Homecoming pep rally
brings cheers, howls
By Chad Lorenz
Senior Reporter
Gender confusion and mocking
cheerleaders generated cheers, jeers
and laughter at the Homecoming Pep
Rally Thursday night.
Husker Howl contestants danced,
chanted, joked and tumbled to fire up
a crowd of 700 in the NU Coliseum.
The crowd’s thunderous applause
and piercing screams were proof they
succeeded.
The six-member celebrity judging
panel awarded the transvestite
Neihardt Residence Hall Howl team
the winner in the contest.
Men on the team dressed in skirts
made from garbage bags and pre
formed joke cheers and songs. The
women dressed in football jerseys and
played football behind them.
Husker Howl judge Eric Marintzer
said he was looking tor the team with
the most humor and spirit.
“I can see Husker spirit just by
looking in their eyes,” Marintzer said.
Homecoming royalty candidates
Chad Pekron, James Yen and Brian
Buescher agreed after the pep rally that
Neihardt had the best team. But, they
admitted, they were biased because
they all had lived there at some time.
Queen candidate Ann Broyhill said
she liked Neihardt’s team, even though
she had never lived there. But Broyhill
said she thought Chi Omega sorority’s
team did well. Chi Omega staged a
Baylor vs. Nebraska dance-off.
The real cheerleaders and dance
squad gave the beat performance,
though, Broyhill said.
Even the teams that didn’t win said
they had a fun time competing. For
most, the thrill of performing quickly
replaced nervousness on the floor.
The Husker Howl team made up
of FaimHbuse fraternity members
tt
Down in Arizona
State they didn't
treat us very well.
Home field goes a
long way."
Damon Benning
NUI-back
didn’t make the cut for the pep rally
this week, but pep rally organizers
wanted them to perform anyway.
So the Baylor Cheerleaders took
the floor, tripping over each other.
FarmHouse members wearing tow
els for skirts, T-shirts tied through the
neck and fate breasts received cheers
and boos from the crowd.
Jon England, a freshman business
major in FarmHouse, said before the
rally that his team hoped to get a huge
crowd reaction.
“We’re trying our best to make
people laugh, but we’re trying our best
not to offend,” England said.
For a serious moment, Coach Tom
Osborne and three team captains —
Damon Benning, Mike Minter and
Chris Dishman—addressed the crowd
and thanked students for their support.
Minter and Benning asked the
crowd to help the team during the
Saturday’s game against Baylor.
“Let’s see if we can get this place
the loudest place for Baylor to come
and play football in,” Minter said.
“Down in Arizona State they didn’t
treat us very well,” Benning said.
“Home field goes a long way.”
Originally, the pep rally was to fea
Matt Miller/DN
MEMBERS OF FARMHOUSE fraternity, posing as Baylor cheerleaders, entertain the crowd at Husker
Howl. The “cheerleaders” were not originally scheduled to appear but responded to a “special request.”
_' w
ture Tommy Blaze, a nationally known
comedian. Blaze, however, couldn’t
come, giving the excuse that he wasn’t
allowed to board his plane because he
forgot his driver’s license, Homecom
ing Director Andy Vuko said.
Vuko said she was also disap
pointed that the volleyball team didn’t
come to the pep rally, even though it
had been invited.
All in all, though, Vuko said the
crowd and the participants had fun, so
she was pleased with the event.
Today’s Homecoming activities
include a carnival on the north side of
the Nebraska Union, which starts at
5:30 p.m. Following the carnival, UNL
students are invited to attend a Home
coming dance from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.
The dance will be in the Lancaster
building in State Fair Park. Tickets are
1$2 in advance and $3 at the door.
Saturday will kick off with a 10:30
a.m. tailgate party on Memorial Plaza.
The Nebraska vs. Baylor game begins
at 1 p.m., and the crowning of this
year’s Homecoming king and queen
will be at halftime.
Matt Millef/DN
CHRIS DISHMAN (right) and Mike Minter talk to the crowd about the
home-team advantage. They thanked the students for their support and
asked them to be as loud as possible during the game on Saturday.
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