Lion sports fans gathered in downtown Hammond during this week’s Hot August Night last Friday for the Lionpawlooza pep rally to celebrate the onset of a new athletic season.
The pep rally began at 6:30 p.m. with a performance by the Spirit of Southland Marching Band, the Lionettes, Color Guard, Cheerleaders and opening speeches by KSLU Radio host Chad Pierce and Hammond Mayor Mayson Foster. Pierce riled up the crowd and introduced the three Lion’s sports teams that were present: soccer, volleyball and football. Though the crowd was excited about the Lady Lions soccer team’s 6-0 victory against Alcorn State hours before, the focus of the event remained Lion’s football. After an introduction by Pierce, head football coach Mike Lucas took the stage with the seniors.
“I challenge you all to attend every Lion’s football home game,” Lucas said. “We need your support, this season we have a tough schedule. When we go up against Tulane on September 3 in the Superdome, we need all the green and all the gold there.”
Lucas asked all to forget the 2010 season and to bring on 2011 and was enthusiastic about this season’s talent and the upcoming game against Tulane.
“We’ve never beaten them, but we’ve come close. We’ve got to play a cleaner game, we had too many fumbles last time,” Lucas said of Tulane.
After his speech Lucas called on senior offensive lineman Josh Penton and senior wide receiver Simmie Yarborough to address the crowd.
“We’ve been working really hard,” said Penton. “We need all of y’all’s support in the Dome, and I know you can get rowdy.”
Within walking distance of the stage, booths and tables sporting Lion Athletics merchandise offered their wares to fans. Employees of the University Bookstore sold hats, cups, small stuffed Lions and signs while the Lionettes and Cheerleaders handed out temporary tattoos and supervised the prize wheel, a game in which fans could win Athletics cups, visors, sack packs and bracelets. Athletes sat at tables where they offered autographed sports schedules to the fans.
According to Carley Cryer, coordinator of athletic marketing and promotions and one of the rally’s planners, getting everyone out to the rally was the toughest part of planning the event.
“Planning the rally wasn’t that bad, but I think getting over 100 band members, around 50 Spirit Squad members and the 100 or more athletes was the hardest part,” said Cryer. “Also there is the heat, but everyone is still excited. The rally is a great way for everyone to come out and show their support for our university.”
Students made up a sizeable portion of the crowd, one of which was junior graphic design major Monica Velasquez.
“I loved the rally and the band sounds great,” said Velasquez. “I really love Hot August Night too. I love how local artists show their work and everybody coming together. The only thing I don’t like about it is that it’s way too hot.”