For years, the bleachers at Ted Slavin Field have never reached full capacity. In the past, the school and its fanatics have continuously made an effort to entertain the student section with irregular half-time performances, cheer routines from the Spirit Squad and a performance from the Drumline. We cannot solely rely on the good work of the Spirit Squad during half-time, and the strides to increase involvement in half-time entertainment still need adequate work.
The student section was not as lively near the beginning of the Fall season at the school’s weekly football games, but things changed when the Harvard-Westlake Dad’s Club decided to bring more energy onto the field. The Dad’s Club hosted a 3v3 pie-eating contest during half-time for the Burroughs High School football game Sept. 6. The performance grasped fanatics and the crowd as Physical Education (P.E.) Freddy Arroyo ate most of his pie in one minute. The student section wants even more though.
Even though there are certain restrictions such as amplified sound and a time limit of around 13 minutes, according to Head of Athletics Terry Barnum, more clubs should join and host events during the half-time shows. These events should extend out to other sports that have half-time such as basketball, soccer and field hockey to truly fulfill a supportive athletic community.
The possibilities are endless – speed painting, half-court shot challenges and game shows led by the fanatics can come with prizes. With this steady source of diverse entertainment, attendance at our home sports games will surely increase, and our collective community can begin to truly enjoy games from head to toe.
This story originally appeared in the fall edition of Big Red. Find the issue here.