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The Second
Semester Jan-Apr. 1995
By Troy Salo
Each part of the history of the
Maveriks can be
compared to an episode of a multi-picture Hollywood epic. This
third part of the history is no different. The plot of the story
was similar to the previous episodes and the setting was
generally the same. Many of the cast members returned for this
episode, and a few were noticeably missing from the script. But
this part of the story was just as entertaining and enriching,
if not more, than the previous episodes.
The period of time that is remembered as “second semester” took
place in the winter of 1994-95 in Rexburg, Idaho. This was a
period of great change for the group. There was a very
noticeable coming together of the group that remained in
Rexburg. The events of the previous semester forced us to become
more close-knit and careful about who was included in our
activities. During that time the remaining members of the
Maveriks brotherhood were: DI, Big Leo, T-BONE, Beads, Canuck,
Big Ben, and Johnny. Killer was still around, but he didn’t hang
out with us as much as before and was not considered a part of
the group. Johnny’s interaction with the Maveriks was also very
limited during this time and he did not consider himself part of
the group.
There were also a few new additions to the group that winter. A
street tough kid from Seattle named Dawg became a member of the
brotherhood. A drummer from Las Vegas named “Pool” also became a
regular with the group. There was also another guy named Bleach
who was included in the inner circle for a time, before he fell
away.
Anyone who has experienced a winter in Rexburg Idaho will be
able to explain in detail about what a baron desert of snow that
it becomes during that time. Rexburg is blanketed with snow from
November to February, which for a small college town can make it
a very depressing place. This was not so for the Maveriks. We
used our creative energy that winter to come up with many ways
to have fun and keep the authorities on their toes. We became
very involved in the Idaho Falls hockey league and attended
almost every one of Canuck’s games. We would sometimes be the
only spectators at the games, but you would think that you were
at a pro game. We would jump on the glass and yell at the
opposing players as well as the refs. That semester, Canuck’s
team, Papa Johns went on the win the league cup. We were proud
to have been there for almost every game.
Because of the harsh winter conditions outside, we spent most
nights crowded around the card table playing penny poker. We
would light up the incense turn on the fluorescent lights and
deal ‘em up. T-BONE and Beads’ room as well as DI and Leo’s room
became the usual gathering places. T-BONE and Beads had a T.V.
and VCR in their room and with Dawg’s help put together a ground
shaking multi-media center. We would watch war movies at top
volume at all hours of the night. It would not be uncommon to
pass by our room at night and feel the earthshaking bass of a
passing helicopter. At this point we had made friends with many
of our neighbors, so they were not as irritated by our noise
pollution as in the previous months and left us alone most of
the time.
Another memorable pastime for us was listening to Beads’ radio
show. We were also the most faithful callers to the show. Leo
and Pool would often call the station, disguise their voices,
and go on Jerky-Boys-esque tirades with Beads during his show.
Beads would occasionally sneak a Bob Marley song into the
LDS-Pop-only play list. Pool was also a master of getting stuff
for free. He could turn any simple customer service complaint
call into a nightmare for the person on the other line. We spent
many hours making crank phone calls to the local businesses in
Rexburg that resulted in free pizza, sandwiches, and various
other good and services.
There was also a great event of foreshadowing to the future of
the Maverik kingdom that took place that winter. T-BONE’s
brother T-MONEY, as he was called at the time, came up to
Rexburg for Spring break and brought along his friend Sapo. They
got some useful firsthand training in the ways of the Maveriks
and resolved amongst themselves to create their own continuation
of the brotherhood when they reached Ricks College.
That is a short summary of the major events that took place that
winter. As you can see, the saga continued. There were also
other moments of triumph, struggle, betrayal, and grow that took
place that winter. Those who were there remember those events.
Overall, that winter brought the Maveriks closer together and
was the catalyst for positive changes in the lives of all the
Maveriks who were there at that time. All the Maveriks who left
Ricks College that semester eventually went on to serve missions
for the Church. The next episode of the Maverik story would
bring even greater changes and growth to the Maverik
brotherhood.
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