The Olney Outlaws and a grassroots effort to become La Salle's "pulse of campus."

At the end of the 2023-2024 school year, La Salle junior Paige Mitchell had an idea.

Mitchell, a forward on the Explorers’ water polo team, noticed that athletes from the school’s various athletic teams were eager to support each other. She also noticed that the support of the student body was not an absolute. Mitchell recalled her time attending high school football games at North Penn Lansdale and wished a similar environment existed in the 20th and 20th centuries Olney.

“I remember seeing my high school football section literally full and everyone was there,” Mitchell said. “Even though you didn’t like football, you were still there, being together.”

Mitchell spent two years as a student assistant in the La Salle athletic department, where he worked primarily on in-game marketing promotions for basketball. She had some experience involving students in events, and that background gave her the confidence to approach the athletic department about creating a student-led section.

Killian Kueny, director of administration and marketing for La Salle Athletics, saw an opportunity. Student participation in campus sporting events – especially basketball – has fluctuated as college enrollment has declined aftermath of COVID-19. With the basketball arena undergoing multi-million dollar renovations to transform it from Tom Gola Arena to John Glaser Arena, it was the perfect time to re-engage students.

“We spent the spring and summer working on the backend to lay a foundation and get it formally recognized by the university,” Kueny said. “We are here in the fall and want to carry out the execution.”

The process included forming an interest group, assembling a board of directors, drafting a club bylaws, obtaining approval from campus life and the athletic department, and finally deciding on the organization’s name. After a vote, the Olney Outlaws, La Salle’s official student chapter, were born. The group made its debut on August 26 during the men’s soccer home opener.

The group works to get students, especially non-athletes, involved in teams on campus through themed games and participation challenges. Recent themes have included a ‘flannel out’ for men’s football, ‘pink out’ for hockey and ‘jersey out’ for the women’s football match. Meanwhile, challenges awarded points for participation, with top scores receiving a prize at the end of the season.

Small school barriers

Mitchell, the Outlaws’ first president, knows she isn’t the first to create a student section. Temple, VillanovaPenn and St. Joe’s all have groups like that. And so did La Salle before it faded away when the pandemic hit.

“I know we’ve had a student section in the past,” Mitchell said. “The idea was (to) start an organization where it’s run by students, so it’s the students who choose what they want.”

With an undergraduate enrollment of 1,705, La Salle is the smallest Big 5 program. And 68% of students live off campus, according to US News and World Report. The Outlaws have had to deal with that challenge and find ways to build a consistent game-day environment.

“One of the barriers we have to break is that we are a small school,” Mitchell said. “It’s hard to get everyone involved because everyone has their own thing. I think we just want to have that community from all aspects.

Still, Kueny and Mitchell also see La Salle’s size as a potential advantage. With athletes in the same facilities and on similar schedules, explorers often form bonds across sports.

“Every team knows everyone.” Mitchell said. “You see each other every day. You walk around campus and you see people you know, and I think that’s what drives the community and the friendship…

“Last year (water polo) had so many people at one of our games just because other people on campus, athletes, all came to watch. Even if it’s not a sport, you would necessarily know that.”

Kueny knows the value of an engaged audience. She pitched and played outfield for the Division III Dickinson College softball team from 2016 to 2019.

“Our field was not on campus,” Kueny said. “We had a really good turnout as we neared the end of our season and played (in) the postseason. It was something special to have those fans there. It motivates everyone to get the best out of themselves.”

Under construction

The Outlaws’ debut in the new John Glaser Arena went well. Row D through Row M in Sections 113 and 114 were reserved for students on a first-come, first-served basis for the men’s basketball win over American (65-52).

The Outlaws chose a construction motif for the game. Yellow warning signs were taped to the seats in the Outlaws section. Half read “The Olney Outlaws,” while the other read “Go Explorers!” The students were given hard hats and Hi-Vis vests as they entered the arena.

The sections were not full, but the students were visible in their construction costumes. The students were loudest when graduate guard/forward Jahlil White scrambled for the Outlaws and connected on a three to beat the first half buzzer.

White, who spent the first three seasons of his career at Temple, appreciated the relatively cozy environment of Glaser Arena.

“Compared to playing at Liacouras, this is a lot smaller,” White said after the American game. “It’s definitely a more energetic feeling in the gym. It’s something I enjoy, something you thrive on.”

Involving the students can benefit the Explorers. Through the first two games at Glaser, opponents are shooting 43.5% on free throw attempts. The 23 shots are a small sample size, but the figure currently ranks as the fourth-lowest percentage in Division I men’s basketball.

Outlaw country

La Salle’s leadership has gradually adopted the view that its athletics programs are critical to the institution’s sustainability. At the unveiling of Tom Gola Plaza, La Salle President Daniel Allen called athletics the “front porch” of the university.

Athletics director Ash Puri said the department has made many investments in improving the student experience, including hiring a recent graduate as a student marketing coordinator to speak directly to students.

“We want to create a really fun, engaging environment for kids so that they choose to come here, when they’re here, they have a great time, and then graduate with great memories and ultimately want to give back,” Puri said at the Plaza unveiling in September. “That’s the goal. We invest in the student experience and our retention efforts across the board. (John Glaser Arena) can help with that.”

The Outlaws are confident that investments in college athletics and students will keep the recent groundswell on track.

“We can create a game day experience that everyone wants to be involved in, and at that point it will sell itself,” Kueny said. “I would like to see the younger classes of La Salle come in and participate and take on leadership positions within the organization and kind of create their own vision while solidifying the traditions of La Salle. Ultimately, we hope that this will become the heartbeat of the campus.”