina graduated, can attest to.
“When I was at OU, the student section was right behind the opponent’s bench. We were never really mean, but we were loud and annoying, and had times where players turned around and yelled at us,” he shares. “We always got in their heads.”
While most students join because they love sports, many students participate because it’s a chance to be part of something special, Gallina says.
“Whether you’re a student or an alum, I think Oakland is small enough to where you can feel like, ‘My time here made a difference,’” says Gallina, who buys season tickets each year behind the opposing team’s bench with three former Grizz Gang members, including Mostiller.
“Even if I wasn’t the president and was just a student that showed up to games, I still helped cheer the Grizzlies on to that shootout in soccer or that overtime three-point shot, or that buzzer beater when I rushed the court. Those memories help create lifelong fans that are proud of their alma mater, and the Grizz Gang helps create that.”
Keeping connected
And Gallina is a walking testimonial for Oakland. He not only earned his bachelor’s degree at OU and now has a career in the admissions office; he met his wife, Victoria — also an alumnus — through the student organization.
“The first time we interacted was at an Oakland basketball game, naturally,” he says. “I was decked out in all my gear, and she said it was a bit intimidating at first. But we really hit it off and had a lot of fun, and so she hasn’t really missed any games since then, either.”
The love for OU runs so deep that the couple held their wedding reception in the Oakland Center banquet rooms. The University’s mascot, The Grizz, made an appearance, and Gallina’s groomsmen bought Gallina and his wife custom Oakland basketball jerseys with their names and wedding date on them.
“We went around campus and took photos everywhere — from the statue in front of the O’rena to Meadow Brook Hall — so it was pretty cool that we got a chance to make our memorable day here at Oakland,” he remembers.
Gallina’s Grizzly spirit has trickled into his home life, too. He has a room in his house he’s dubbed the OU Grizz Den.
“I know personally, I feel like sometimes you don’t realize until after you become an alumni how special this place is, unless you get introduced very early on, so I think when you become part of the Grizz Gang, it sort of puts meaning behind the Grizz head, our official logo,” explains Gallina. “You wear it on things and you see it all around but what does it mean to be a Grizzly?
“I think being a part of the student section and being a part of the Grizz Gang helps make you feel like you are a part of an elite group of grizzlies, and even our alums who were here before the Grizzlies feel connected to them because it’s something to be proud of.”
To learn more about the Grizz Gang, visit goldengrizzlies.com, email the Center for Student Activities at
csa@oakland.edu or call 248-370-2400.
