A Method to the Madness: Mitch's Misfits
By: Aliyah Wojtyna
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| WCHA Championship game 2017 from the Mitch's Misfits Facebook Page |
If you've ever had the chance to attend a Michigan Tech Hockey game, there is a pretty good chance you've noticed a group of students standing every minute of play and screaming their heads off cheering. These are the students of Mitch's Misfits. Whether the game is at home or away, the group is dedicated enough to follow and support our hockey team no matter the circumstances.
You may wonder why so many students come together for a sporting event that happens every other week, or why they are so enthusiastic about the event in general. There are several factors that influence the cooperation among the group, the main one being that they share a super ordinate goal. The goal for every member is to cheer and have the best school spirit among any other group and show a huge amount of support for the team, (an additive group task with the mix of process gain in terms of Social Psychology) while also bringing a fun positive environment for the rest of the arena as well, whether they are husky or opposing fans.
Another factor that influences the groups cooperation is that the members not only have respect for themselves, and treat each other like a family, but they also respect those not included directly in the group. I was able to ask the President of Mitch's Misfits, Matthew Cavender, how he thinks the group is able to cooperate so well and this is what he had to say:
"I think it's because you get up here and you're so far from everything you've ever known, and you get up to the game and feel the community. You feel like you belong to something, and for once in your life you feel you're wanted and feel important, and you do everything you can to make sure other kids feel that way [too]. The Misfits are a successful group because we foster a community of people who care about our team and more importantly care about each other."
"An organization for the people by the people" is how I jokingly explained the Misfits to another member of the organization the other day, but in reality, that's exactly what it is. After one of the most recent games, which was the WCHA semi-final against the MSU Mavericks, one of the arena staff posted an article in the Mankato Free Press about Mitch's Misfits, saying "...some [fans] just really make you glad you were there to witness their greatness. Such was the case at last weekend’s playoff games with the fans from Michigan Tech" (Murray 2018).
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| Mankato, MN 3/11/18 from the Mitch's Misfits Facebook Page |
This is exactly what Mitch's Misfits strive for, to set a example for student sections and fans across the country and to make the atmosphere of sporting events more enjoyable than just angry and yelling people. It is one of the main reasons the group is so very popular in the world of college hockey fan bases. At times, especially when the sports team is losing or performing poorly, the group tends to quite itself and lose spirit. At this point the group depends on the one person (usually the president or a member who realizes the drop in hopes) to bring the spirit back and cheer as loud as possible to have the rest follow through (a disjunctive task in terms of Social Psychology).
The Misfits choose to be in good mood no matter the situation, whether a win or loss comes about, the students within the organization try to stay as positive as possible which has inspired quite the interest from outsiders about the organization. Earlier this year, the Misfits had the pleasure to be in a featured WCHA article about the history of the group that included some interviews from a few players and coaches about how they perceive the student fan group. This was such an honor to be recognized for what the organization works so hard to upkeep in terms of being a fun loving supportive student section.
I am hoping that this posting has left you with a better understanding of the crazy fans of Section L in the John Macinnes Student Ice Arena. I could have easily left you with some short post going only over the Social Psychology factors and their meanings with some examples, but I wanted to leave you with an impression that will have you look over at Section L with a full heart now that you know we are more than just crazy hockey fans, but that we want to create a better community for everyone around. I wanted my examples of the principles I chose to speak louder and mean something more than just the definitions of the principles themselves.
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| WCHA Champions 2018 photo from michigantechhuskies.com |
For those of you that chose to read this, I want to leave you to think about why all social groups whether they be student organizations, fraternities or just groups of friends, can't act like a community similar to the Misfits. Why not foster a positive outlook on how anything is possible if you put your mind to it and accept people as they are whether they are a part of the in-group or out-group? Now, this is not me trying to imply that there are not other groups out there like this, it is just a very solid example of a group I am proud to support and say I am a part of that I have had firsthand experience with.
