By APRIL REYNOLDS

akr011@latech.edu

 

“Go, big Green.”

This cheer coming from spirit groups dressed in blue, red and white may seem like a huge mistake. However, if it is Tech’s spirit groups cheering for the Tulane University-New Orleans football team, it is no mistake at all.

“Since they don’t have any cheerleaders here, we decided to help them out and make them feel welcome,” Jennifer Canterbury, spirit group coordinator, said.

Tech’s spirit groups will cheer for the Tulane football team at the game against the University of Texas-El Paso. The pep rally for the game is at 5:30 p.m. today in Centennial Plaza.

Jim Oakes, Tech athletic director, said he is happy about the decision though he cannot say it is his own.

“I don’t deserve credit or blame,” Oakes said.

“I don’t know where the idea originated.”

Oakes said the game will be televised by ESPN, with 95 million households receiving the broadcast. Oakes said he does not know how many spectators to anticipate, but he applauds the spirit groups for their support.

“They’ll be cheering for Tech students who happen to be Tulane football players,” Oakes said.

Canterbury said she is helping with the support efforts by organizing the various spirit groups for their performances at the game and the pep rally. Cheering for the Tulane football game is no setback to Tech’s football schedule, Canterbury said.

She said the Regal Blues, formerly known as the Pom-Pon Girls, and part of the varsity co-ed cheerleading squad will perform at the game.

The Regal Blues will perform at the pep rally as well as the all-girl cheerleading squad, which will travel to Tech’s away game this weekend, Canterbury said.

Kristi Henderson, female captain of the co-ed cheerleading team and a senior medical technology major, said she thinks cheering for Tulane is a good idea, especially since the players do not have the support of their own student body at present.

“They’re a part of our school now,” Henderson said. “They need our support as much as anyone else.”

Henderson said the squad is trying to find Tulane’s traditional cheers, which the squad will use. Henderson also said they will make sure to incorporate Tulane’s color, green, and its mascot, the wave.

“We’re just going to cheer them on as best as we can, along with whatever crowd is there,” Henderson said.

Canterbury said she received word that a few Tulane cheerleaders are also Tech students. She understands this is not an adequate number to cheer alone, and said she is going to try to get the girls to work with Tech’s squad.

“Two girls are not enough to make a squad, so I guess they’re going without,” Canterbury said.

Canterbury, Oakes and Henderson said they are all enthusiastic about supporting the Tulane players.

Oakes said, “It’s the right thing to do, and I know they appreciate it.”