Animated and star-spangled students demonstrating ETSU pride filled the ETSU Amphitheatre on Monday afternoon for a homecoming week pep rally. The event was attended largely by Greek Life students supporting their homecoming candidates. The pep rally was run by the Student Government Association and open to all students.
“I hope they get a sense of community from this. I think it’s easy to get caught up in the competition of homecoming, but as they’re all yelling their chants, maybe they’re realizing they’re all in it together,” Maggie Martin, SGA secretary of state, said.
Martin, alongside Carter Warden, director of student activities and organizations, has been responsible for organizing and managing many of the homecoming activities.
This year, the homecoming theme is red, white, blue and gold for America 250, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The week is filled with a variety of all-American events and concludes with a football home game against Tennessee Technological University on Saturday.
Will Healy, head coach of ETSU football, spoke at the pep rally to build excitement for the upcoming game. At the end of his speech, he made a promise for Saturday.
“I’m personally going to pay for a party for the chapters that show the most spirit,” Healy said. “I’m going to figure out what’s allowed and not allowed.”
Students practiced showing their spirit later on in the event by cheering on their homecoming candidates and doing ‘roll calls.’ All of the Greek chapters had planned chants, while other student organizations were represented by light claps. They also showed their patriotism through red, white and blue clothing, eagle costumes, founding father attire and American flags. Some also blared patriotic music, such as Toby Keith’s Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue.
Student attendees expressed finding fun, excitement and community through the pep rally.
“All the music, and getting to be with my friends,” Kay Adams, a student in the sorority Sigma Kappa, said were her favorite parts of the event.
“My favorite thing about pep rallies is that they get students really hyped up and excited for homecoming and gets them ready for the big game this weekend,” said Kaden Powers, an SGA member and MC of the event.
