Return of the spurs
Return of the spurs
After a two-year absence, Lions football team revives spirit group.
Down 14-6, the Lions need some momentum. Something to turn the tide. But then it happens.
Senior Jonathon Taylor scampers into the endzone for a touchdown. All of the post-score celebrations ensue. The band plays and the crowd cheers.
But something else happens too. For the first time in well over a year, six marksmen donned in jeans and a cowboy hats glide across the track with flags spelling L-I-O-N-S. The spurs are back.
For junior Will Mallick, the Spurs have been a part of his life at Lions football games since he was a first grader.
“Ever since my first St. Mark’s football game, I’ve admired the Spurs. I was devastated when I heard they weren’t coming back about two years ago, so I started talking to teachers to try and get it started up again.”
Mallick asked tenth grade sponsor Casey Gendason in late August if he could revive the Spurs for the 2018 football season. Gendason recommended that Mallick wait for the opportunity to arise by itself, or talk to Lynne Steckler, former Spurs sponsor. However, the parents of senior football players were thinking along the same lines as Mallick.
“Luckily, the senior parents, along with Mrs. Urschel, reached out to my mom about getting a group of guys together to run at the ESD game. A week later, Andrew Laczkowski, Lincoln Dales, Charlie Rose, William Holtby, Henry Exall and I are running the game.”
Mallick feels the Spurs provide a spark to the fan section and the team on the field.
“Seeing the flags waving down the track really gets the people going,” Mallick said. “I know it means a lot to the players too; many of them came up to us after the game thankful that we were willing to do it for their last game.”
Mallick’s not certain as to whether or not the Spurs are coming back — that’s a question for the administration to answer. However, he definitely hopes for their return and thinks it’s a possibility for the 2019 season.
“The ESD game was honestly the most fun I’ve ever had at a football game,” Mallick said. “All I know is that the class of 2020 definitely has more than enough people who want to participate, so if the team and administration wants us, we will show up.”
Senior football captain Landon Wood believes the Spurs play a special role in energizing the student section.
“That’s what makes you feel like it’s worth it, just having that sense of school spirit and school pride,” Wood said. “You’re on the football field, knowing that people are supporting you and giving up their time to do that, so you know that they care.”
Based on the energy they brought for the final game of the 2018 season, Wood would like to see the Spurs make appearances for years to come.
“Every game that [the spurs] could come to, I think the guys would really appreciate it next year,” Wood said. “It was really cool to have them for the rivalry game, but I think it would be even better if they were consistently a thing for each home game.”