At the University of Utah, you will find some of the most passionate fans in collegiate sports. Across campus and the nation, the U has shown excellence across the board. The same passion is shown at the Utah Asia Campus.
Utah’s Asia Campus calls South Korea home, along with their baseball team, the Utah Devils. The club’s motto is “U.T.A.H.,” which stands for “Unite Together Among Higher.” This promotes unity and sportsmanship within the club, creating a strong bond between teammates.
Embarking on becoming a member of the team is a simple process, only needing an interview and a tryout. You have the option to be a player or a manager of the team. The requirement to play, according to their Instagram, is to participate in three games a semester, a more than reasonable commitment for those balancing a college course load.
The 14-man roster plays in a league with other universities, mostly local to South Korea and the Incheon area. The team also has 14 managers to help promote the game of baseball and manage the team.
The managers are a crucial part of the team and its workflow. They handle specific tasks such as managing their YouTube channel, event planning, taking photos and videos, editing, making goods and general game night support.
The Instagram page also shows lots of the players’ personalities. One intriguing aspect is showing some of the players’ favorite songs. The Instagram page helps connect the community with players, showing personal aspects of the game.
There are also several videos on the page showcasing highlights and promoting viewership of the Devils. It shows how anyone can watch baseball, and how the sport brings people together. With innovation like this, the team has the potential to grow even a fanbase in the state of Utah, spanning beyond the Asia campus. The players in the videos show true commitment to the game and the club.
The team also promotes baseball topics on its page. This includes the basic rules of the game, and showcasing how it works for people unfamiliar with baseball. The page also promotes how worldwide the sport of baseball is, showing stadiums and fields from across the world.
The Utah Devils’ Instagram page also displays how they promote the game outside of just playing the sport and having fun. They do things such as fundraisers for merch and hosting giveaways. One notable event from the Devils was the “Baseball Night” promotion. Activities included making cookies, video games, raffle tickets and decorating baseballs. Activities such as this help the students and players support one another and spread unity across campus.
The local team, SSG Landers, held a Utah Asia night where the team celebrated the Devils during the game and gave a huge shoutout to them and the campus. Members of the team had the opportunity to see most of the facility and allowed 500 faculty and students into the place. The head manager and vice captain of the team had the opportunity to throw the first pitch before the game began. The SSG Landers have future goals to continue to support the team.
The Utah Devils team stands as a great example of unity, teamwork, community engagement and sportsmanship. Through their “Unite Together Among Higher” initiative, they display that phrase well across the field on and off. Their active presence on social media platforms like Instagram helps display the players’ passion and skill while also highlighting the excitement of the game. Above the game, the Utah team also raises money while giving merchandise and fun items to fans.
In essence, the Utah Devils baseball team shows how sports can serve as a great motive to bring and get people to come together. This comes through making connections with the community, good values and a good show. Through their dedication and love of the game, they continue to inspire with unity, camaraderie and a love for the game among students, fans and the community at large.