- Jessie Dorsz,
Fellow ISU band member
NORMAL – “Go you Redbirds, on to battle, fight for ISU!” The ISU school song is played constantly at every ISU sporting event and then sung together by the student section at the end of each game, win or lose.
Collin Custis, a recent graduate of ISU, now turned alumni, has had a love for the Redbirds since he enrolled at ISU.
“I’ve always been a loyal fan of whatever school I was at, it being grade school, high school or college, due to a sense of loyalty to the institutions setting me up for my life,” Custis said.
Hailing from his hometown of Washington, Ill., ISU was a familiar name in his household.
“My mom and sister also got their degrees here, I guess you could say it’s in my blood,” he said.
So naturally, it was no surprise Custis instantly was a Redbird fan. Attending ISU for five years, he left with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in accounting. Although his career choice was grueling, he made sure to prioritize so he could fit the games into his schedule.
“When I got to college, I was so into Redbird sports that as a member of the [marching and pep] band, I attended as many sporting events as I could. I even attended games I wasn’t required to be at,” he said.
Custis was well known for his extreme spirit and devotion to ISU sports.
“He was the ring leader for every game. He always had to sit right in the middle of the bleachers for football games to get the best view. During basketball games, he was the one leading the free-throw chant. Everyone looked to Collin.” Jessie Dorsz, a fellow ISU band member said.
Custis lived up to his role. During his time at ISU he was the recipient of the ISU Super Fan award.
“During my junior year, my peers voted me the first ever Redbird Super Fan, and since the contest has ceased to exist, it thereby makes me the first and only Super Fan,” he added with a proud look.
If one knew Custis during his college years, one could say he grew a little obsessive of Redbird sports, making sure to never miss a game at Redbird Arena. Whether it was basketball or volleyball, he was there making sure he was there cheering his team on.
“In many ways the games were just not games, ya know, they were a place to go have fun, and the more games I went to the more I felt a personal connection to the players and coaches of the teams. So in a sense, it was like I was going to the games to watch my friends compete,” he said.
Custis’s favorite Redbird sport is basketball. “It doesn’t matter to me whether its men’s or women’s, I just love the sport,” he said. Custis is now out of college and into the “real-world”, currently residing in the Champaign-Urbana area. Finding a fit at a local accounting firm, he seems to be settling in, but still refuses to cheer for the Illini.
“I own enough ISU apparel that I was able to wear red almost every day of college and wear a different Redbird hat for at least 2 weeks in a row. While I am not able to wear the red and white every single day at a full time job, my love of the redbirds has not faded one bit,” he said.
Although he is an hour away from his beloved Redbirds, Custis still makes it a priority to come over and get his fix as much as time allows.
“I was here for almost every football game, but basketball was a little harder. I tried to make every big game we had, otherwise I would stream it from my computer while working late nights,” he said.
Yesterday it was announced that Redbird basketball coach, Tim Jankovich has accepted a coaching position at Southern Methodist University, leaving the Redbirds.
“Being such a fan of redbird basketball I’m very sad to see such a great coach leave ISU, but I’m sure we’ll be just as good next year.”
Although Custis isn’t a student anymore, his voice is still the loudest when singing the catchy school song. Custis’s optimism and enthusiasm for Redbird sports is intoxicating. Always carrying a torch for his school, his devotion is sure to keep burning for the long haul.
“We’ve got the might, we’ve got the fight, let’s win this game! ISU Go!”