St. Thomas seminarians embody “pride and passion” during the football team’s home games by dressing up as construction workers and carrying around duct tape tools to continue the legacy known as Caruso’s Crew.

The crew was first formed in February of 2008, during the first month of Caruso’s term as head coach, to cheer on the players and show their passion for football.

“There’s this energy that emanates throughout the crowd coming from the first two rows of section seven,” coach Glenn Caruso said. “That feeling absolutely spreads through the crowd.”

Now that COVID-19 regulations have dropped and fans are filling in the stands again, Caruso’s Crew can get back into traditions it had prior to the lockdown.

“As freshmen, we weren’t really able to do it because of COVID still,” junior foreman Mason Abbott, whose character is Potbelly, said.

Because of the gap, some traditions, such as the victory song that Caruso sings with the team after ringing the bell, took longer for some crew members to learn.

“It’s hard, for our grade, to carry over some of that original energy, so to speak,” junior Jeff Davlin, whose character is Buzz, said. “We kind of had to restart it, and I think that that’s comparable to the larger community as well.”

“When I saw them I was like ‘dang, this is awesome,’” Davlin said. “Being able to lead the student section with the ridiculous face paint and everything – it’s hilarious and fun.”

A typical game day for the crew members includes waking up, going to mass, praying, eating breakfast, suiting up around 11:30, then praying again before heading to the field, according to Abbott.

“I’m just praying that we can inspire everybody to have good sportsmanship, that we can inspire people to know of them being loved,” Abbott said.

Fr. Jonathan Kelly talked to Caruso during his first month on the job and told him about the 140 seminarians who loved sports, loved football and had heard about Caruso’s message.

“The goal was to build the ultimate student-athlete experience,” Caruso said, “Early on, I said, ‘I just want to be stalwart, I want to be thoughtful, I want to have a workman-like attitude.’”

After Kelly stated how Caruso’s message resonated with seminarians, Caruso joined them during one of their meals.

“I saw a group of guys that physically reminded me nothing of our football team,” Caruso said, “but culturally, and emotionally, reminded me very much of what I was hoping the team would be. Thoughtful, selfless, putting others’ needs before their wants – to me, that defines family.”

It wasn’t until Caruso’s first football game against Macalester in 2008 after St. Thomas scored its first touchdown, that the crew turned around a big hammer labeled ‘Caruso’s Crew.’ Since then, the name and legacy have stuck.

“I think my favorite part about Caruso’s Crew is the history,” Abbott said. “To be a part of something that started a while ago and to be able to help that pass on, I just think it’s really special.”

“For me, it’s just the goofiness of it,” Davlin said. “I think that’s a side of the seminary that people don’t get to see a lot.”

Beyond the seminarians’ fondness of Caruso, he has gained an intense appreciation for them over the years.

“I just fell in love with them, and I guess they did the same,” Caruso said.

Annabelle Wiskus can be reached at wisk9881@stthomas.edu.