As we prepare to say goodbye to 2005, so begins the annual
custom of making our New Year’s resolutions. It’s the time of year
we take a good hard look at ourselves and decide what needs fixing.
Although resolutions are usually made by individuals, I’d like to
propose something a little different for 2006, a group resolution
for Mustang fans.
As we prepare to say goodbye to 2005, so begins the annual custom of making our New Year’s resolutions. It’s the time of year we take a good hard look at ourselves and decide what needs fixing. Although resolutions are usually made by individuals, I’d like to propose something a little different for 2006, a group resolution for Mustang fans. Let me explain.
Several weeks ago a few of my close friends and I traveled to Burlingame to watch the Lady Mustang Varsity basketball team compete. After the girls finished playing, we hung out for a while to visit. As we stood around talking, a boy’s varsity game between Serra High and Burlingame began. We noticed that both the Serra and Burlingame student cheering sections were jammed pack. We assumed that the Burlingame side would be full, but were surprised and impressed to see so many people from Serra.
In addition to packing the stands, most of the Serra students were decked out in matching striped shirts representing their school colors. One of my friends commented that he thought there were more Serra fans at this away game then we normally have at our home games. We all came to the sad collective conclusion that we have a spirit problem at Gilroy High School. We need more of it.
With a student body of over 2000, GHS is large enough to be able to emulate some of the practices that college programs do to show their school spirit. For example, at most universities, fans wear matching school apparel, usually with some kind of slogan or logo.
This year a few students at GHS have attempted to create some enthusiasm for our players. They have started a trend by wearing white t-shirts to the boys’ basketball games and pink t-shirts to the girls’ games. This is a great idea, but more people should participate.
We need a full-fledged spirit campaign. Someone needs to design a gold and blue rugby-style shirt, something the students will want to wear, and we need to designate it as the official Mustang fan shirt. These shirts could be sold at brunch and lunch and at all home games. Once this catches on, the fans may create a new sense of pride and unity in the stands that is currently lacking.
Another way to raise the overall level of school spirit is by creating a Mustang Spirit Club. This club could be responsible for advertising games and drumming up fan support.
Although the Daily Bulletin sometimes lists game times and locations, a club specifically dedicated to the cause of creating school spirit is needed. In addition, the club could help organize a carpooling program for away games. Although it is not reasonable to expect students on a Tuesday night to travel to Salinas, it is very doable to gather a good fan support for a Friday game at San Benito High or in Morgan Hill.
If 50 students or more showed up to a league basketball dressed in our finest Mustang wear, it would send a positive message to the community regarding how we feel about our school.
It would also give our athletes a much-appreciated emotional lift. As all athletes know, fan support on the road means a lot. In many cases, it can be the determining factor in a win or a loss.
So all you Mustang fans, I hope you will join me as I resolve to help create more school spirit at Gilroy High School in 2006. When I get back to school, I plan on speaking to ASB President, Jenine Vadillo about designing and ordering a Mustang fan shirt.
In the meantime, I hope to see all of you in your blue and gold on January 5 at 7:00 PM at Gilroy High School when the GHS boys’ basketball team plays host to San Benito High.
