During the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament, McNeese State’s cheerleading squad captured national attention with their unique tribute to team student manager Amir Khan.
The cheerleaders wore custom socks featuring Khan’s face, a gesture that quickly went viral when CBS cameras highlighted them during the McNeese-Clemson matchup on March 20.
The @McNeeseMBB cheerleaders have on socks with Amir Khan’s face on them.
AURA. pic.twitter.com/McdwQVuCXg
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 20, 2025
Khan, affectionately known as “Aura” within the team, has become a sensation in his own right. He’s distinguished himself as the only student manager in college basketball to secure Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, partnering with major brands including Buffalo Wild Wings, TickPick, and Insomnia Cookies.
The charismatic student manager has developed a signature pre-game ritual of leading the Cowboys onto the court while carrying a boom box, further cementing his popularity. This tradition continued during Thursday’s tournament game, adding to his growing fame.
Despite the tournament being in its earliest stages, Khan has emerged as one of the event’s most compelling storylines. The cheerleaders’ creative sock tribute demonstrates how “Aura” has become an integral part of McNeese’s basketball identity and tournament presence.
A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.