GKids: Little but loud

By DR. DAN BRENNAN — Sept. 18, 2009

“OLE’, ole’, ole’, ole’. Gauchos, Gauchos!”

My two and five year old boys serenaded me all the way home from a recent UCSB soccer match singing this catchy tune.

Both kids were decked out in their brand new, Gaucho gold, GKids tee-shirts featuring their new favorite mascot, Olie. In his squeaky two year old voice, Andy said to me over and over “Daddy, it’s Olie. You see Olie? Olie on my shirt, Dad. It’s Olie!” He didn’t want to change his shirt for 3 days.

Who are the three new Gaucho mascots?

Along with new logos, the Gauchos have a new primary mascot, Ole’. Sporting the trademark Gaucho hat, cape and a burly moustache, this masked mascot embodies the essential elements that Gauchos are known for by being edgy, slightly rebellious, pushing the envelope while maintaining a classy, fun loving and respectful demeanor. Jim Rome, eat your heart out!

Olie is a smaller, younger version of Ole’. He is fun loving and mischievous and it is no mystery why he would be so loved by my Andy. Olie provides an identity to the GKids club and is prominently featured on the official GKids tee-shirt.

Ol’ Loco has seen and heard it all during his time at UCSB. This mysterious figure uses his deep voice to tell tales and share his years of wisdom with all Gauchos, young, old and loco.

What is a GKid?

GKids are “little but loud” and probably the luckiest kids in Santa Barbara. For only $10, kids in 8th grade and younger receive an official GKids tee-shirt which gets them into almost every Gaucho athletic event of the year including soccer, baseball and select basketball games.

Family friendly atmosphere

If you haven’t been to a Gaucho game recently, you might be shocked to see how family focused they have become. Hundreds of cheering GKids fill the family section at Harder Stadium wearing their GKids shirts. Before games and during halftime, a sports zone has been created for older kids. After the matches, the Gaucho players greet the crowd and sign autographs. The sidelines are lined with little Gaucho ball boys and girls and halftime events feature local youth athletes.

Help make history at Harder on October 2nd

The nationally ranked UCSB men’s soccer team will be taking on powerhouse Indiana University on Friday, October 2nd at 8pm. The Gauchos will be attempting to set an all time NCAA soccer attendance record that night and rumor has it that there will be many surprises that evening.

The Gaucho Way

The UCSB Athletics Department, under the vision and leadership of Mark Massari and Tom Hastings, has created an electrifying buzz in our community. Their outreach to Santa Barbara and youth athletics is phenomenal. Making their student-athletes visible and available to the community as volunteers and role models has been very well received.

Both of my boys are passionate about sports and they especially love going to sporting events. Their favorite activity right now is to put on their GKids shirts, sing the Ole’ song all the way to UCSB, throughout the entire game and then all the way back home again. It brings Papa so much pride!

I even have plans to buy Andy a second GKids shirt, because he loves his “Olie ” so much and he wants to wear it every day.

To become a GKid and learn more about UCSB athletics, please visit www.UCSBGauchos.com. Go Gauchos!

Dr. Dan Brennan is a board certified pediatrician who loves going to Gaucho games with his wife and two boys. His column can be found on alternating Fridays in the Daily Sound. To contact Dr. Brennan, please call 563-6211 or visit www.SBPediatrics.com.

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Go Gauchos! : 9/18/2009

Everyone should support our Men's Soccer Team! Go Gauchos! Ole'

SB Gaucho

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Everyone will be at the 10/2 game : 9/20/2009

The 10/2 game will be the most exciting sports event in SB history!!! We'll be there too!

Gaucho booster

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BEAT INDIANA on October 2nd : 9/21/2009

Rock Harder!

Ole's uncle

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