Freshmen take a lesson in 'Spirit and Traditions' of IU pride

Saturday's home-openers for the men's football and soccer teams were two more reasons to bring freshmen together to learn about the spirit of IU athletics.\nJust hours before IU's football bout with William and Mary, white and red clad students headed to Assembly Hall for "Spirit and Traditions 2002," to get pumped for another year of collegiate sports competition. Students were given free noisemakers and were taught the cheers and cries of their new home away from home. The Office of Orientation Programs, the IU Athletic Department and Residential Programs and Services sponsored the event.\nMelanie Payne, Associate Director with the Office of Orientation Programs, echoed the message of Welcome Week.\n"Not too long ago, your belongings were in boxes and bags and vehicles," she said. "You had to say goodbye to your families and move to Bloomington. On Wednesday, the class of 2006 was inducted. You are now to broaden your horizons. You went on tours, went through orientation and went to advising meetings."\n"You can now see the magic here and there. This is an introduction to the spirit that is Indiana," Payne said. "Spirit is not just a word. It is a feeling. It is an attitude. It's connecting with those who come before you and laying a path for those who follow." \nFollowing Payne's speech, Associate Athletic Director Chuck Crabb led the mostly freshmen students in chant as each dorm competed in a cheering contest. Going around the gymnasium, cheers like, "Read rocks the house tonight," "We are the Wright quad, the mighty, mighty Wright quad," and "Say what? McNutt!" echoed before the IU Marching Hundred gave a pre-game show. \n"When I say 'Hoosiers in the house,' I want you all to give me a 'Hell yeah!'" Crabb yelled. He then welcomed the crowd to IU emphasizing the importance of showing pride for the University and being a part of its many traditions.\nThe crowd was also given a lesson in cheering along with the band to "Indiana, Our Indiana," and the "Go Big Red!" cries with the IU cheerleading squad. \nStudents were shown a projector show depicting IU in its early days and various IU faculty and staff urged the messages of diversity. A number of athletics icons such as women's basketball coach Kathi Bennett, men's soccer coach Jerry Yeagley, men's basketball coach Mike Davis and football coach Gerry DiNardo each had a message for students. The frequent flashes on the screen of famous faculty and staff started a roar throughout the gym as students screamed, hit their noisemakers and cheered at any mention of the University.\nFollowing the show complete with flashing lights and loud music, students headed over to Memorial Stadium to catch IU's win over William and Mary. Students were granted free admission into the game and had a special section reserved for their first athletic event as inducted IU students.\nIt was DiNardo's first as head coach as well.\n"It's my first year too," he said in his televised message. "I guess we start this year off together"