row·dy (rou’dē)
n. pl. row·dies
A rough, disorderly person.
adj. row·di·er, row·di·est
Disorderly; rough: rowdy teenagers; a rowdy beer party
Okay, so everybody always does the lame dictionary thing when trying to define the meaning. But dictionary.com did a decent job — at least with the rowdy beer party part, so it’s crucial for its display.
From the confines of frat houses, and super-senior liveout’s of the University system, the Rowdies were born from various college campuses throughout the Pacific Northwest. However of these colleges, OSU & UofO being the majority. From 2005 until graduation, the young but energetic gang made the trek up Interstate 5 from the southern Willamette Valley only to find that eventually missing that afternoon class would result in a C instead of a B grade. Oh well, C’s get degrees. It was because of these road trips that the college bunch would learn how to successfully curve stories so their professor would grant them an extension on that report about ‘why underwater basket weaving is important in today’s culture.’ As soon as Tipsy Tuesday, Wicked Wednesday, Thirsty Thursday, and the Friday hungover road trip to Portland finally finished, the Rowdies had enough in their tank for a 2-game Timbers weekend, which were common in those days. Saturday flew by, Sunday came, and the 6pm game’s whistle would blow to an end — the trip back down I-5 began. It was the same route every time, OSU kids were dropped off first, then the UofO-ers would finally pull into Eugene around midnight, allowing just enough time to do Monday’s assignments.
While names were trial and error at first, an identity for the group didn’t official coin until several other Timbers Army folk described the bunch as ‘rowdy college kids.’ After several comments of this ‘rowdy’ behavior, the name stuck in late 2006, and the Rowdies name was accordingly born. Being one of several Timbers Army sub-groups, the Rowdies would quickly build a label of themselves that included beer, partying, and soccer — a great fit for the already rabid fan support in the north end of the stadium.
By luck, the diplomas were printed, and post college life brought many changes for the group. While some were now stuck in the real world, others were still at college. However, the Rowdies continued to grow, despite the differences at hand. As more were beginning to find themselves in offices, rather classrooms, the love of soccer and the Timbers would continue to unite the group at all levels.
Today, while college kids are still present in the bunch, the rest mainly appeal to yuppie party go-ers. However that difference goes unnoticed, as the energy, and fanatic attitudes that are seen among college students today, are still present in the group. Anywhere from 15 to 30 will show up on gameday representing the Rowdies name, and proudly stand with the rest of the Timbers Army. From beer bonging in the first row of 107, to shot gunning on Burnside, the Rowdies are always having a good time no matter where they stroll. The relationships developed, and the memories created were all because of one reason: the Portland Timbers. Rose City til I Die.
Below are links to other information about the Rowdies.
This page has the following sub pages.
[...] And finally, the “Rowdies” now have their own website: RowdiesPDX.org. You may know the Rowdies as those kids with the beer bong at the tailgates. But now they also have a website, with a some history explained. [...]