Dan Shulman, a commentator for ESPN, remarked on the N.C. State crowd during the first half of the Wolfpack’s win over North Carolina on Saturday.

“If anyone would’ve blown a whistle, we wouldn’t have heard it,” Shulman said. “The noise is deafening in here.”

The hype surrounding the basketball team has given State fans a chance to be acknowledged and respected. In the past, most games were televised on Raycom Sports or available through ESPN3. This year, ESPN has given State deserved attention and is broadcasting most of its games on its family of channels.

Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m., the gates of the PNC Arena parking lot opened and students sprinted from Trinity Road for a prime seat. After a 3½-hour wait outside and a 1½-hour wait inside the arena, the fans finally got their chance to show how great they are.

Throughout the game, a noise meter, originally from Reynolds Coliseum, consistently hit its highest level and media outlets recognized the noise. CBS basketball insider Jeff Goodman tweeted that the atmosphere at the PNC Arena was “top-10 for sure.”

The top-10 atmosphere was created by the collective work of every Wolfpack fan in attendance that game, but the Hype Team has been one of the driving factors in creating a great environment all season. The Hype Team’s mission at the beginning of the year included making the atmosphere at basketball games better and unifying the entire crowd through cheers.

Two members from the Hype Team have stood out from the rest of the crowd. Senior Rickey Smith and sophomore AJ Rackl have each contributed to leading the student section all season.

Smith, a food science major, transferred to N.C. State in the fall of 2010. The Lillington native can be seen at almost every sporting event on campus. He doesn’t limit himself to only the big events.

“It’s a part of the campus life that is really overlooked when it comes to the big picture,” Smith said. “It’s really great being able to see all of these different sports in person, as well as a great chance to meet and hang out with fellow students.” 

 A big reason why he stands out is his relentless cheering. 

“Being there at the game is one thing, but being in the student section is another,” Smith said. “With all of the passion and intensity, it’s about the most you can do without actually being out there on or in the court, field or pool to be a part of the game-day experience.”

Once Smith graduates and becomes a member of the Wolfpack Club, he plans on toning down his level of cheering so he can take in more of the games.

Fellow Hype Team member Rackl also stands out in the crowd. The aerospace engineering major and Carthage native is currently doing a co-op with US Airways in Charlotte. However, his co-op hasn’t kept him away from the PNC Arena. He has traveled back to Raleigh for every home game this season. 

“I try to find any excuse I can to come back up to Raleigh,” Rackl said. “I love this school as much as I do its sports, and I’ve never felt more at home than I do at State.”

His dedication to the Pack is clear. You can find him on the sidelines at any game jumping and screaming in his red Pack Pride jacket.

“I love my school and I do my best to show my support,” Rackl said. “That’s what I think being a State fan and student is all about.”