Newer teams get a lot of flak for encroaching on the older, more established teams but new teams have some of the fiercest fans in the league. These fans bring new lifeblood and appreciate the team being in their area. Case in point, the Battle Red Freaks of the Houston Texans fan base are some of the craziest fans in the Lonestar State.
The Houston area is a true melting pot, reflecting people from all walks of life. It’s hard to find someone who is a native of the area, as most of the citizens are brought in from all parts of the country. There are a variety of socioeconomic statuses, from the very wealthy to the blue collar workers. There is a larger Hispanic population but it is just one flavor in the overall stew of the area.
The owner of the team, Bob McNair, has a good reputation with the fans as a well-off, but clean cut guy and without a troubled background. He has set the bar for his team as only taking guys on that have good attitudes, both on and off the field. He has built a “role model type team,” with guys who have become just as ingrained in the area as the fans. The team is very media friendly, both the organization and the individual players. The players are active on Twitter, replying to fans and going out to the fan events. J.J. Watts has been in the news for visiting with the children of Newtown, Connecticut after the tragedy there last December.
The Texans aren’t new in the strictest sense of the word, having joined the AFC South in 2002 after the Oilers moved to Nashville and became the Tennessee Titans. The Texans as a team are breaking through, having won the AFC South in back to back years in 2011 and 2012. The success is growing the fan base and cultivating some exciting football. Pro Player Insiders was able to speak with one of the Red Freaks about just what exactly is going down in the Houston area.
Moving to the Houston area in 2003 after getting out of the military, Commander wanted season tickets to his own team and be an “idiot” in the crowd. So he jumped ship from the Buffalo Bills to the brand new Texans. At the first home game of the season, the Texans hosted a Liberty White Out and Commander and two of his friends took it a step farther and wore white jerseys, white pants, and white hockey masks. What started with three, became seven, became a whole host of people trying to copy the unique style. The Battle Red Freaks were born, and they now wear skull masks to make it harder for people to easily copy them.
The Houston fan base is number one in tailgating in the NFL for the last few years. The parking lot is organized like a grid. When everyone sets up, it looks like a small city, all nice and neat. The party starts about five hours before the game and continues to grow even throughout the game, as many fans stay in the parking lot during the game.
Inside the stadium, the defense is the pride of the team. Led by Watts and Brian Cushing, the defense is known as the Bulls on Parade after the Rage Against the Machines song, which plays on the loudspeakers. The fans are some of the loudest in the league, with an open air stadium nonetheless. The younger fan base is still learning to be loudest when their team is on defense and more quiet and low-key for the offense.
Commander’s take on the Texans is that this is their year. All of the necessary pieces are in place for this team to take off. The rest of the AFC is rebuilding or coming off huge dynasty-level years. The Broncos will be the team to beat, but the Texans could definitely go to the Superbowl, if not win it all. The key will be staying healthy and playing one game at a time. If they can do that and go 12-4 or 11-5, this is going to be one fun year to be one of the Freaks.
