Mr. panther pride

         While the football team is on the Georgia Dome field, the stands are filled with hundreds of school-spirited students in their panther gear and their faces painted while belting out, "We in the city/ We gon' paint it blue!" From what song do these words originate? Any panther on campus would tell you they are the lyrics to "Blu-Blitz" by senior and Panther Pride leader Brandon French, better known as Frenchy. What was it like to hear his song being played through the loud speakers of the Georgia Dome amongst thousands? "Two words," Frenchy said. "Life changing."

                  Mr. Panther Pride himself explained how he became so school-spirited, his accomplishments after his growing popularity and new projects in the works.

        While walking through campus, people frequently call his name and wave to him, occasionally giving a hug or hand shake. It is quite clear that Frenchy has become a campus celebrity. Most people would agree in one way or another that he has single handedly raised the school spirit on campus. However, he is quite humble and still awed by students' reactions to him.

                  "I didn't know that people felt that strongly about what I'm doing. I definitely feel I'm playing a big part, and I think it's because of my role," Frenchy said. "I'm a student and the students make up the school. So as a student, I feel like I'm setting the example and in the best position to be an inspiration and inspire people to be more school spirited."

         Although he inspired the university to embrace their panther pride with his songs, he admits that he, along with most of the campus, was not always school-spirited. "Before football, I wasn't school-spirited," Frenchy said. "The only Georgia State merchandise I had was a couple of GSU hoodies." Now he can be seen regularly wearing blue from head to toe with his signature face paint.

         If it wasn't for a hospitality class assignment that inspired him to write and produce "Blu-Blitz," he probably wouldn't be the die-hard panther he is today. In addition to his popular GSU anthems "Blu-Blitz" and "Bleed Blu," Frenchy has written three other songs for the school and is currently working on another one. "I plan on having a whole album for Georgia State," Frenchy said.

         Frenchy has been making music since he was six and started recording when he was 14. He shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. He even plans on continuing to make music for the school well after graduation to keep panther pride alive. "I think now that I have the role of Mr. Panther Pride Leader, I'm always making music. I like to touch people with my music and write about something that will get a response from somebody or something that people would feel. So I feel like since I'm in this position, I think I'd always write songs for the school," Frenchy said

       After seeing the effect he had on the Georgia State community, Frenchy has found his calling: uniting people.  His love for building relationships between people prompted him to create an online society he calls the "ProgressioN."

"I wanted to find a way to bring people together and make them feel like they're a part of something," Frenchy explained. "What it promotes is world unity, inspiration and amplification." The logo consists of three purple rings that symbolize each promoted aspect.

"I represent the ProgressioN, and I live by it everyday," Frenchy said. "I use those same ideas with the ProgressioN, and I apply it to Georgia State."

         Between classes and music making, Frenchy takes his passion another step forward. The Get Down Crew, also known as GDC, that he created through Facebook, connects freshman in the Georgia State community. In this group, members of all classifications, post pictures, videos and many other interests while forming friendships.