"I think we're all so immensely proud of the culture that we've been able to build. I feel like I've really poured a lot into the Rowdies," said Eli Flikkema, an urban planning graduate student and four-year member of the Rowdies. 

It’s a culture built on unwavering support. Although they may thrive on shenanigans and the taunting of opposing players, what truly sets the Rowdies apart is their commitment to their teams, no matter the result. Whenever MSU concedes a goal, the Rowdies immediately launch into a chant, proudly singing: 'We love ya … and where you go we’ll follow, ’cause we support the Spartans … and that’s the way we like it."

And wherever the Spartans go, the Rowdies certainly follow. From Ann Arbor to St. Louis, a few deeply committed members travel to cheer on the team whenever possible. That support endears the fans even more to the players, with women’s soccer junior midfielder Bella Najera saying, "We have the best fans in the country."

Another key aspect of the Rowdies is the diversity in the composition of members. From lifelong soccer fans to absolute newcomers to the sport, everyone is welcome and encouraged to loudly cheer for MSU.

"It's really nice that we have an environment that can support both of those types of fans and bring them together," junior physics and chemical physics double major Ryan Chenoweth said. "I showed up not knowing any rules of soccer — I still don't know a lot of them, and I'm one of the main leaders of the Rowdies! I just know that when the ref points in our direction to cheer and when they point towards us to boo."

It’s this difference in experience that makes the Rowdies uniquely enthusiastic. With some members there simply to cheer and make friends and others there to analyze every tactical change, they build off of one another to create chaotic, yet accurate, chants and traditions to utilize throughout matches.

"There are people in the Rowdies who have been fans of European soccer their whole lives, and they show up on campus knowing all the terms and being able to tell what offside is, and they're telling me about who's in the relegation battle in like League Two in England — I've never heard of any of these teams!" Flikkema said. "I showed up on campus my freshman year, and I wasn't even a fan of sports. Joining the Red Cedar Rowdies got me into genuinely following sports, and now it's a huge part of my life."

Sophomore civil engineering student Porter Holden, on the other hand, brings his experience with the game into the fold.

"I grew up playing soccer and watching soccer, and so it was only natural for me to go to the games at DeMartin… I started sitting in the back and then gradually migrated towards the front — everybody in the Rowdies was just having such a good time," Holden said. "It just seemed like a great community that I wanted to be a part of."

That sense of belonging and connectivity runs deeper than just the fans. Compared to MSU’s bigger sports in football, basketball and hockey, soccer offers a closeness to the teams that other student sections could never replicate. 

From the high-five line after every match, to the coaches, players and even parents recognizing the fans for their support, the Rowdies have a unique relationship with the Spartan soccer program.

Senior civil engineering and four-year Rowdies member Colin Pearson said, "It's really cool to be able to see (the players) around campus and say hi, and they know who you are because you're at every game."  

"The players know we're there to support them and that we're always there for them," Chenoweth said. "They're very appreciative of that, and even their parents are so appreciative – when we've driven to Purdue or St Louis, parents have come up to us and said thank you and paid for our gas."