Social media pages such as Butler Confessions are becoming increasingly popular among Butler University students.

The Butler Confessions Facebook page has 737 likes as of press time, and the @ButlerConfessio Twitter page has 1,291 followers.

The pages essentially allow anyone to send in “confessions” to a surveymonkey.com questionnaire.  The confessions are then posted anonymously on the page.

Posts range from confessions of sexual experiences, or lack thereof, bodily functions and crushes on Butler students.

The creator of the Butler Confessions pages agreed to comment for the story via Facebook message but asked to remain anonymous.

The creator of the pages said inspiration for them came from those created at other universities.

“After Butler Confessions was created,” creator said, “there were many ‘confessions’ about crushes and admirers, so BU Secret Admirers was created.”

Michael Kaltenmark Butler’s director of web marketing communications, said even the very outrageous confessions on the page are not necessarily against university policy.

“The social media guidelines are intended for students, faculty and staff to know how to properly represent the university,” Kaltenmark said. “However, we understand that people have personal accounts and they have a right to free speech and to be their own person.”

Kaltenmark said, to his knowledge, only a few social media accounts or pages have ever been found in violation of the social media conduct guidelines to the extent that action was taken.

“We try to make sure that what is posted on social media is not affecting the marketing and image of Butler University,” Kaltenmark said. “It’s a great opportunity to reach out to people, not to be inappropriate.”

In the cases of Butler Confessions and BU Secret Admirer, both Twitter and Facebook pages state “this is not affiliated with Butler University.”

Incoming freshmen have begun following the pages.

On April 4, 2013, Butler Confessions posted “I’m going to be an incoming freshman this fall, and all you confessors make me quite excited for the years to come.”

Students from other schools also look at the pages. Multiple confessions have been posted about not going to Butler and “trolling” the site.

One post said, “My boyfriend is addicted to Butler Confessions. He doesn’t even go here.”

Butler junior Alex Curtis said he checks the Butler Confessions and Secret Admirer pages every few days but sees a lot of the pages’ content on his news feed daily.

“I think it’s just college students having harmless fun,” Curtis said. “Since it’s anonymous, people can post a confession without worrying about people finding out or worrying about who it is. But then some of them can get kind of gross.”

Curtis said he doesn’t believe all of the posts are completely truthful.

“I definitely think that a lot of the posts are made up,” Curtis said. “But there’s always a chance that the outrageous ones could be true, and that adds to the excitement of it all.”

Kaltenmark said parody accounts and confessional accounts are rapidly changing enough that they don’t pose much of a threat.

“It’s almost a flavor-of-the-month kind of thing,” Kaltenmark said. “If we see that the number of followers is low or decreasing, we don’t really worry too much.”

Kaltenmark said parody accounts are okay as long as they are not trying to mimic the university or its officials.

“The biggest thing is to make sure that these parodies are not impersonating the university by using trademarks, certain names or official pictures,” Kaltenmark said.

Kaltenmark said many times he and other university officials try to find the creators of these accounts.

“We keep a closer eye on these pages than most students would think,” Kaltenmark said. “We generally try to track down the creators of these sites and pages. We have definitely done our homework.”

When asked if he knows who the creator of Butler Confessions is, Kaltenmark declined to comment.

The creator of the page insisted that his or her identity was “unknown to all.”

Curtis said he believes the university administration currently serves as some kind of filter for what is posted on the Butler Confessions page.

When asked if the university censored any of the material on the pages, the creator said “the page is not affiliated with Butler University.”

The creator admitted to censoring some material submitted to the page.

“Confessions that refer negatively to a Greek house are not posted in order to protect them from getting in trouble,” the creator said. “Plus, many Greeks get upset about posts. Confessions that are directed negatively to a specific individual are also not posted. There are so many submissions that all cannot be posted, so the ones that suck aren’t posted. “

“I think the administration has a responsibility to monitor what’s on these sites to make sure they don’t get out of hand,” Curtis said. “Upperclassmen probably remember College ACB and how that was a nightmare, but Butler Confessions seems pretty harmless.”

Kaltenmark said he believes any focused Butler students wouldn’t risk participating in any activity on the pages.

“We think that if students truly believe in The Butler Way, they would decide not to participate in these kinds of activities,” Kaltenmark said. “We would ask for people to denounce students who may be acting inappropriate on social media sites.”

The creator said the pages have a positive effect on Butler students and can be helpful to those in need.

