New group works to attract fans to Jadwin

Deborah Arotsky
Princetonian Senior Writer

Monday, February 9, 2004 (The Daily Princetonian)

It all began when a group of freshmen sat watching a football game last fall. Disappointed by the low student attendance, they commented to each other that they hoped more people would come out for the basketball season. But when basketball crowds were also sparse, they decided to do something about it.

Their solution was a new basketball fan club, Jadwin Jungle, recently founded by John Boscia '07, Freddy Flaxman '07 and Jonah Perlin '07. They are currently in the process of applying to be an official student group on campus.

"We're giving people more reasons to get excited. You should go because you like cheering for your team," Perlin said.

For $5 — chargeable to a student account — students can buy yearlong membership to the club. In addition, members receive a black long-sleeved shirt that reads, "Welcome to the Jungle." At games, the shirt gives students access to a special seating area in the student section.

The co-founders have worked closely with the Princeton Athletic Department to set up the fan club. Members receive additional information on teams and post-season ticket priority for NCAA/NIT tournaments.

They can also attend pre-game parties with free appetizers at Winberie's, the club's sponsor. "They've been very receptive," Flaxman said of the restaurant, which donated $1500.

"We have a pretty exciting basketball team this year and a real good shot at winning the Ivy League. With a group like this, the enthusiasm rubs off," said Jamie Zaninovich, a representative of the athletic marketing department. He said the group would contribute to "making it more fun to go to Jadwin."

"The group is by and for Princeton students," Zaninovich said. "It's their baby."

Zaninovich came here this year from Stanford University, where there is a fan club upon which Jadwin Jungle is modeled. Called the Sixth Man Club, it was founded in 1993 with 50 members and now boasts approximately 1300. Zaninovich said such a turnout would be unrealistic for Princeton because of its smaller size.

Though Jadwin Jungle aimed to have about 75 members this year, by the end of its first week the club boasted around 400 members, Perlin said.

"Princeton prides itself on being a little different," Zaninovich said in explanation of the school's strong team spirit.

This spirit came out in force last weekend, Flaxman said, when Princeton scored major wins against Dartmouth on Friday and Harvard on Saturday.

"It went amazingly," Perlin said, adding that the high point of the weekend was at the end of the Harvard game, which went into double overtime. Jadwin Jungle prompted the entire stadium to stand in support of the Princeton team.

"The basketball team, of course, won, but we were there helping," Perlin said.

But the season is not over yet. Princeton faces the University of Pennsylvania at home on Tuesday.

"It's all gaining momentum for the Penn game," Flaxman said.

"We're expecting a huge turnout," Perlin said, adding that the membership has grown so quickly that the club has run out of Jadwin Jungle shirts and is asking its most recent members to just wear black shirts.

To increase the excitement, Jadwin Jungle set up a table in Frist last week where students could sign up to become members.

As Tom Brown '07 added his name to the roster, he said, "There's a lot of enthusiasm out there. These people are finding ways to tap it."

"You're starting something great here, Freddy," Brown said to Flaxman.