| Photo by Michael J. Metts |

Expect to see new things at men’s and women’s home basketball games this year. In a push to increase school spirit, a drum line, a pep band, Jimmy Johns sponsored prizes, a cheerleading squad and a mascot are being added to the lineup.

“I really see the area of school pride as under-developed on our campus,” says Kim Hayworth Vice President of Student Development and Learning.

Hayworth went on to say that a good starting point for improving school pride is by making the atmosphere at home basketball games more exciting. SAU is approaching this challenge by using a variety of strategies that require involvement from music students, the student government association, and the athletic department.

Comprised of 20 instruments, including multiple wind instruments, an electric bass guitar, a keyboard and a drum set, the pep band will play a variety of well known tunes including Proud Marry, Respect, and Peter Gunn. The pep band will also be debuting The Arbor Way, Spring Arbor’s school song which was written by former President Gayle Beebe and arranged by Dr. Bruce Brown.

“The pep band is really a cross between a concert and Jazz band,” says Assistant Professor of Music Shawn Teichmer who will be overseeing the pep band and the drum line. The pep band and the drum line will take turns playing at games.

Junior Ben Crockett, dreamed of starting a drum line at SAU since he was a freshman. Now, he is the leader of one and gets to use his musical ability to improve the atmosphere at home basketball games.

Crocket said that the drum line will play stand cheers, short ten to twenty second cadences, after a big play happens or when a lull in the game occurs. They will also play longer, on average one and a half minute, cadences during longer breaks such as time outs.

Faust, German for fist, SAU Breakdown, and Take Turns are three longer pieces written by Crockett that the drum line will be performing.

While most positions have been filled on both the pep band and the drum line, Teichmer is still on the lookout for interested musicians. He said he invited the guys who play on plastic tubs at soccer games to try out for the drum line but none of them have shown interest.

“I am going to seek them out.”

Says Teichmer if he still needs people after try outs conclude.

Junior Patrick Mcilrath, Director of Sports Marketing for SGA, is exploring more ways to involve students during half time.

“[SGA’s] goal is to make each halftime more like the Midnight Madness atmosphere,” said Mcilrath, referring to the annual pep rally. “We want to take it from a small to a big school atmosphere, like what you’d find at a state university.”
Assistant Dean of Students Bobby Pratt and Mcilrath reached a deal with Jimmy Johns in which the restaurant franchise will sponsor halftimes at men’s home games by offering food prizes. The only way to participate in these prizes is to wear the official cougar crazy t-shirt which will be available to purchase at the first men’s home game.

Cougar crazy t-shirt wearers will also have the chance of having their names be drawn for a $100 dollar half court shot that will take place at both men and women’s home games.

Mcilrath said that SGA in partnership with student development is also holding mascot tryouts this Thursday and Friday.

“This year we want the Cougar to show more school spirit, to be more involved with the crowd,” said Mcilrath. “It is a paid position for two to three people. They will be working with the cheerleading team.”

With a new pep band, a new drum line, revamped halftimes sponsored by Jimmy Johns, a new mascot, and a new cheerleading team, there is a lot at stake for the administration and SAU as a whole when it comes to home basketball games this year.

“We want to engage the student body, to enliven more participation.” Says Dr. Betty Overton-Adkins Vice President for Academic Affairs, “I think we will be able to see the difference it makes just by walking into the gymnasium and looking around at the crowd.”