The Campus Activity Board (CAB) got students pumped up for the Lions’ first home game against Savannah State with  “Friday Night Live at the Oak.”

The event, located in Friendship Circle, was held on Sept. 9 from 7-10 p.m. and offered attendees the chance to eat, dance, socialize with friends, play games and win prizes. The event was organized by CAB to give students a chance to start participating in pregame festivities.

“The purpose of the event is to get students more involved on campus and kickoff tailgating,” said Johnny Braud, a junior majoring in sports management, and a CAB student worker.

“Friday Night Live at the Oak” offered students a few different ways to get involved. Students in attendance were treated to free food and drinks and were given the opportunity to enter a raffle and participate in a washer board tournament.

Washer board is a game played in teams of two that involves throwing metal rings into a box with three holes in it. The object of the game is to get 21 points first. The winner of the tournament was given the washer board game set as a prize.

“It is fun and relaxing,” said teammates Ramesh Shrestha, a sophomore majoring in physics, and Aditya Parzjuli, a junior majoring in biology. “It is not competitive, but we want to win.”

Additionally, students had the chance to win a full tailgating kit by entering a raffle. The kit included two foldable camping chairs, a drink cooler and a small charcoal grill. All students had to do to enter was submit their name and stay at the event.

“If I win [the kit], I am taking it back to my dorm,” said freshman physics major, Rabin Bastola, as he entered his name into the raffle.

When asked about how this event affects support for the football team, sophomore elementary education major and Lionette Jenneka Moran said, “It motivates people and pumps them up. It shows we are behind the football team, win or lose.”

The CAB plans to hold a “Friday Night Live at the Oak” event before every home game. Although future events will be similar to this one, CAB student worker and junior accounting major Ashish Acharya said to expect some changes. Acharya said that future events will have different food. Additionally, he said that the CAB is trying to get a live band to play for future events.

The next “Friday Night Live at the Oak” will be held before the Lions’ second home game on Saturday, Oct. 1 against Lamar. Students can find more information about all CAB events at facebook.com/CABSLU.