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LOGAN -- There's no question the Aggies have a major home court advantage. Their fans are many and they are loud, especially the student section. But there's one guy that's getting a lot of attention for what he's wearing and what he doesn't wear. His name: Wild Bill.
By day, 26-year-old Bill Sproat is a student at Utah State. When he's not deep in studies, this junior also works at Pounders restaurant in Logan. He greets his customers in his own friendly way. But come game night at the spectrum, Bill Sproat turns into Wild Bill, and he not so friendly to the guests.
"Last year I went to a game and had some friends sit down low and they saved me a seat on the front row, and after that I was hooked," Bill says. The environment in the Spectrum is crazy. The fans are nuts, and it's just a crazy place to be. Not more than two or three games later that I started taking my shirt off. I mean, I'm a good-looking guy, so I figured everybody should probably see that."
But what's so wild about this Wild Bill story is the fact he really doesn't know much about the game.
He explains, "Actually I have to ask some people, ‘Hey can I yell this?' ‘Why is that a bad call?' In fact two days ago I think, I learned that you can't take more than two steps. I thought it was four, but I guess it's only two."
But Bill says he's still learning, while creating a new costume every game. Bill said his roommates give him ideas, but most of his get-ups come from him -- like the pirate.
He says, "When I was a pirate I talked like a pirate the whole time. Yarr, you're going to miss this shot, you know, just stupid stuff like that and I called them stupid names in pirate language. When I was the "Little Mermaid" I sang to them." Look at this stuff, isn't it neat? I have two favorites I think, the Chippendales and then my second favorite is cupid. I'm a lovable man, almost of a God of love, I'd like to say."
He says his "Wild" side hasn't really helped his dating life. He says, "No. I'm still me. I guess I just get what I get."
But the opposition gets an earful. Saturday night, New Mexico State was a perfect four for four on the friendly end, but in the second half -- with Wild Bill in all of his glory -- they missed eight free throws.
What did people think when Wild Bill took off his shirt in the second half of the game?
Utah State senior Jared Quayle replied, "I'm trying not to laugh."
Utah State Head Coach Stew Morrill said, "My mom's 81 years old and she sits behind our bench, and she puts her head down and thinks it's appalling. I think it's great."
Quayle added, "It's tough for the opponent shooting free throws. I'm looking at him trying not to get distracted. He's wild, that's for sure."
"He's been a big part of the year we've had this year," Morrill said, "He's added a lot. So much so, Bill was front and center in Saturday night's celebration, even cutting down part of the net.
Bill explains, "My main objective is just to make them miss, you know, make them laugh."
When asked how he wanted to be remembered, Bill says, "I don't know. Maybe not remembered would be the best. As soon as I'm gone, you know, these people are crazy. I'm sure there will be somebody crazier than me that will do something just as dumb."
Wild Bill calls himself a red-shirt junior at Utah State, so Aggie fans will get to see him at least one more season in the Spectrum
E-mail: kaiken@ksl.com
