BEN YOUNG
Staff Writer
He’s seen at all the games wearing a funky blue and orange wig. Usually he’s shouting for the Pepperdine team that’s playing at that particular moment in time alongside several of his closest Riptide friends. But there’s more to senior Owen Ranger than cheering on Pepperdine athletics. The most recognizable Pepperdine fan is this week’s guest on “Ten Minutes With…”
So, Owen, when did the wig come about?
I purchased it at Target just prior to Midnight Madness freshman year and spray-painted it myself. It was originally black. I’m a huge sports fan, and I figured that the school needed a jolt of craziness. There are way too many apathetic people here. Come on. We have a wall covered with national championship banners! I didn’t actually get the “Superfan” nickname until last year, when my friend Ross and I caused a UCSB club soccer player to get yellow-carded and eventually thrown out. The soccer guys gave us that name.
Has it changed your life?
It has made me a pretty recognizable guy around campus. Between my presence at athletic events and wearing it for a solid week freshman year for a charity gig, I get lots of people who can barely recognize me without the big orange mop.
What do cute girls think about the wig?
Many seem to like it. I’ve posed for numerous photo-ops at games, and people, often girls, are always touching and poking it, particularly at basketball games.
What does the man in the wig do for fun?
He goes to every athletic event he can, NCAA and club. I set a personal goal this year of making it to 100 games, all sports included. So far I’m at 7, counting the men’s club soccer game from which I was ejected last weekend. I’m hoping to have the ‘fro retired to the trophy case, perhaps adorning last year’s volleyball trophy. Other than that, the man in the wig wishes to refrain from comment.
Because of being the man in the wig, what do you do around campus?
I help run Riptide, mostly as the most recognizable fan. I’m a part-time basketball manager. I guess I go to class occasionally. And I play for the club rugby team, definitely one of the cooler sports at Pepperdine.
Wow, I didn’t take you for a rugby player. When did that start?
I had quite a few friends on the team who sort of gradually convinced me to play last spring. It’s a fun sport that requires smarts and aggressiveness, two qualities I like to think that I possess. It’s also a sport that not a lot of American kids play in high school, so I’m not up against guys who’ve been playing since the cradle.
So, how’s the team this year?
I like our team. Last year there seemed to be a general lack of enthusiasm, but our team leaders this year (Ryan Adcock, Chase Huber, Nick Jay and Johnny Payne) have been really motivated to make this year a success. We also have a deep and talented bunch of rookies who are picking the game up fast, another thing we lacked last year. Hell, we’ve drawn so much interest this year that we even have a girl playing, and she’s good, too. We lack some size, because our two props, our biggest players, both graduated this past spring. We could use some more heft, but we have lots of good athletes.
Do you have any games coming up?
We have our home opener against Occidental this Saturday at Alumni Park right across from the Fieldhouse parking lot this Saturday, Oct. 1, at noon. I strongly encourage everyone to come out and cheer us on, because it is a very entertaining sport, and we’re the closest thing to a football team at Pepperdine, except that we hit people without pads on. We’re also scheduled to play at UC Irvine next weekend and at Long Beach after that, with a home game against Cal Lutheran in November and an alumni game. We’ll have more games in the spring.
Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but your coach is a little crazy, is he not?
I think anyone who’s played rugby for almost 30 years could be considered crazy. How many old guys do you know who write books and sell their own brand of aloe for a living and are willing to mix it up with guys almost half a century younger than them? But Robert is a great guy and fun to have as a coach.
Do you have any post-season predictions for any of the sports this year?
I’m loyal and somewhat of an optimist, and I think we have six teams that are strong contenders to grace Firestone with more big blue banners this year. I would say that soccer, water polo, baseball, women’s golf and men’s tennis are all serious threats to take it all the way, and I believe that the divine Andy Hein will fill the void left by the great Sean Rooney and lead the Waves to consecutive volleyball titles.
Yeah, the water polo team looks good. You think they can take it all the way?
I do. I’ve never played organized water polo, so I don’t have a deep understanding of the game, but they’ve had some impressive wins and have looked very tough in their few losses too. I think it’s a talented team that won’t back down from a challenge.
What about basketball?
I like our men’s basketball team this year because they are such a mystery. I’m not sure anyone knows how talented this team can be. Our incoming freshmen and transfers are all good players, and some of them are ready to play right away. We are attracting some of Canada’s top talent, and these guys can play. Russell Hicks and Kingsley Costain were all-WCC rookies last year. Our big guys are all healthy for the first time since any of us has been here, and I think that the guys coming back from injury the last couple of years, Derrick Grubb and Jarrad Henry and Cody Horning, should surprise people this year. I like the depth and versatility a lot. As long as everyone works hard and checks any egos at the door, they should do a whole lot better than seventh in the league, which is what most so-called experts predict.
What’s next for you Owen? A pro-sports mascot gig somewhere?
No, I don’t dance well enough to do that. I want to wind up in the coaching business, which I’ve already started on at the high school level. But first, I think I want to go back to South America and experience the world for a couple of years. There’s a lot to do out there.
Has being the man in the wig been worth the long hours sitting in bleachers and the many voiceless morning-afters?
Absolutely. I love supporting the school this way, and I know the athletes love it too. I’m just doing my best to help the team, or in this case, teams.
09-29-2005