“The stuff is happening anyway,” the creator said. “Confessions just puts it in writing. It also helps people with issues get help and find support.”

The crowd at Butler University’s Starbucks last Friday afternoon consisted of students, faculty, local media and even a couple from Los Angeles-—all for a dog.

Butler Blue II was celebrating both his birthday and retirement, with desserts for the crowd and a two-hour-long photo-op.

The Butler University Student Foundation plans the birthday party each year to commemorate Blue II and his legacy.

Michael Kaltenmark, director of web marketing communications and owner of the Butler mascots, said the number of people that showed up to this event is a marker for Blue II’s legacy.

“There’s a lot of love for the dog,” Kaltenmark said. “This party is significant on a level of school pride and spirit, as well as the impact that Blue has had on this place.”

One way Blue has impacted people across the nation is seen through the story of Myra De Jesus, a Los Angeles native and an avid college basketball fan.

De Jesus said she and her boyfriend do not have a main basketball team they root for, but Butler’s  Cinderella run in two consecutive NCAA tournaments introduced them to Butler.

The couple first saw Blue II in Butler’s first Final Four appearance.

De Jesus said she and her boyfriend had been planning a trip to Chicago, but when they heard about the party, they made sure to make time to drive to campus.

“I was so drawn to the story,” De Jesus said. “But it was the Final Four when I first saw the Butler Bulldog and I fell in love with him.”

Levester Johnson, vice president for student affairs, said the outpouring of support shows that Blue has a hand in where Butler is as an institution.

He said even though the students, faculty, staff and alumni will miss Blue, the mascot has held a special place in his heart.

“I am going to miss Blue immensely,” Johnson said. “He was literally a partner in crime when we traveled the country along with Michael.”

Kaltenmark said BUSF has been putting this event on for several years, but members may have to change the setup for Trip’s birthdays.

Trip’s birthday is Dec. 23, which falls in the middle of holiday break, so BUSF may keep the same date in spring and utilize it as a mascot appreciation day.

A recent celebrity who has risen to fame along with both mascots’ is Everett Kaltenmark, the two-year-old son of the mascots’ owner.

He has gone viral discussing his thoughts on Butler basketball while playing at home with the dogs.

Everett was in attendance at Blue’s party, and whether he was playing with the dogs or with a basketball, he had one thing to say:

“Happy Birthday, Blue.”

While this may be Butler’s first year in the Atlantic 10 Conference, Blue II and Trip have already made a name for themselves on the East Coast with their Big Dawgs Tour.

Over the weekend, the Butler bulldogs headed to Washington D.C. with Michael Kaltenmark, director of web marketing communications and the dogs’ caregiver, to see the sights, cheer on their team, and meet with their mascot counterparts.

On Friday morning, Blue II and Trip were introduced to Georgetown’s bulldogs, Jack and Jack Jr.—also known as JJ.

The dogs hung out for about three and a half hours, and though Blue II and Trip were initially apprehensive of the Georgetown duo, they were able to get along, Kaltenmark said.

“There were a couple tense moments,” Kaltenmark said. “Jack and JJ were protecting their turf, but once we got them outside, they were fine.”

As the Butler dogs roamed around campus, they were continuously acknowledged and welcomed by the Georgetown community.

Continuing their journey through Washington D.C., the dogs visited the national mall to see the monuments and attended Butler’s game against George Washington University. While seeing the sights, the dogs were repeatedly recognized by the locals.

“When we would be out and about on the street, the D.C. residents knew who the dogs were. You expect to get that type of respect in Indianapolis,” Kaltenmark said. “In D.C., they knew that they were the Butler dogs, and this wasn’t just one time.”

Blue II and Trip also had the chance to visit the National Public Radio headquarters to be a part of its new campaign, “I Heart NPR.”

Along with famous musicians and actors also involved with the campaign, the dogs had a glamorous photo to show their support for NPR.

“These handsome devils were itching to show their NPR love,” wrote Caitlin Sanders in her campaign blog. “So excited, in fact, that they could barely sit still!”

At the game, as Blue II strutted around the court, George Washington fans were enthralled with Butler’s live mascots.

Many fans wanted to meet Blue II and get a picture. Blue II even had a famous fan eager to meet him.

Luke Russert, son of Tim Russert and an NBC news correspondent, jumped at the chance to get a picture with Blue II and even tweeted the picture.