References
Murray, Robb. 2018. #GOTECH! — Opposing team's fans are setting the standard. http://www.mankatofreepress.com/news/lifestyles/gotech-opposing-team-s-fans-are-setting-the-standard/article_53bad852-2896-11e8-9215-13fc7874e94f.html#utm_campaign=blox&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social
WCHA 2018 championship Photos. 2018. http://www.michigantechhuskies.com/sports/mice/2017-18/photos/0031/index
I've always wondered about your group. I don't go to a ton of hockey games, but I've always noticed a similar group of people leading the cheering and standing the whole time. I really appreciated sitting by you guys, as you were someone to follow along with and facilitated the rest of the crowd in the witty cheering and hand movements. I can imagine hockey games would be quite different without you guys, maybe more chaotic and unorganized. It's also awesome that you guys travel with the hockey team and are able to show other schools the spirit and positive attitude Michigan Tech has, even when we aren't doing well. Being able to keep a positive attitude in a crappy situation is a skill not many have and it's great that we have a whole group to do that and keep up everyone's spirit.
ReplyDeleteI know the goal of your post was not to discuss social facilitation effects, but I wonder what your thoughts are on this. Do you think it's possible that Mitch's Misfits could create situations where members of the hockey team might perform poorly due to effects of the evaluation apprehension hypothesis? Obviously fans cheer in hopes that they will inspire their team to perform well, but that has been demonstrated to not always be the case. Do you think these effects might be negated due to training factors?
ReplyDeleteWhile I think the Misfits have an impact on the actual Hockey players performance at the John McInnes Ice Arena, I've even seen tech hockey players like Gavin Gould and Jack Luchinni give a shout out to the Misfits on instagram. However, like any professional athlete they must be able to focus on the game without influence of the crowd.
DeleteI would have to agree with Emma on this. While i'm sure that at times the Misfits do have an impact on the performance of the players due to the evaluation apprehension theory (whether it be good or bad), the players have to mentally have a blockade to focus on their tasks at hand during the game regardless of how noisy and distracting the fans can be. I used to play sports in high school and i would have to do the same thing of mentally blocking out the crowd at times where I would really needed to focus on playing the game and pursuing my task at hand.
DeleteI've always appreciated Mitch's Misfits and have also partaken in the Misfit's cheering and found this post interesting. It takes a very special school to have a group like this so dedicated. I like how you used "additive group task" to explain the Misfit's because it really is true. If not everyone partook, there would be a serious lack in cheering and the outcome wouldn't be as loud and great as it is. What other groups on campus do you think have a similar mind set as the Misfit's and really thrive on full group participation?
ReplyDeleteMitch's Misfits is an awesome group that has amazing support for our hockey team. I think the same goes for our pep band as well. They come to support the basketball team at every home game and even follow us on the road. I think the coolest part about your post is that you talked about how the Misfits aren't just an group of people screaming and yelling at the game like tons of fans do. Rather, they are a group that has a sense of pride and community and that's what makes them so special. It is fun to be in groups like that. When our team is on the road, there's always pep band alumni that come to watch our games. It's because they have grown to love this school, this community, and our sports teams. It's pretty awesome if you ask me
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ReplyDeleteI love watching the Misfits. I have been to quite a few of the games and the misfits always can get the group going. I think of them like our second pep band. When attending the GLI these past few years... you can always tell Husky fans are!! I loved reading this post!
ReplyDeleteThis is an excellent blog post with a clever title! Superficially, Mitch's Misfits seem to be a group of crazy college kids with no real value. But from this perspective, they are truly a wholesome group simply trying to make the event a pleasant experience for all. It is clear that they are the unsung heroes of the hockey arena, both for the fans and for the players.
ReplyDeleteI also enjoyed your thought provoking conclusion. It really is a matter of perspective for members in a group. All groups, including friends and family, should at least try to have similar philosophies as the Misfits. Mitch's Misfits really are a group role model.
It was truly interesting to hear more in depth about the Misfits. Previously, I had believed they were simply hockey fans out for a fun evening. It had not occured to me that there was more too the situation. It is an admirable goal.
ReplyDeleteMichigan Tech hockey games honestly just wouldn't be the same without Mitch's Misfits! I think you are absolutely right that no matter if you are a member of Mitch's Misfits or just a tech student or community member watching the game, you feel a part of this larger positive community, in which everyone is there to enjoy the game and support the Huskies.
