On September 19, 2009 over 650 new freshman students ran across the football field at Vaught-Hemmingway Stadium just before kick-off at the seasons first home game. A tradition that just one year prior, only had roughly 100 students participating. However, with the involvement of one campus club, participation skyrocketed.
The Cardinal Club, which started in 1927 and lasted through 1969, was at one time considered one of the most prestigious organizations on campus. With the hopes of reviving this tradition, alumni Sovent Taylor got a group of students together to revive this once well known spirit organization.
Last year was their first year back in full force and they began with a bang, turning out the highest attendance for a Rebel Run to date, as well as a pep rally that “even though it was raining, had fairly good attendance” said Tara Brando, club member.
Like many members Brando got involved as a freshman in order to be more involved on campus. As a member she loved “seeing a different side of athletics” that she feels she would not have seen is she was not involved in the club.
“Football games became more fun when I felt like I had a part in planning them” said Brando.
The goal of the Cardinal Club, however, was not just to get students excited about football games but “the little appreciated athletic events like women’s basketball, volleyball, soccer…” Taylor said.
One way that Taylor hopes to increase attendance at lesser-known sporting events this year is with the new Spirit Cup. “The spirit cup is where student organizations get an chance to earn money towards their philanthropy by participating in the little appreciated sports” Taylor said.
Points will be rewarded to organizations (both non-Greek and Greek) depending on their participation at all sporting events. Both the cup and the money towards the winning groups philanthropy will be awarded to the organization with the most attendance at all sporting events.
“I am excited about this spirit cup because it will be a good way for my fraternity, as well as other organizations, to become more involved in new traditions, rather than be upset with the fact that we are losing some older traditions” said club member Sid Johnson.
Another event that the Cardinal Club is excited to plan this year is the Rebel Road trip. Rebel Road trip is a “Student Support Bus” said Taylor, which will go down to New Orleans for the LSU game in order to increase an Ole Miss fan base at an away game. Students will spend two nights in a hotel on Bourbon Street, receive a ticket to the football game at LSU, as well as transportation to Louisiana, to the game, and back to Oxford at the end of the weekend. It costs “$215 for students staying in a room with three people, and $265 for a two-person room” Taylor said.
Though there is an application and interview process to be a member of the club, any student can be involved “by participating in all Ole Miss athletic and spirit events” said Taylor.
To learn more about the Rebel Road trip or any other Cardinal Club events contact Sovent Taylor at sztaylor@olemiss.edu.
Sources:
Sovent Taylor
(662) 801-2046
Tara Brando
Tarab90@aol.com
318-564-4617
Sid Johnson
601-954-7576
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