This trip showed the national recognition that Blue II and Trip are beginning to gain.

“On one circumstance, yes, I am little bit surprised,” Kaltenmark said. “But once I see the pictures of the Butler bulldogs and the Georgetown bulldogs together, then it doesn’t surprise me that the outlets want it and the fans want to see them.”

The Big Dawgs Tour has taken Butler’s bulldog mascots to Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Louisville, Nashville, Dayton and Columbus, according to the tour’s webpage on www.butlerblue.com.

With the D.C. attention the dogs received, Kaltenmark is looking forward to taking Blue II and Trip to visit the Big Apple this weekend. Although it is a busy city, Blue II and Trip will likely be noticed.

Many Butler University professors, staff members and students have departed from the university in its 158-year history.

However, the school will be replacing a unique individual in March: Butler Blue II.

The nearly nine-year-old bulldog will pass on his duties as a live mascot to Trip in about a month.

Michael Kaltenmark, director of web marketing communications and handler of both live mascots, said he knew Blue II was nearing retirement at this time last year.

“He’s served admirably for so long, and he deserves to take a break,” Kaltenmark said.

Blue II’s retirement has less to do with his overall health than his age in general. Bulldogs have an average lifespan of eight to 12 years.

Trip will take on Butler’s live mascot responsibilities in Blue II’s wake. Kaltenmark said Trip has been able to get more experience than Blue II did when he was a puppy.

Photo courtesy of MCT

While it is difficult to know what each Butler graduate is doing with his or her life at this moment, it is unlikely that many are pursuing a career like that of 2003 graduate Ed Carpenter.

As some car racing fans likely know, Carpenter competes in the IndyCar Series.

In the series, 31-year-old Carpenter has the opportunity to qualify for and compete in multiple races each year, including the Indianapolis 500.

The 96th running of the Indy 500 will take place May 27, with Carpenter looking to improve on his 11th-place finish in the race last year.

While Carpenter did eventually end up on one of racing’s biggest stages—he qualified for the Indy 500 for the first time in 2004—he said he got his start racing quarter midgets at eight years of age.

“[My father] asked my brother and I if we wanted to run the quarter midgets,” Carpenter said. “We were both really excited about the opportunity and just never looked back.”

Not too long after, Carpenter said he made the decision to pursue a career in racing.

This choice was not something that every member of Carpenter’s family approved of though.

“I think my mom would’ve preferred I do something else,” Carpenter said. “When she realized I wasn’t going to be getting money doing anything else, she was always supportive.”

Carpenter’s parents said that as long as he was racing with their cars, he would have to go to college.

Carpenter said he ended up choosing Butler over the likes of Indiana, Indiana State and Denver State because he liked the school and its location.

Because Carpenter continued to race cars as a student, he said his passion for racing never waned despite being a part of Butler’s College of Business.

Richard Fetter, an associate marketing professor, is one member of the Butler faculty with whom Carpenter said he has kept in touch.

Fetter was the dean of the College of Business while Carpenter was a student and said the two were introduced through a mutual friend.

“Ed is such a good guy,” Fetter said. “He’s a high-quality person, and it’s been fun to watch him grow and develop.”

Michael Kaltenmark, 2002 graduate and director of web marketing communications, said he did not cross paths with Carpenter often as a student, but he vouched for Kaltenmark when Vision Racing—the racing team of which Carpenter was a member of from 2005 to 2009—was looking for public relations help.

Kaltenmark said that Carpenter has many qualities that helped him become a race car driver.

“He has a very level head, he’s responsible and he’s intelligent,” Kaltenmark said. “There’s a reason owners don’t have a problem giving Ed the keys.”

Photo courtesy of MCT

Carpenter said that persistence and the ability to network are two key needs for all race car drivers.

Putting his persistence on display, Carpenter broke into the IndyCar Series shortly after graduating from Butler.

His first race was at Chicagoland Speedway in 2003 for PDM Racing. He took 13th place while also competing in an Indy Lights Series race for A.J. Foyt Enterprises the same weekend.

“It was a very rewarding feeling, feeling like I had made it to where I was trying to get all my career,” Carpenter said.

Since that race, Carpenter has competed in the IndyCar Series each year, although he has driven for five different teams in the process.

Last year, Carpenter succeeded in winning an IndyCar race, taking first place in the Kentucky Indy 300 for Sarah Fisher Racing.

