W e l c o m e back to another exciting edition of whatever we are calling this column for the semester. As always, I am Matt Bourgault, the campus authority on NBA obscurity and formerworld record holder for “Most times saying the alphabet backwards in one minute.” If you have never read this column before, I would like to congratulate you on reaching the back of the paper. No easy feat, I am sure.

Seriously though, this is the portion of the paper where I provide my take on the sporting landscape while biting Bill Simmons’ and Drew Magary’s respective styles. It is just another piece of what makes the Creighton experience familiar. And familiar it is.

While veteran Creighton students will undoubtedly concur with the feeling of sameness, it is hard to ignore what actually has changed.

Why, just last year at this time, I was providing terrible fantasy football advice in these pages. Luckily for you, I have resigned the notion of ever being good at fantasy football. I can’t wait until I have to watch LeSean McCoy contract whatever it is that always keeps Jeremy Maclin sidelined.

There have been some changes around campus as well. The elephant in the room is the move to the Big East Conference. Along with the different opponents and new rivalries the move brings the opportunity to reinvent Creighton as an athletic entity.

Whatever it meant to be a Creighton fan in the past (and any backlash it may have caused from one particularly perturbed blogger) can be altered to create a new vision. Creighton, a decidedly tradition-less institution when it comes to athletics, is in desperate need of a “thing” that people can associate with its fans.

My advice would just be to keep trying different things, regardless of how weird it is. Everybody knows that “Hoya Saxa” is nonsense, but it stuck because the students believed in that nonsense. Once the student body can agree on a niche, we will be able to move forward.

The challenge is on anyone who attends a game. It is important to not leave it up to the powers that be, because they will think of something really lame. So bring a pet to the game, chant Trinidad James lyrics, whatever feels like it could catch on, we will work it out eventually.

Another fast approaching reality that stems from higher-profile athletics is the possibility of a national championship. Scoffs aside, this could actually happen. The men’s soccer program has reached back-to- back College Cups, and is currently ranked second nationally in the coaches’ poll. With Elmar “Tom Emanski” Bolowich (and Fred McGriff!) at the helm of a talented club, Creighton could bring a title home.

Unfortunately, I believe we are woefully unprepared. While community viewings in the Harper Center are a nice touch during the playoffs, I couldn’t help but notice the lack of fan presence at the actual College Cup when I went two years ago. Institutionally, we need to be able to move bodies to Philadelphia if the opportunity is there.

And in the event of a title, I am not sure if Creighton would know how to act. Would the university try to quell any riots? Probably. Would the University of Iowa’s Samantha Goudie make a guest appearance? I hope so. The truth is I don’t know what would happen.

I would like to think we would get it right the first time, but maybe the truth is it is something you cannot plan for (whatup Vancouver?). Maybe we just have to win a title and see what happens. Your move, Elmar.