The silence has been deafening. As Rutgers basketball tips off a … season without precedent … the machines artificially pumping in crowd noise are simply no match for the real humans that animate the Trapezoid of Terror, the RAC Faithful producing decibel levels rivaling that of a Boeing 787 from nearby Newark.
The doors to our beloved quadrilateral edifice remain locked to fans for the time being, but Rutgers Nation is still congregating and voicing their support in a preexisting and socially distant space: social media.
That is where Aaron Patel thrives.
A 2014 alumnus and an R Fund supporter, Patel knew the uniting power of social media long before 2020 forced most gatherings to the digital realm. An unabashed connoisseur of connectivity on Rutgers Twitter, Patel also made his mark in person. The unpublished, yet unchallenged, title holder for Rutgers' top undergraduate superfan, Patel attended 320 games across 20 sports "On the Banks" from 2010-14.
A son of Rutgers Class of 1986 parents, the Scarlet in Patel's blood runs pure. Growing up at the RAC and SHI Stadium heavily influenced his own path to Rutgers, where he majored in psychology. He joined the Rutgers Riot Squad in his first year, volunteered for athletic operations, interned with the R Fund, worked summer camps and enjoyed an unrivaled run of fandom during women's soccer's Final Four season in 2015, punching tickets to 19 of the Scarlet Knights' 26 games that year, including all five in the NCAA Tournament.
In the years after graduation, Patel has stayed connected and increased his monetary support in proportion to his growing career in digital marketing. The superfan turned staunch supporter knows that every R Fund donor starts at the same place – a seat in the stands.
"The student-athletes notice the support, even if it's just being a familiar face in the crowd, especially for some programs that may not get national attention," Patel said. "It becomes a community and really, it's the best kind of fan experience you can ask for. You get to know the families, the stories behind the athletes. You're involved in the rise of these programs."
Patel found an opportunity to combine the best of both worlds. He pledged a fiscal donation alongside something he has been doing since freshman year: putting butts in seats.
Looking to capitalize on one of the country's best home court advantages, Patel did his part to sell out the RAC for a men's basketball game against Penn State in February 2019. His social media post vowed a half-dollar per retweet and a dime for each like, paid in full to R Fund if RU announced a sellout before gameday. The RAC was indeed 8,000 strong against the Nittany Lions and Patel sent $193.30 to R Fund in support of Scarlet Knight student-athletes. The campaign inspired matching donations from Rutgers Twitter with the final donation surpassing $3,000.
"This is a special place for me and my family. I wanted to get involved in supporting any way I could," said Patel, who works as a digital marketing pro at Ironpaper in New York City. "Extra money can be tight sometimes, but we can always show our support by showing up or spreading positivity. Especially now during the pandemic, we physically can't show up, so our community online is as important as ever."
When Patel thinks about community, Rutgers is home base. The memories inspire rounds of giving with the intention of creating memorable moments for the next generation. Moments like his refusal to leave his seat early during men's basketball's improbable comeback from a 13-point deficit with 4:30 to play against No. 9 Villanova in 2011, capped off by Jonathan Mitchell's four-point play. His loyalty paid off with a hug by Austin Johnson during the court storm. Or the 2012 field hockey win over Louisville, when a fired up Meredith Civico (in her first year as head coach) echoed the excitement of a fanbase that witnessed a continued rise of the program on its way to 2018 and its first NCAA Tournament in 32 years.
Just as Coach Civico built a perennial national contender, Patel sought to build something of his own.
"I wanted to create a positive culture," Patel said. "That's the best way to build a winning brand, something we can be proud of."
Patel uses his social channels to spread that pride. The breeding ground for his positivity can be a contentious place living in the Wild West of social media platforms.
"Social media is a double-edged sword," he said. "There's a ton of negativity out there. My mission, my cause, is to promote positivity and squash the negative. We have a passionate group of fans who have been through a lot. My hope is positivity can be contagious. My goal is to bring people together."
He has heard Director of Athletics Pat Hobbs say it once or twice, and Patel fully buys in. We are writing the next great chapter in the history of Rutgers Athletics. He's happy that his brick on the Scarlet Walk, his season tickets, his yearly pledges on Giving Day have all been part of the ink in this great chapter.
It's the community that keeps the pages turning.
Retweet if you agree.
