You're my boy, Blue!

irs · Post by **irs** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 7:11 am

Today in BGNews:

You're my boy, Blue!
Bowling Green super fan spends retired life living the college life
Colin Wilson
Posted: 12/12/06
For some people, being retired usually consists of golf, grandchildren and doctor's appointments. Not Paul Drain.

The retired Bowling Green resident spends his time supporting BGSU sports and enjoying the college atmosphere.

Drain began going to football games about 30 years ago. His ex-wife was employed by the University so he became interested in attending Falcon sporting events.

"She started getting tickets for me because she got a discount and I started going to all of the home games and I started making more money and I started going to all of the games," Drain said.

During his time supporting BGSU, Drain has acquired two nicknames. He wears a cowboy hat with a snake on it and that was how his first nickname was created.

"At first they called me 'Snake Man' because of my hat and then that movie "Old School" came out and they started calling me 'Blue,'" Drain said.

In "Old School," Blue is an old man who joined a party-happy fraternity with characters played by Luke Wilson, Vince Vaughn and Will Ferrell. After Blue's death in the film, Will Ferrell uttered the famous line "You're my boy, Blue!"

At first Drain wasn't sure what students meant by it, but he decided to find out for himself.

"They told me I needed to see the movie so I did," Drain said. "I guess I'm pretty close to [the character]."

Drain's favorite team on campus is the football team and he follows it as closely as he can. Although it was a down year, Drain had no problem naming current football coach Gregg Brandon as his favorite BGSU coach.

"The one we've got right now," Drain said. "He's a pretty good guy, I like him. I try to get to the coach's corner on Monday nights and usually I have a chat with him before he gets out of there."

Perhaps Drain's fondest memory of the coach is when Brandon's sense of humor came out after a game.

"The one game Brandon came up and I had my cowboy hat with the snake on it and he came up and put it on and went on TV with my hat on," Drain said with a chuckle.

Brandon enjoys Drain's enthusiasm for his team.

"He's a good guy and he loves BG football," Brandon said. "He follows us and paints his beard orange. He's colorful, there's no question about it."

Drain lives other aspects of the college life as well. He loves the bar scene in Bowling Green and enjoys his popularity among the student body.

"I hang around at the bars a lot. I still sort of live the college life," Drain said.

"I see Blue all the time at [Kamikaze's]," said senior Joe Balas. "He's a real nice guy, he's always willing to sit down and drink a beer with you."

The bars are not where Drain's popularity ends. Students are never hesitant to invite him over to their houses.

"I get invited to parties all of the time," Drain said. "People tell me 'Oh there's a party down on Manville or Wooster or some other street you know.'"

Students have no problem socializing with Drain. Although he is older, people have no problem letting them into their social circle.

"It's kind of funny because I'll be at a party and my friends will call him up and tell him to come and when he gets there it's like people don't even believe it," Balas said. "They warm right up to him though, he's a sociable guy."

Drain's popularity around Bowling Green shows the spirit that people of all ages can show for Falcon sports. It also shows that people can still have college fun at any age.

The ultimate question of college life was asked by Brandon.

"Does he have a profile on Facebook?"

As a matter of fact, "Blue Snakeman" does.

Spart43 · Post by **Spart43** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 10:18 am

Yeah, I know, I always pull this photo out. But it is one of my favorites.

Spring game Corey's Redshirt Freshman Year (2005).

Spart43 · Post by **Spart43** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 10:22 am

Many years from now we will be looking for possible replacements for shakeman.

Could this be him????

Just kidding Mike!

Flipper · Post by **Flipper** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 11:08 am

Not a question of if...it's just a question of when.

Globetrotter · Post by **Globetrotter** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 11:24 am

Spart43 wrote:Many years from now we will be looking for possible replacements for shakeman.

Could this be him????

Just kidding Mike!

Who is that?

orangeandbrown · Post by **orangeandbrown** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 12:03 pm

Brother, if you don't know, you don't know AZZ.

The Niz · Post by **The Niz** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 12:08 pm

That is the one and only Mr. Freak and the Freaklings.

Falconfreak90 · Post by **Falconfreak90** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 12:21 pm

Spart43 wrote:Many years from now we will be looking for possible replacements for shakeman.

Could this be him????

Just kidding Mike!

LOL!

I will glady accept that role! Means I'll have to move to BG when I retire. Hmmm....

Snakeman...what a trip. Always willing to sit down and have a beer with ya...especially if that beer is free.

Just having fun....

mjmorefield · Post by **mjmorefield** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 1:31 pm

Beer tastes better when its free.

1987alum · Post by **1987alum** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 1:57 pm

Falconfreak90 wrote:LOL! I will glady accept that role! Means I'll have to move to BG when I retire. Hmmm....

Snakeman...what a trip. Always willing to sit down and have a beer with ya...especially if that beer is free. Just having fun....

Correction, ONLY if that beer is free.

FalconFanatic · Post by **FalconFanatic** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 8:45 pm

he came to my 21st bday party!

Falcon Fanatic · Post by **Falcon Fanatic** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 9:19 pm

Spart that post with Freak and the Freaklings is just TOOOO FUNNNY!!!! Made me just laugh right out loud!!!

Post of the Day...without a doubt!!!