Wolfpack Athletics fans gathered in the Residential Quad Thursday, Nov. 6 for the pep rally preparing for the Battle of Freret Street between Loyola and Tulane University’s men’s basketball teams.
The event was a collaboration of different school organizations that were responsible of carrying out different tasks. The organizations involved were Alumni Relations, Residential Life, Dining Services, Co-curricular Programming, University Programming Board, Student Government Association and Athletics and Wellness.
Cade Cypriano, SGA president and political science senior, was pleased with the final product. “We’re positive about how it came off. We think it’s an example of the type of results you can get from different student organizations and campus departments working together,” Cypriano said.
Monique Gardner, director of alumni relations, was in charge of inviting alumni to the pep rally. A total of 25 alumni showed up.
Felix Gaudin, A’54, sat with Tulane alumnus, Joe Young, at the rally. Gaudin said he was excited to come support the ‘Pack for their game against the Green Wave. “It’s really nice and important to have a pep rally for big games like this one against Tulane,” Gaudin said.
Gaudin wore his maroon and gold uniform he had when he played basketball for the ‘Pack. He never had an opportunity to play the Green Wave. “During my years we never played Tulane in any sports at all. It was after I graduated that they started having a series between Loyola and Tulane,” Gaudin said.
Young said when his brother went to Loyola, a big rivalry existed between the two schools. “Years ago when my brother was here, it was a big rivalry, and Loyola used to have great football teams,” Young said.
Gaudin said that after he graduated, Loyola and Tulane played five times against each other until Loyola eliminated athletics in 1972. “In those five years that they played each other, I think Loyola won three games and Tulane two, but it was a good rivalry” Gaudin said.
He mentioned that over the years this has changed and now Tulane is ahead. He’s still hopeful Loyola can bounce back. “One of these years, when I come, I’m going to see Loyola get an upset victory,” Gaudin said.
They both agreed this game means a lot to them and added being there to watch it was enough proof of what it means to them Caitlin Brewster, marketing and service manager for dining services, said this activity was planned four weeks in advance to cover all the necessary areas. “We got Coke, Odwalla and Budweiser to provide beverages. We’ve also provided all the food, special T- shirts and reusable mugs that can be used on Loyola and Tulane,” Brewster said.
Ashley Woolledge, mass communication senior, is the director of programming for the University Programming Board. This student organization covered the entertainment aspect of the activity. “We coordinated the face painter, profile drawer and did all the decorations,” Woolledge said.
At one point, the Loyola cheerleaders performed in an effort to get the crowd excited before heading to the game. Kate Hoelscher, mass communication sophomore, said, “Everyone’s got a lot of spirit and are excited about the game.”
Eduardo Gonzalez can be reached at [email protected].
