For Brandon Anthony and John Holloway, residents of Howick Hallin the Noyer Complex, a simple game of rock paper scissors set inmotion a weekly event that puts World Class Wrestling to shame.
"It is a great thing for all people," Holloway, a freshmanmarketing major and founder of the group, said. "Everyone canparticipate and have a good time."
The challenge began in September when two students vying for aset of Christmas lights for their residence-hall room decided tosettle the dispute the rock paper scissors method.
They then crowded 43 people into a residence-hall room. Eachcontestant was cheered on to victory and the Howick Shambler'sAssociation was born.
Students decided to develop characters and have challenges everyweek. The second challenge was moved to the lounge at Howick, where60 or more students attended.
Now, contestants meet every Monday at 11 p.m. in the basement ofHowick. Attendance reaches more than 100.
At a recent Monday-night challenge, students began to assemblein the hallway at 10:30 p.m. All agreed that they needed to bethere early to ensure a good seat.
A huge, illuminated red "H" stood at the entrance.
"H. H. Gregg was changing their sign, and we asked them if wecould have the one they were throwing away," Anthony said. "Now ithas become the trademark of the shamblers. It gets a lot ofattention."
The "H" directed the spectators into the area decorated withstrings of Christmas lights, a revolving multi-colored disco ball,posters dubbing the room the Dave Letterman Arena and music blaringin the background.
After Andrew the bouncer, who stands a whopping 5 feet 2 inches,scrutinized IDs, the master of ceremonies escorted spectators totheir seats, most of them on the floor.
"It is a cool way to see your buddies make fools of themselves,and you get to watch," sophomore Brian Houghs, an acting major,said.
After everyone was seated, the challenge began; the world-classshamblers were introduced, and they included somepretty-interesting characters:
Irish Nick -- with a plaid skirt he chose to call a kilt and atattoo on his chest that sported "Irish."
The Roman Hippie -- A rotund shambler sporting a multicoloredtoga and sandals.
Munster Joe -- Bedecked with bibbed overalls, a straw hat andmuscle shirt.
B Train -- The railroad guy, wearing a bandana, railroad hat andjeans.
Several new characters were introduced, including someonecovered in moss who made his entrance crawling on his belly.
The other characters sported names such as Polish E, Cowboy,Ranger, Bob Glover and a mystery person whose name is Soon to BeAnnounced.
Each character elicited cheers, boos or both as they entered thearena.
The theme of the event was "Koins for Kids." Each visitorbrought a quarter to donate to charity. The final tally netted$27.65.
The emcee announced each match as a "card girl" strutted aboutthe room, indicating the number of the challenge. There weretag-team events, a main event that featured the winless B Train andthe New Guy, who turned out not to be a guy at all but a new "Girl"clad in black who ultimately stopped the B Train in his tracks.
Following the matches, a press conference was held as audiencemembers threw questions at the shamblers.
"This is for B Train," someone said. "How does it feel to bebeat by a girl?"
"It feels bad," he replied. "Actually, it sucks."
Then someone asked Soon to be Announced, the new girl, how itfelt to "kick a guy's butt?"
"Pretty good," she said.
Ryan Foreman, a sophomore premed major, was the officialreporter for the evening.
Equipped with his official hat, pad of paper and pencil, heposed numerous questions to the challengers.
The group has also developed a Web site that includesinformation about the group, pictures and other trivia and biosabout the characters. The official site iswww.bsu.edu/web/bmbeightol/shamble.html.
The group also boasts a newsletter.
"The future is Letterman," Schuyler Fort, a junior in theentrepreneurship program and the fourth-floor resident assistant,said.
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