“It was only a matter of time,” Kaltenmark said. “He’s consistent and smooth—especially on ovals—so when that race happened, it was like it finally all came together for him.”

Carpenter called the victory “a relief” and “rewarding.”

Since then, Carpenter has become the owner of his own racing stable, Ed Carpenter Racing.

Carpenter said that while he is not sure when he may retire from professional racing, the formation of Ed Carpenter Racing is already preparing him for his career after racing.

“It’s more of a long-term plan,” Carpenter said. “Hopefully we’ll have partners involved with the team and can foster relationships that will allow us to be successful.”

Carpenter said his time at Butler assisted him in becoming both a professional driver and the owner of a racing group.

“[Going to Butler] helped me to be prepared for anything in life, whether it’s driving or running a business,” Carpenter said. “I think you have to be able to collect your thoughts, manage your time and have your attention focused on multiple different places, and those kinds of things were drilled into us in the business school.”

Some universities are made to suffer the effects of odd, awkward or just downright weird mascots—consider Purdue Pete, Syracuse’s Otto the Orange, Delta State’s Fighting Okra and Stanford’s Cardinal Tree.

Butler University has been far more fortunate in this regard.

Not only is Butler Blue II, the current Butler mascot, still spunky in his seventh year of life —bulldogs usually live for about eight to 12 years—but he also consistently receives glowing remarks from his veterinarian, Kurt Phillips.

Bulldogs can face a large number of conventional health issues associated with the average bulldog.

The list of medical problems includes congenital heart disease, lymphoma, digestive disorders, loose kneecaps and pinched nostrils.

“Blue II is doing very well,” Phillips said. “He is quite athletic and fit for his breed, being kept so active.”

Photo by Maria Porter

Butler also has a budget set aside for Blue II. The majority of it is used for marketing, and the costs of nearly all of Blue II’s needs—including transportation, food and health services—are met through donations and gifts.

The only major cost is time, according to his owner Michael Kaltenmark, director of web marketing communications.

“It’s all positive,” he said. “There are certainly sacrifices we make—our nights and weekends get chewed up—but we find time to catch up.”

“We keep him as healthy as we can,” Phillips said.

Phillips most recently extracted a tooth and has been dealing with Blue II’s reversed eyelashes for some time.

Both issues are relatively minor compared to the more common problems found in English bulldogs.

“We always have a hesitancy with older bulldogs,” Phillips said, “and Blue is certainly a senior in his breed.”

Kaltenmark said Blue II is doing amazingly well, especially for how packed his schedule is.

The photo shoots and high-scale appearances would be the first things to go if Blue II started wavering, Kaltenmark said.

“I am always cognizent of him giving me signals,” Kaltenmark said. “But he is completely taken care of.

“For example, [he has] built-in naps so he’s not overworked or overtired. We take advantage of the PR, but his health comes first.”

Butler’s bulldog mascot has represented the school all across the nation, from local appearances with children to nationally-televised features on ESPN.

Blue II has become a prime-time phenomenon, attracting nearly 10,000 followers on his Twitter account @ButlerBlue2, which is run by Kaltenmark.

Blue II also has his own website, YouTube channel, Facebook page and sponsorships, including support from Nike, Holistic Select and Good Dog Hotel and Spa.

“Blue II is not your average bulldog,” Kaltenmark said. “He’s got it made.”

The New York Times recently published an article covering the health of bulldogs used as mascots, pointing out the supposed abuse live mascots put up with.

The author of the piece, Benoit Denizet-Lewis, specifically mentioned a letter from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals to Georgia’s athletic director after the death of its last bulldog mascot, “asking him to use an ‘anamatronic dog’ or to rely solely on the school’s costumed bulldog mascot.”

“It is time for the university to put an end to the cycle of suffering endured by dogs who are brought into the world solely to represent the school’s brand,’’ PETA member Kristie Phelps said in the letter.

Any worry surrounding the well-being of Blue II has been kept to a minimum.

Butler’s future mascot, Blue III, could already be on his—or her—way, however.

The Twitter handle @ButlerBlue3 has already been claimed, with 72 followers and a biography pointing users to Blue II’s official Twitter account.

Blue II’s status as Butler’s mascot appears safe for now, though.

“If his health starts to deteriorate, that will be something to take note of,” Phillips said, “but I don’t anticipate that happening anytime soon.”

Social media jobs are a relatively new and growing option for college graduates who consider Facebook and Twitter secondary majors.

