No two people are the same, just as no two schools are the same. They may have the same curriculum, sports or school colors even, but school-specific high school traditions still set them apart. In recent years for Gonzaga, a popular tradition has been students taking their shirts in the final quarter or period of a sports game.
Students do this to raise the morale of their team and cheer them on with a little bit of extra motivation. The question is when did this begin, and how did it start?
Gonzaga is 200 years old, but only for the past two decades have Gonzaga students ripped off their shirts to encourage their sports team. Why do our purple-blooded students love this tradition so much?
“It makes us all grow closer together,”said senior Declan Dolan, a booster club member whose purple blood runs deep in his veins.
Gonzaga has not had a sports game with the typical rowdy student section for many months. Sadly, this year’s freshmen have not been able to properly experience Gonzaga’s athletic games; it is an experience that all past Gonzaga students will agree on and is unique, the Gonzaga brotherhood.
“When allowed by the school administration and communicated by the booster club during a championship game or major outdoor event, there is no denying the wave of excitement when the fourth quarter starts and the players in the game know their Gonzaga brothers in the stands, who then take off their shirts, will scream and cheer through the end of the game with a spirit that no other school in the area can match. While it’s not the student body’s Gonzaga given right to take off their shirts whenever they want, the act does add an energy and excitement when allowed in the right environment. Gonzaga students must always remember, however, that many of their own classmates prefer not to do this and that is perfectly acceptable and needs to be respected,” said Mr. Jim Kilroy, dean of students.
This highlights two key aspects to our Gonzaga brotherhood: the strength and flexibility of our brotherly bond. Gonzaga accepts everyone and because of how much we want to strengthen our community is why we are the rowdiest student section in the country.
For our bicentennial year, Gonzaga is looking back on traditions and stories that are being lost in our history. These traditions should be brought back to light for Gonzaga so incoming students are able to see why it has been such a passionate school for the past 200 years.
“Our school has been around for 200 years, so let’s show everyone our 200 year-old spirit,” said Will Carr, Booster Club Member.