The annual Storm Warning Tailgate brought together all the Southern Nazarene University athletic teams on the north lawn of the SNU Football Stadium to kick off the school year and celebrate its first home game. Coordinated by SALT’s new student engagement team, led by McKenna Franks, the event featured interactive booths for every athletic team to promote their upcoming seasons. Throughout the festivities, coaches and athletes took turns in the dunk tank, and the event finished with student-athletes lining the field to welcome the football team.
Head Men’s and Women’s Bowling Coach Mark Jeffreys shared, “It is great to see all of the athletic teams be in one location and kick off the football season.” Jeffreys and his team worked to promote bowling’s first home event, the Crown Classic, on Sept. 19-20. His favorite part was getting a chance to tell stories and interact with others, and he loved seeing his athletes becoming more of a team while at the tailgate. He believes in Storm Warning’s goal of building excitement and camaraderie amongst the teams on campus.
At the event, Jeffreys got to interact with other SNU coaches, noting, “It is cool that all the coaches [at SNU] really respect each other.” He shared that it was a pleasure to get together with the other coaches whose offices are spread across campus and check on how each other’s seasons are looking.
This event made an impact on more than just athletes. Sisters Tenley, a sophomore, and Marlee Jo Northcross, a freshman, attended the event together in matching outfits. They helped set up the event, then headed to the dunk tank. Marlee Jo’s favorite part was standing next to the SNU mascot, Stormie, while welcoming the football team to the field. She exclaimed, “It was a great way to get involved and talk to people. Getting to be in the bleachers with everyone at the football game was awesome!” She loved being a part of school spirit and supporting her friends on the cheer squad. Tenley added, “It was really fun and wholesome to see everyone interact.” She loved laughing alongside the athletes as they got to dunk their coaches, noting, “[The student section] was as hyped as it could be!” Tenley also loved getting to introduce her younger sister to SNU sports. Both expressed feeling more involved in SNU Athletics after the event.
After students lined the field to welcome the team, the stands filled up with parents, Bleacher Bums, the SNU Band, and a full student section. During halftime, the historically large 60-plus member cheer squad premiered a new routine to continue to hype up the crowd.
Throughout the game, the band played crowd favorites like Bowling for Soup’s “Today Is Going to be a Great Day” and the SNU fight song. The SNU football team lost to Henderson State 57-21 after scoring three touchdowns; yet, even through the loss, the crowd, with the help of the Bleacher Bums, remained excited and full of school spirit.
The Storm Warning Tailgate built excitement for the coming year of athletic events by allowing each team to be represented and show support for one another.
Photo Credits: Trynitie Krout