ReplyDeleteThe dedication and commitment to positivity, inclusiveness and even the overall support demonstrated by the Misfits deserves attention! Even as a non-member, I believe this group represents one of the best things about Michigan Tech, and that is the dedication brought on by students, faculty, and staff to foster a community of people who care about each other. Thank you for sharing an insider perspective of what it means to be a part of Mitch's Misfits!
I remember my first hockey game when I came to tech. It was a great experience, but what I remember the most is where I sat. Since I was new and didn't know about Mitch's Misfits, I sat right in the heart of them and got to experience the passion and hilarious humor they all have. I like that you said the Misfits choose to be in a good mood no matter what because that is something I try to do myself and wish more people took the initiative to acknowledge their happiness.
ReplyDeleteI suppose I have never thought of a group like the misfits in a psychological context. Having participated pretty extensively with the misfits this year at hockey games, I have definitely been able to see a lot of the points you made in your post in action. It truly is a group of people who are, together, able to create something larger than themselves. Each voice, all of the energy, added together culminates to create a high energy (and hopefully advantageous) atmosphere for not only the spectators, but for the hockey team themselves.
ReplyDeleteI think to add to this, the misfits also tend to spur the rest of the crowd into excitement. Many students who attend hockey games are not affiliated with the misfits themselves, but still participate in the antics of the misfits. I feel like this almost makes the misfits extend past the group category into more of a network. I definitely agree with your comment though, I too haven't thought of the misfits in this light before.
DeleteI'm really glad that i was able to give you guys a different side of the misfits through my post. All these comments and what not showing how much the Misfits are really appreciated by people who may not have even had much interaction with them really warms my heart and just reinforces the sole purpose of what the Misfits want to stand for and be seen as. (Which is more than just crazy sports fans, but a welcoming community to any and all.)
DeleteGreat post!
ReplyDeleteTo adress your question of why al social groups can't be like Mich's Misfits, I think the answer is right in your essay. As mentioned by the head of house when you interviewed him, the sense of community one gets from Mitch's Misfits, especially at a game, really makes you feel like you belong like you're a part of something. In my experience, this sense of belonging is the most important part of having a group function as well as Mitch's Misfits does. However, if achieving that level of integration isn't hard enough, the integrated and "belonging" a groups, members feel, the more "out" the out-group feels. It creates a balancing act that I think warrants a lot of study!
Growing up attending sporting events on a regular basis allowed me to really see what your trying to say. With one common goal, like Mitch's Misfits goal to be louder then everyone else, a group of random people can be brought together as one individual group to achieve the same goal. To address your question I really don't think all groups can be like this due to how judgmental today's society is. People might be able to come together for certain things like hockey games but that doesn't mean they will share the same bond once they leave the arena. For example, in my own eyes a lot of people see the world as a competition with only the successful and unsuccessful people and some will do whatever it takes to get to the top.
ReplyDeleteGreat message and post, I feel bad for not knowing of Mitch's Misfits before now. Really I was trying to deliver a similar message in my post by showing what happens when groups or people in general do not really attempt to get along or at least co-exist. We definitely need more accepting rather than conflicting groups.
ReplyDeleteDon't feel too bad! Misfits outside of hockey games or IM sports are sometimes hard to spot, haha. I wish that there were more groups or just single individuals that made the choice to be bigger than what some people say may be the affects of society and just accept everyone around them.
DeleteInteresting post about the misfits. They are truly a unique organization within our campus, and within colleges in general. I have been to other college games, such as hockey and football for the University of Michigan, and there is such a contrast to the student groups that attend each of these universities. There is a dedication behind the Michigan Tech fans which I haven't noticed from other groups, and I think it stems from the community feeling mentioned in the post. A great example of this, is how at the GLI this past January, there was a large amount of Michigan Tech students, many being from the Misfits, whether former or current members. The other schools did not have nearly as much representation in the crowd as Michigan Tech did.
ReplyDeleteI found your post to be both entertaining and informative. We all go to sporting events expecting to see and hear the craziness of the Misfits, but I'd never really thought about what was behind all of their shenanigans before. I think your challenge to those in other student orgs on campus to be as positive as the Misfits was particularly thought provoking and motivational to get to work within their organizations.
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