Jennifer McConnell, career adviser in Butler University’s internship and career services department, said social media jobs are not uncommon today.

“There has definitely been an increase [in social media jobs],” McConnell said. “It has really taken off in the past two to three years.”

McConnell said that according to voluntary surveys, some class of 2011 Butler grads have gone on to work in social media jobs.

Michael Kaltenmark, Butler alumnus and director of web marketing and communications, handles Butler’s social media presence.

To students, he may be familiar as the person on the other end of Blue II’s leash, but Kaltenmark manages a Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare and blog, among other platforms for the mascot.

He said that students who aspire to work in web marketing need a basic set of skills.

“More than anything, it helps to be able to write well,” Kaltenmark said. “There are people out there who are killing it on social media without any public relations training.”

McConnell said that, according to data collected by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, employers highly value communication skills.

“One thing [we] hear over over again from employers is to  please tell students not to email like they’re texting,” McConnell said.

Social media jobs are becoming a real, viable career option for college students.

On Oct. 18, students may have noticed the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile roll through campus. It’s a classic American icon that provides photo ops, Oscar Mayer merchandise and jobs.

Drivers of the Weinermobile are hired right out of college for one-year paid positions to drive around the country, promote Oscar Mayer products and do public relations and marketing work.

Kylie “Ketchup Kylie” Hodges and Dylan “Dyl-icious Dylan” Hackbarth are the “hotdoggers,” that visited Butler’s campus last week.

“It’s a paid road trip,” Hodges said. “And on our off day, we get to hang out with Blue.”

In order to promote Oscar Mayer, the “hotdoggers” have traveled to major events in their assigned region to meet consumers and the media.

“Everywhere we go we pitch to media,” Hackbarth said. “Kylie and I had a five minute interview on CNN, because it was the 75th birthday of the Weinermobile this year.”

While media pitching might seem like traditional work in public relations-type positions, Hackbarth and Hodges said they devote time to social media platforms as well.

Hackbarth said they use Twitter, Foursquare and blogging to update consumers about the duo’s latest adventures.

“For us, our social media is our way for consumers to catch up with us,” Hackbarth said.

Career opportunities such as with Oscar Mayer are becoming more readily available to students both at Butler and elsewhere.

Butler Blue II became a media sensation at last year’s NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Final Four, and this year, his stardom rose to a whole new level.

“It’s come on a lot sooner this year and the level of intensity and interest has risen,” Michael Kaltenmark, Blue’s handler, said. “Last year, there wasn’t much attention until the Final Four.

“This year, it started right away, even before the opening round.”

During the 2010 tournament, Blue enjoyed the spotlight with pictures on ESPN.com and an appearance on the CBS Sports Pregame show.

This year, Blue’s photos showed up everywhere, from the Washington Post to TMZ.

During last year’s tournament, Blue enjoyed the spa treatment at his local Indy hangouts like Good Dog Hotel and Spa in Broad Ripple.

This year, he enjoyed spa treatment at the InterContinental Houston Near the Galleria where he was pampered with a massage, alongside a model for College X on Fox Sports. He even had a martini named after him.

Yes, if Blue was living the good life last year, this year, it got even better.

It all seemed to start with the #freebutlerblue2 hashtag on Twitter, started by @ButlerVictory, Kaltenmark said.

The hashtag was meant to “free” Blue from NCAA rules that prohibited him from appearing at any of Butler’s tournament games prior to the Final Four.

“We knew we probably wouldn’t be able to attend, but we decided to try, and when the media and fans found out, they weren’t happy,” Kaltenmark said. “I talked to the NCAA to make sure they knew it was all in good spirit, and we decided to have a little fun with it.”

ESPN’s Kenny Mayne filmed “Butler’s Reign of Terror” at Hinkle Fieldhouse, a satirical piece on Blue and his NCAA tournament appearances.

“Last year it was one week of madness,” Kaltenmark said. “This year, it has been more than three weeks of madness.”

There were columns in major national newspapers. There was an appearance by Kaltenmark and Blue on ESPN’s “First Take” during the opening rounds. There were multiple local TV appearances and a second straight appearance on the CBS Sports Pregame show.

“We weren’t doing shows and appearances like that last year,” Kaltenmark said. “This year we’re on national news the first week.”

Beyond the mainstream media, Blue’s Flickr, Twitter, Facebook and Youtube sites, all run by Kaltenmark, exploded with visitors.

