by Jet Walls

Imagine standing with your St. John Bosco brothers and St. Joseph sisters under the Friday night lights, singing, dancing and cheering on your Braves going to battle on the field.

The culture of Bosco Football games has evolved significantly throughout the years. Though the game day experience is in many ways unmatched – from the tailgating to the state-of-the-art Panish Family Stadium – the Tribe student section used to be more fervent in its support.

It used to be the place to be on a Friday night: a game defending our home stadium against an opponent in a clash of titans on the field.

Alumnus and theology instructor, Mr. JP Garcia-Esparza, reflects fondly on to his experience as a student coming to games on campus. 

Mr. Garcia-Esparza’s favorite game day memory with his Bosco brothers and St. Joseph’s sisters was during his freshman year when the team beat the “Team in Red” at home. The student section rushed the field to celebrate their win with the team and even joined them in prayer on the field. 

Back then students would get way more hyped for game day. Some even showed up in paint and costumes. 

“The student section is a representation of our school,” said Mr. Garcia-Esparza

The student sections need to be bigger, louder and more enthusiastic. We need all the students to come support the boys on the field. The Bosco Football players urge the students to come out and support them at games. They love to see their classmates in the stands supporting them with passion.

“It’s great to have the support of fellow students, but once the game begins, everything seems to become tunnel vision and the outside noise isn’t so loud coming from a defensive view point. Once a big play is made defensively and you can hear the crowd and student section react loudly, it’s definitely a turning point and momentum changer for sure,” said senior linebacker Cole Clifton. “The Tribe experience is one of a kind in big games, and the support is always there and needed during big moments.”

However, at times, Brave and Jester students have taken for granted the great product on the field and how our community has a unique opportunity to galvanize itself around that greatness.

“[The student section] can be at times underwhelming,” said St. Joseph’s senior cheerleader Jolynn Hallum.

Jolynn wants all her Jester’s sisters and Bosco brothers to come to the game and just go for it when cheering and hyping up the rest of the crowd. Your actions in the stands can even help motivate the cheerleaders in hyping up the rest of the stadium.

“Sometimes [cheering] is harder if it’s a low energy crowd,” Jolynn said.

If you can make an upcoming game, you are highly encouraged to come out to support your brothers with great energy, as they chase their aspirations of winning a third national championship for Bosco and pursuing their individual goals of earning college scholarships.

“You can never count out the heart of a Brave, ” Mr. Garcia-Esparza said.

The Bosco Braves take on the Santa Margarita Eagles tonight at 7pm for the Homecoming game at Panish Family Stadium.