As I walked in through the gate corridors of the student section, I looked up at the towering row of bleachers and couldn’t help but be amazed at the wave of Cougar gear being worn by the energetic crowd.

United by strong school pride and an allegiance to WSU, students cheered, booed and, in the heat of the moment, some individuals even blurted out a curse word or two.

I noticed most students simply wore their crimson shirts, while others improvised to generate a more individualistic look, and this latter style is exactly what I would have liked to see more of. Football games are a place to express emotions in a refreshingly honest and in-your face kind of way without repercussions. Why not do the same with an outfit to expresses your individuality?

Some extreme examples of trailblazers who threw elegance out the window and opted for more extreme, devil-may-care looks wore spiked Mohawk wigs or tutus. Others took it to an even gutsier level by wearing crimson body paint instead of a shirt.

I’m not encouraging people to take off their shirts. On the contrary, I encourage others to find a way to embellish or enhance their T-shirts with accessories. Have a little fun with the average basic tees and sweaters by adding items or details that you normally wouldn’t use to your advantage.

Some suggestions that both guys and girls can use is to change the shoelaces to ones that are a shade of red or add a hat to the mix. If you don’t want to cover your hair at all you can use temporary hair paint or even add some eye black to your cheeks. Although, I have to say socks and ear muffs are my favorite because they are functional and keep me warm as the game progresses.

Girls can add a little bit of glitter to their makeup, necklaces, ribbons or use nail polish with colors that contrast or complement the crimson shade. Temporary WSU tattoos, among other Cougar gear, are also available for men and women at The Bookie, Crimson and Gray and Walmart.

For those of you who feel extra-creative, you can always take a cue from the 16th century fashion trends and cut slashes to the backs or even fronts of you shirts. The trend started during the Renaissance as a way to distinguish the wealthy from the working class. Remember to wear something underneath to keep you warm in the chilly weather. There is such a thing as revealing too much, so ladies keep it classy please. Plus, who wants to catch a cold this time of year? I sure don’t.

Now that I shared some ideas to help you create your own personalized Cougar outfit, there’s no reason why your college football attire should ever look anything but cool, unless of course, you’re a Husky. In which case, I have no suggestions.