Josh Chilson

They are half naked, half crazy and all SDSU pride.

Anyone who has attended a Jacks football game has seen them. Standing by the railing in front of the student section is a row of fanatics that lack shirts, but not spirit.

Though different groups have painted their bodies for football games, one group in particular has made it a ritual. These fanatics have painted their upper bodies yellow and blue for every home game since last season.

Mark Monson, a junior majoring in construction management, is one of the original members of the group. He said the members originally did it to “get fans into the game. It was something different.”

The group of students does not represent any organization or club. Members simply want to show their enthusiasm for SDSU football.

“It makes the whole experience more like a D-1 game,” said Chris Mangan, a junior pre-dental major and original member of the group.

The students meet three to four hours before each home game to prepare their bodies and minds. They first decide what they want to spell out on their bodies. Usually, they decide on a broad slogan such as “Go Jacks,” but occasionally they like to mix it up. For this year’s Beef Bowl, their bodies read “Mmm Beefy.”

Both Mangan and Monson insist that the experience is not that uncomfortable.

“We just go out there to have a good time,” Mangan said. “We want to show both the crowd and the team our school spirit.”

Jeff Appleman, a freshman wildlife and fisheries major, is one of the people in the stands that the group helps to pump up.

“They add to the atmosphere of the games. They make it more exciting,” he said.

This is exactly what the group is aiming for. Monson said, “We never want there to be a dull moment.”

#1.884070:1352275800.jpg:mail15.jpg:Mark Monson, Joshua Kelly, Travis Powell and Chris Lawson show their painted pride at a Jacks football game. The group meets three to four hours before each home game to prepare for the show of school spirit.: