Nice Story About the Jump Around Guy, Rick Smith

[Heisenberg]

This guy has been great for the program.  I hope they realize it and do something special for him.



Stingl: Marquette fan, 68, is still the 'jump around guy' after 12 years, and the students love it
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/columnists/jim-stingl/2019/03/05/marquette-basketball-jump-around-guy-going-strong-age-68/3055837002/


Remember, he is 68 ...

Rick jumps for however long the song plays, and that can sometimes be an eternity if it's during an extended TV timeout. He never phones it in. His feet leave the ground, and he claps on each downstroke.

"I love that he jumps," said Joan, who does not join in. "Sometimes he gets all hot and sweaty and out of breath. Then I worry a little bit."

And he is not a sell-out!

Rick has been asked to wear a shirt or hat with some company logo or another, but he declined. Allen Edmonds, apparently hot to be the official footwear provider of jump around guy, offered him a pair of shoes. Nobody would see them, Rick pointed out.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Every time Fox puts him on the air, MU gives him 500,000 eye balls for his business.  Great couple.

[warriorchick]

Every time Fox puts him on the air, MU gives him 500,000 eye balls for his business.  Great couple.

That's a little far-fetched, IMO.

Do you actually think a random college basketball fan who sees him for a couple of seconds on TV says, "Hey, that guy is cool!  I am going to do some rather complicated research to find out who he is, and if he happens to own a business, I am going see if I can patronize it!  I hope it is some sort of engineering firm, because I could sure use one!

[Dr. Blackheart]

That's a little far-fetched, IMO.

Do you actually think a random college basketball fan who sees him for a couple of seconds on TV says, "Hey, that guy is cool!  I am going to do some rather complicated research to find out who he is, and if he happens to own a business, I am going see if I can patronize it!  I hope it is some sort of engineering firm, because I could sure use one!

Kinda like Fiserv Forum? 

He has had multiple features (like this and the references mentioned, including social media) for free, where his business is always referenced  Heise says MU should do something special for him. My comment is they do. Free publicity (although that is not his intent).

[jficke13]

He's played out. It's a badger song anyway. Down with Jump Around Guy.

[Litehouse]

He's played out. It's a badger song anyway. Down with Jump Around Guy.

Blasphemy!

[Sir Lawrence]

He's played out. It's a badger song anyway. Down with Jump Around Guy.

Boo you.  The student section goes all enthusiastic every time he does it.  He's a genuine fan, and a very decent guy. 

[4everwarriors]

He's played out. It's a badger song anyway. Down with Jump Around Guy.

Won trick pony, hey?

[warriorchick]

Boo you.  The student section goes all enthusiastic every time he does it.  He's a genuine fan, and a very decent guy.

Plus he is one of the few fans who has his own GIF.

[warriorchick]

Kinda like Fiserv Forum? 

He has had multiple features (like this and the references mentioned, including social media) for free, where his business is always referenced  Heise says MU should do something special for him. My comment is they do. Free publicity (although that is not his intent).

You were saying that the hundreds of thousands of eyeballs on Fox gives his business publicity.  My guess is that any business he has picked up is because of eyeballs in the arena. 

[Big Papi]

Boo you.  The student section goes all enthusiastic every time he does it.  He's a genuine fan, and a very decent guy.

The only excitement from the student section during jump around is when he is on the big screen.  Its been played out.  Time to move on.  Same with the lights out during the first time out.  Very lackluster.

[SaveOD238]

2008 Big East Tournament, I was in the band as a freshman.  A group of other frosh and I went to visit the "Hello Deli" which was popular on Letterman around that time.  We ran into a nice older (than us) couple in Marquette gear, and I knew I recognized them from somewhere.

It wasn't until they walked out that we realized it was Rick and Joan.  Sadly, there's no photo evidence.  Such a nice couple, though!

[GooooMarquette]

I had no idea he was 68. Kudos to him for being a great MU fan, and making the atmosphere just a bit more lively.

[Norm]

I'd take Freeway over Jump Around Guy any day.

[4everwarriors]

Orr da dude back at Mecca hoo wood strip ta a drum beet durin' a time out, aina?

[4everwarriors]

2008 Big East Tournament, I was in the band as a freshman.  A group of other frosh and I went to visit the "Hello Deli" which was popular on Letterman around that time.  We ran into a nice older (than us) couple in Marquette gear, and I knew I recognized them from somewhere.

It wasn't until they walked out that we realized it was Rick and Joan.  Sadly, there's no photo evidence.  Such a nice couple, though!

Sure dat wuzant Ma and Pa, hey?

[Dr. Blackheart]

You were saying that the hundreds of thousands of eyeballs on Fox gives his business publicity.  My guess is that any business he has picked up is because of eyeballs in the arena.

Marquette has Engineering Alumni all over the world.  If you Google "Marquette Jump Around Guy" he has multiple videos, articles, blogs like Barstool, even a Facebook page (fallow).  If you see him on Fox, you might Google it.

You know this Chick as you are very involved with the Alumni but his company is large ($30 million in revenue) with projects in many states (municipal and private). 

Like a lot of service marketing like Fiserv, it just takes one or two big ticket sales to make a payout. His cost is free. Not only that, there are a lot of student engineers jumping with him thinking he'd be cool to work for.

So, yeah, I think national eyeballs provide a lot of exposure for him, whether he intended it or not.

[rocket surgeon]

 never misses a beat, ey?  i wonder if MU tells him ahead of time when they are gonna do "the jump around"  what if he's in the stall droppin a groaner when they crank it up?  i wouldn't want to be the janitor for that section of rest rooms


but what the H-E-double hockey sticks-good on the guy!

[Jon]

His feet leave the ground, and he claps on each downstroke.

Dude must be doing it Canine. He must leave his feet to get full compression on that down stroke.

Wonder what the gals think about him clapping though...

[connie]

Don't think I have ever seen him in a sweater vest.

[tower912]

Enthusiastic fan being criticized on a board that frequently moans about crowd energy. 

[#UnleashSean]

This could turn into a scoop classic

[dgies9156]

Nice to see someone else ends up at the Computing Castle in a suit from work. I've had quite a few occasions where I have came directly from work and dressed "for work."

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

2008 Big East Tournament, I was in the band as a freshman.  A group of other frosh and I went to visit the "Hello Deli" which was popular on Letterman around that time.  We ran into a nice older (than us) couple in Marquette gear, and I knew I recognized them from somewhere.

It wasn't until they walked out that we realized it was Rick and Joan.  Sadly, there's no photo evidence.  Such a nice couple, though!

I can verify. IIRC, he had just grown the lip fuzz and we didn't recognize him at first because of it

[Heisenberg]

Enthusiastic fan being criticized on a board that frequently moans about crowd energy.

Amen Brother Tower!