But even in the new sheet of crimson, two people clearly stand out. Leading the charge of the reinvigorated student section are Michael Hughes and Nick Collins, though Ute fans might know them better as Mario and Luigi.
Hughes, a junior majoring in exercise physiology, and Collins, a recent graduate, have become famous around campus and on social media because of their creation. Anyone who attends a game will notice them, and their Mario and Luigi twitter handle (@utahmarioluigi) boasts more than 500 followers. They may soon be mentioned in the same breath as Crazy Lady.
The story of Mario and Luigi began on a Thanksgiving in the Collins home. Every Thanksgiving, the Collins family holds a talent show. One year for the show, Nick and his brother purchased Mario and Luigi costumes in order to make a parody music video for the PSY song “Gangnam Style.”
With the costumes already in hand, Collins thought it would be fun to dress up as the popular video game characters at a Ute game. He approached his longtime friend, Hughes, with the idea.
“My first thought was just, ‘No, that’s just not me. That’s embarrassing, I can’t do that,’ ” Hughes said.
Collins wouldn’t let it go easily. The two made a bet, the terms being that if Hughes lost, he would have to attend a Utah game dressed as Mario. What the actual bet was has now been forgotten, but who lost is still quite clear.
Originally the duo was set to make its debut at a Ute football game, but at the last minute, Hughes got cold feet and backed out with the promise that he would for sure dress up for a basketball game. Midway through last season, Mario and Luigi made their first appearance in the Huntsman Center.
“We put the costumes on and just had an awesome time, so we decided we are going to do it every time,” Hughes said.
Mario and Luigi are now a staple at Ute games. They have almost become the pseudo captains of the MUSS and have inspired other members of the student section to join in on the dress-up fun. Mario and Luigi’s arch nemesis, Wario, has made an appearance in the crowd, as have multiple full-body red spandex costumes.
“It doesn’t have to be Mario and Luigi, just doing something crazy to get the other team to focus on them and not the game,” Collins said.
It’s not only Hughes and Collins who have sported the Mario and Luigi costumes. When they can’t make it to games, replacements are chosen to put on the now-famed garments and cheer at the front of the MUSS. It is those replacements and the fact that Hughes and Collins haven’t put their names on the creation that makes it possible for Mario and Luigi to continue long after the two have moved on.
That time could be coming soon. Collins is currently in the process of applying for graduate schools, and though the U remains a possibility, it is not his top choice. This season could be the last the original Mario and Luigi are together.
“The hope is we can get other people that want to do it,” Hughes said.
The pair’s hope is not unfounded. They have never failed to find a replacement, and other members of the MUSS are eager to take on the personas.
“I think it would be awesome if other students wanted to do it,” Collins said. “I love doing it. Looking back, I wish I would have started when I was a freshman.”
Whether Mario and Luigi live on after Hughes and Collins are gone or fall into legend, the pair has played a part in the reemergence of a historically strong basketball program.