As senior Michael Fine received the “Turtle” backpack from former Wildcat Ryan Luther, he felt part of the new tradition.

Senior Chad Ramey was the one who created this tradition.

“It feels pretty great to wear my shell around school or at football 7-on-7 tournaments, especially since there are seven other guys that are your best friends wearing the same backpack,” said Ramey, who started the tradition as a junior. “Plus it makes it easy to find them in the crowded rotunda.”

It has become a two-year-old tradition where the students with the backpacks pass it down to the underclassmen.

“We know who we’re going to pass it to,” said senior Michael Fine. “They’re usually in our group of friends.”

Fine has already decided that sophomore Sam Struebing will receive the backpack.

“Well, I mean it’s going be great,” said Struebing. ”I’m honored to be carrying on a tradition like this. It’s like I’m a part of a brotherhood.”

Fine received his backpack at get together with friends, and he plans to pass it on to Struebing after graduation. There must be at least one junior because it’s his responsibility to keep it going.

“It started out as just a joke, but after I bought the first one, it has just grown from there,” said Ramey.

Now the backpack has started a stir at school and sophomores and juniors all look forward to the possibility of getting one.

“It feels pretty awesome having the original shell and idea,” said Ramey.

Ramey passed his backpack to junior Nick Byrne, and since it’s the original shell, it’s has more meaning than the others. Juniors who receive the shell will keep it until they graduate.