On April 3, Blue’s Flickr account hit an all-time high with 82,655 views of his photos from Houston.

Previously never eclipsing the 1,000- to 2,000-view mark, Blue’s Flickr page averaged no less than 12,000 views a day since last week. A photo of Blue “lifting his leg” on a blow-up Wisconsin Badger received more than 20,000 hits alone.

Printable masks of Blue have all exceeded 10,000 hits a piece.

“It’s crazy,” Kaltenmark said. “It’s absolutely unbelievable.

“I think it shows that of all the schools, Butler has really utilized its live mascot and the use of social media to promote the university.”

After last year’s Final Four, the number of Blue’s Twitter followers had just exceeded 1,000. He’s added five times as many new followers since the 2011 tournament began. Between March 28 and April 5, Blue went from about 4,000 followers to 6,082.

“Blue’s really dynamic and engaging on Twitter, so people tend to interact with him more,” Kaltenmark said. “If I don’t check his mentions for an hour, I’ll come back to 30 to 50 mentions.”

A Youtube video featuring Blue, costumed mascot Hink and unofficial Butler basketball mascot Ron5 Robot, has earned more than 15,000 views since posted three weeks ago.

Each video posted of Blue devouring opponent-shaped doggy cookies has earned more than 1,000 views since they were posted.

“I just think that this is our time and we have to take advantage of it,” Kaltenmark said. “I think we’re kicking [the other Final Four schools’] butt on social media.

“It also worked to draw attention away from Brad [Stevens] and the team, which I think they appreciate.

“It’s a beautiful thing.”

And while TMZ may have been the craziest request Kaltenmark has had for Blue, he’s happy he has received all the attention.

“TMZ was crazy,” he said. “I never in my life thought TMZ would contact me about Blue.

“We’ve just had so much fun with it all. This is what Blue was born to do, and we’ve enjoyed the ride.”

In light of the recent success of the Butler men’s basketball team in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championships, the Butler community, as well as Indianapolis, has grown closer. We have all utilized the team’s success as a reason to unite as we cheer “our team” on to victory. It is a unique experience to see an entire city unite over a simple sport and a simple team.

At the beginning of the tournament, different Indiana residents were cheering for different teams. But as the competitive field was narrowed, the view was narrowed onto Butler.

Although it’s been said that many fans are jumping on the “band wagon,” I think it is so much more than that. It stems from the fact that there is a team in the national spotlight who is representing our state and its residents. We are taking pride in that by supporting Butler throughout the remainder of the tournament.

This year, sportscasters around the nation have been asking, “Who’s the new Butler?” even though Butler is still in the spotlight from last year. I haven’t been able to understand why so many people insist that Butler has had its fifteen minutes of fame and will now slip into the shadows.

Butler making its way to the national championship game last year and this year was not a result of luck or coincidence—it was the result of hard work. While it is enjoyable to beat the odds and be labeled the underdog, it grows tiresome. Perhaps it is time for those who doubt us to accept the fact that Butler has a quality basketball program. I’m not asking for everyone to become instant Butler fans, but simply to respect the quality and talent that our team possesses.

As I drive through downtown Indianapolis and even to my hometown of Franklin, In., I spot people donning Butler t-shirts, hats and jackets. I drive past houses with signs in their front yards proclaiming “Go Dawgs.” I always take pride in seeing fellow residents cheer on Butler. Amidst all the hype of the tournament, conversation can be struck up with any stranger about Butler. It is the one topic of conversation that never grows tiresome.

Butler has repeatedly been referred to as “America’s Team” and it isn’t difficult to understand why.  Butler has captured hearts around the nation as well as the hearts of Indiana residents.

Butler is the small school that has for two consecutive years fought its way to the NCAA championship game. It is hard not to root for a team and university that is so small and is succeeding so immensely against powerhouses like Wisconsin, Florida and Pittsburgh.

Butler has the ability to inspire fans across the state and country, as well as energize the nation to cheer for a new team with passion and intensity. The excitement for Butler is definitely contagious as it spreads across our country, engulfing even the smallest cities and towns.

As the tournament nears its end, I take pride in knowing that Butler has made such a significant impact on the country and has united the city of Indianapolis through their victories and hard work on the court. Band wagon or not, it is hard to deny the energy and enthusiasm that accompanies the Butler Bulldogs.

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