While most people would think of that title as something related to Christmas time….to anyone who has ever been a member of the Marching Southerners would have to agree — this time of year is the beginning of the most wonderful time of year and of our lives.
It’s hard to believe that 23 years ago, I packed up everything I owned in my 1983 Buick Skylark and headed to Jacksonville, Alabama to attend band camp with the Marching Southerners. I still remember the nervousness, the freedom of moving away from home, the pride, and the anticipation of what was ahead.
My rookie year of Southerners was at a time when the upperclassmen could still haze. While as I think back of it now, it wasn’t that bad being a newbie on campus…however, back then I was a little shocked of all that I had to do to become a member of this wonderful family.
Being a Trumpet “Slug”, we had to get a white t-shirt and put the word “SLUG” on it and wear it every single day of band camp without washing (for the record, I still have mine STILL unwashed and stored in a ziplock bag), wear a set of antennas on our heads, our mouthpiece had to be hung on a string, and we had to steal a salt shaker from a local eatery to carry in our pocket. I got mine from McDonalds and being naive freshman, I was sure they were going to put me in jail for stealing it.
We would practice for hours in Mason, outside in sectionals, and outside on the concrete in front of the Pete. Our tans were fabulous, the music was amazing, the first time we practiced in the stadium left me wided eyed, and the day I received my uniform was one of my proudest.
But nothing…absolutely nothing prepares a Southerner for the feeling you get the first time you step off onto the field and perform for the amazing fans of Jacksonville State. To say you’re a rock star as a member of a several hundred person group is the understatement of a lifetime.
You are a SOUTHERNER and now a family member of something that bonds you with thousands of former and future Southerners to come. Only these individuals know what it’s like to go thru this process and to not only be apart of something magical on the field but be able to portray this magic to the fans in the stands.
Over the weekend, our newest members of our family arrived on campus to learn our traditions including “Salvation” and “Stars Fell” and the vets returned to campus yesterday. The music is in the air…EVERYWHERE!
You can’t drive around Jacksonville without hearing the sectionals, hearing the metronome counting out the beat for the drum line, flags twirling in perfect motion, and ballerinas kicking without ceasing. It’s wonderful! It let’s you know that the Southerner’s season is almost here and while we’re at it, we’ll let the guys play some football too.
Why yes Virginia, the Southerners are back in town and it IS the most wonderful time of the year!
(Source: getcockyjsu.com)
With the holidays approaching — don’t forget to get your favorite JSU grad their Gamecock merchandise from GetCockyJSU.com!! We’ve got a fantastic selection with many original shirts, shorts, and jackets that Jacksonville State lovers have never seen!
Remember Santa Shops with us — shouldn’t you??
Merry Christmas from Get Cocky!
With the unfortunate short ending to JSU’s incredible season this year, I must say a few words about our senior quarterback, Ryan Perrilloux.
Ryan was the quarterback for my beloved LSU Tigers where I worked for many years. I had heard the rumblings about him from former co-workers and even the comparision of his off the field antics to those of Kevin Faulk, who was a student while I worked at LSU. But we won the national championship and of course with that much is forgiven both on and off the field.
But it came as little surprise to me when I heard that Ryan had been kicked off the team by Coach Les Miles for violating team rules.
What was a shock to me was the announcement that Ryan would be transferring to my alma mater at Jacksonville State in 2008. Being an avid ESPN Radio listener, I had heard a grocery list of schools interested in talking to him come play for their school but Jacksonville State??? “The Friendliest Campus In The South?” Say it ain’t so Jack Crowe! We don’t need the controversy or the bad press I thought.
But I’ll be the first to admit it — Ryan has turned out to be an outstanding young man both on the field and off.
He certainly didn’t have an easy time of it as he had many people watching him at every turn and calling the Athletic Department everytime he held his fork wrong (a small town will do that for you). But he allowed JSU to mold him as it has molded so many of our alumni.
Our fans definitely enjoyed the ride and seeing Ryan’s extraordinary moves on the field and his inspiring his teammates to play smarder, run faster, hit harder and truly move JSU Football to another level of glory that many questioned we could ever return to. He made us proud on the national level at our oh so close fight at FSU and by winning the OVC.
Upon the end of his last game, Ryan stated that coming to JSU was the best decision he had ever made and that it changed him as a person.
So I, for one, stand corrected of my original thoughts — what I thought was a terrible mistake to bring this young man to our friendly little campus proved to be exactly what he and WE needed.
Congratulations Ryan on your final season — we look forward to watching you making Gamecocks everywhere proud in your next stage of your life!
