Let me set the scene for you.
It is a September afternoon at the Tari Frahm Rokus Field, which is just a fancy name for the soccer field/track complex on the far side of campus. Faithful families waving promotional Riptide Booster Club cardboard fans fill the bleachers. The Pepperdine Women’s Soccer Team (and yes, the capitalization is necessary) scatters themselves all over the green, green, green field. They are screaming at each in soccer-language. The opposing team simply doesn’t have a chance against our girls and the game ends in a win.
It’s a nice scene, isn’t it? Sunshine and soccer and student-led school spirit (that was a nice alliteration, too, if you noticed.) But wait. Student-led school spirit? Come again, wash, rinse, repeat. I don’t see any students. Do you? Nope, didn’t think so. Of course, you will notice a substantial amount of parental and sibling units all sporting their new (and overpriced) Pepperdine merchandise. But no students. What?! Why this travesty? Don’t we students love sports? Aren’t we proud of our school and their athletes?
So where the heck is all of our school spirit? Don’t tell me it switched alliances to LMU. Don’t tell me it drowned in a pile of midterms. Don’t tell me just because we don’t have a football team that we can’t watch water polo, volleyball, equestrian, track, diving, swim…the list really goes on forever. This is a sad scene. Wouldn’t you, my dear readers, agree? A plethora of sports. A lack of students and, really, a lack of toned and tanned Malibu bodies painted orange and blue.
In my honest and not-so-humble opinion, I think this school doesn’t have enough pride and spirit as a whole. Why don’t we show up in droves at the soccer or basketball or baseball games to witness our Waves crashing over the enemies? Why don’t we dress like Willy the Wave every day? Why, for the life of us, can’t we cheer in perfect unison: “We’re gonna fight fight fight for Pepperdine”? Why don’t we go crazy at every goal, every shot, every home run? Because, if you look closely at this scene that I have set for you, there seems to be a sad lack of just such spirit, such pride, and such heartfelt, competitive passion.
But wait.
Wait, no, it couldn’t be true.
There on the edge of bleachers. Two fine young men named Tanner Heckle and Matt Sugar are practically standing on the railings. Sophomores, Heckle and Sugar both play club or intramural sports, both are in a fraternity, and both are pre-med science majors. So there are excuses galore to skimp on school spirit. And yet, they are both here on this beautiful Saturday afternoon, cheering our soccer team to victory. The best part? They have forsaken shirts and instead opted for glorious hues of blue and orange body paint. They are cheering louder than anybody, making up chants, and encouraging the crowds around them to do the same. It’s ridiculous, it’s over-the-top, it’s school spirit. Think about it this way: you as students have the opportunity to unashamedly scream the name of your secret Pepperdine-athletic-celebrity crush for an hour or more while being painted like a banshee. Who would say no to that?!
Heckle and Sugar, these pioneers of Pepperdine pride, these saviors of school spirit, these inspiring sports enthusiasts, represent just part of a movement that has been rumbling for a number of years now among those (like myself) who simply aren’t satisfied with the lackadaisical school pride on campus. These students have taken the drastic steps. They have bought the paint. They have started the cheer. So let’s just join. Waves Weekend (complete with the all-amazing Blue and Orange Madness) coming up offers the perfect opportunity to start.
Come on, it’ll be fun. Your school deserves a little pride.
So ayo waves.
