Men’s basketball season ticket holders are more than just fans: they’re true champions of the team.
On Feb. 13, men’s basketball took on the University of New Hampshire at home, where season ticket holders reliably filled the stands.
Known by those in section three as the “mayor of Patrick Gym,” Richard Pearl began attending UVM as a student in ‘73 and has been a devoted follower of the team ever since.
As a season ticket holder of 51 years, Pearl has witnessed the team’s evolution firsthand.
“When I first came to the games, we were horrible but it didn’t matter,” he said.
Pearl was here when only several hundred people attended the games. Now, the men’s team draws over 2,000 fans each game.
Launching himself off of the bleachers during big plays and high-fiving fans as they pass by, Pearl’s enthusiasm makes him hard to miss. When he isn’t in his specially selected seat, Pearl often talks shop with legendary UVM men’s basketball coach Tom Brennan under the nearest basket.
“We’re recruiting much better now because of our success,” he said.
After a 30 year career as a carpenter, Pearl now works at UVM Print and Mail.
“I push around mail — it’s my retirement job,” he said with a smile.
Pearl hasn’t come to games alone all these years: Boris Funtow ‘75 has been by his side for decades, even when the team had a losing record.
“We were here. There was nobody here,” Funtow said.
Having played varsity soccer in college and been part of a first-year basketball team, Funtow has a deep-rooted appreciation for sports.
“I’m a basketball junkie. I played in college, played for decades in a men’s league around here,” he said.
Funtow has witnessed quite the transformation over the years. Much like Pearl, Funtow noticed the improvement in recruiting.
“Recruiting has now gone beyond regional,” he said.
Men’s basketball now recruits athletes from across the country and into Canada, their talent on full display in their Feb. 13 game against the Wildcats. The team took a 49-30 lead at halftime and later cruised to a 79-59 victory.
Timothy and Suzanne Hawley from Charlotte, Vt. have been married for 45 years and have watched men’s basketball together for nearly their entire relationship. They became season ticket holders just three years into their marriage and have remained committed since.
“Love of the sport. Love of collegiate sports,” Timothy said, when asked why he keeps coming to games.
The couple’s homemade green flag with gold embroidered “UVM” has become a staple over their years of commitment to UVM athletics.
“I won’t let him bring it anymore because there’s too many people,” Suzanne said.
But at men’s and women’s hockey games, Timothy can still be found waving his flag in the Gutterson Fieldhouse.
The Catamounts stand at 16-12 overall and 11-3 in America East conference play, placing them second to Bryant University.
After another win against UMass Lowell on Feb. 22, UVM is lined up for a strong run heading into the America East Tournament.
