A true Lions fan loves their team no matter the record.

At my first ever Southeastern football game on August 31, I was so excited. I tailgated hours before the kick-off and then entered the stadium 30 minutes prior to be sure to have the perfect seats: not too high and close to the 50 yard line. It was finally game time, and when the score was 27-0 at the end of the first quarter, I knew for a fact that I would be a Lions fan. I was proud to call myself a Lion as we dominated Jackonsville 44-3 in the season opener.

I was filled with excitement the following week as I anticipated attending my second game in Strawberry Stadium. I cheered for my school and watched as once again we were victorious over Southern Utah with a final score of 41-14.

The Lions were on a roller coaster that seemed to only go up until the team’s first away game against Tulane. I was not able to attend; however, I did stay tuned to the updates via the radio. At the end of the first quarter, the score was 21-3. For the first time since the beginning of the season, Lions were not winning at halftime. And sadly, they were not able to recover as they ended the game in defeat with a score of 35-20.

After traveling to Southeast Missouri, the Lions returned home with another loss, dropping their record to 2-2. In my opinion, it seems as though every team, no matter the sport or division, must go through a minor setback to achieve a major comeback. However, with the help of its fans, the Lions’ football team will get one step closer to holding the SLC Championship title for the second consecutive year. Just because my university may have lost for two weeks does not mean I will wear my LSU shirt while walking on campus.

Instead, I proudly wear my green and gold because our Lions won their last three consecutive games. Not only is this week Homecoming, but also a new week for our boys to prove they can continue to win. 

A team feeds off of its fans’ energy, whether it is positive or negative. Students should bring enough enthusiasm to last all four quarters and always be prepared to Lion Up!