What was once an idea for students to rally and tailgate before basketball games is now a place outside Charles Koch Arena for those who bleed the black and yellow — a place to gather and cheer angry.

A place called “Marshallville.”

And Marshallville is now a registered student organization.

“That’s going to be really big for us moving forward because it gives us stability for our organization,” said Marshallville founder and president Max Runyon. “It’s crucial for maintaining the legacy.”

Runyon and other Marshallville leaders who have been hands on since its beginning in 2013, applied to become an official RSO with the student government association. The council voted 25-1 Oct. 28, approving Marshallville as an official organization.

“We thought it was important that we tied it in with the university and make sure that when we are gone, it’s not something that will be tampered with.”

Becoming an official RSO meant filing paperwork, crafting a constitution and finding an adviser.

Runyon asked around and sought Amy DeVault, an associate professor in the Elliott School of Communication who, he said, is a great resource to drive Marshallville’s initiatives.

“Amy is everything we could ask for. She has an amazing personality; she is very skilled, into basketball and is very good at what she does,” he said.

And Amy DeVault said “yes.”

“The idea of having a space where students can go, to be together, to enjoy Shocker basketball is a really great idea,” DeVault said.

What is missing from the Shocker basketball experience, she said, is having a central place where everybody celebrates together. Students do not have an Aggieville or a Mass Street within walking distance, but what they do have is a great basketball team, she said.

“I don’t think they need another fan club, I hope [Marshallville’s] focus is on the student experience for games and the community building,” she said.

The upcoming basketball season has Marshallville working with the Athletic Department for future campouts. Runyon said they plan to have food and many radio stations to make the area outside Koch Arena the ultimate tailgating spot.

“The preseason ranking of No. 10 is just going to help us. We feed off of each other and I think Marshallville trying to build the hype and the success of the team will help people come out,” Runyon said. “We’re hoping that high attendance is the standard.”

 Runyon, DeVault and the rest of Marshallville plan to meet soon to establish goals for the year and finalize details for the upcoming season.

“We’re making sure it is prevalent for years to come and that Marshallville’s framework is there for students after the leaders we have now, are gone,” he said.

Marshall’s contract Highlights

1. Offered an average of $3.3 million dollars a year until April 26, 2022

2. All finances supplied by boosters and donors

3. Marshall’s new salary is tenth largest in the NCAA

4. Has access to a private plane for recruiting; it must be utilized at least six times a year.

5. Gets three personal flights per year with eight additional seats to anywhere in the continental U.S.

6. Contract provides incentives for success in NCAA tournament, being named MVC Coach of the Year, etc.; Could earn additional hundreds of thousands in incentives

7. Receives two courtesy cars for both personal and business use