School spirit success story I t began in an instant, grew in an hour and burst open in one triumphant but quiet moment. School spirit at Harding. At no time in my past 12 years of watching Bison sports had I witnessed such an outpouring of soul, sweat and emotion by the student body as was witnessed on Saturday, Sept. 10 when the Bison football team played University of Missouri-Rolla in the first home game this season. But the outpouring went two ways. With every hit made on a Bison player, the crowd reeled, absorbing the blow, then sent back to the players a resounding wave of encouragement, hope and strength. As each player . heard the support, yells and applause of the crowd, he was renewed. In 1976 the Bisons went to the wire in football, falling behind in the final game of the season against the University of Central Arkansas. In 1987 the men's basketball team was seeking a triumph in District 17. With the crowd cheering them on , the Bisons prevailed and started packing for the National Tournament in Kansas City. In both cases the crowd roared its encouragement and lauded its team in its accomplishments. So what made the game on Sept. 10 so different from t he games in '76 and '87? They all had a crowd that gave its support to its team. In the previous instance the crowd was "the crowd" while the team members were just that, the "team members." But on Saturday, Sept. 10 a "feeling" began to penetrate into the crowd. The wave of support, the euphoria of prevailing in the contest and the sheer exhaustion of pouring the soul into the game came to light when the members of the 12th man came on to the field. At that moment the players on the field were no longer "the team" and the spectators no longer " the crowd." In that instant we were Harding University, in battle with our opponent. Call it school spirit, or call it a sense of belonging, but the feeling brought everyone together, and it culminated its growth that evening at the end of the game. Prior to that evening the end of the game meant a quick departure from the stands. But RALLY BAGS. President David Burks joins the Bison cheering section during the Harding football team's game against Lane in Jackson, TN. He donned a rally trash bag in the third quarter of the game which the Bisons won 22-7. - Photo by Dave Reece this evening was different. The crowd stayed and together , with the team , sang the Harding alma mater , each person holding one finger in the air as a symbol of oneness , of unity. Together those in the stands and on the track bowed their heads in prayer to the Lord. There was a new feeling on this campus when you played the Bisons, you played us all: every student, staff worker, faculty member, and fan . -Steve Beliech Rose Marie Norman - At lanta, LA Rafael Alejandro Nunez - Honduras Kimberly Ruth Nunn - Portland , IN Shelley Diane O'Cull - Carmel, I Glen H. O'Neal - Searcy, AR Kristopher Karl O' Neal - Pa lac ios , TX Timothy Foy O'Neal - Sea rcy , AR Sharon Leigh Odum - Mt. J uli et, T N Russell W. Ogburn - Warren, Ml Kathleen Mary Okarski - Sea rcv. AR Susan Patricia Okarski - Sea rc~ , AR Bill Wayne Oldham - Sea rcy . AR Launa Jo Oliver - Sea rcy , AR William Hans Oliver - Maumell e, AR Cara Camise Orr - Roge rs. AR John Anson Orum - Mai tl and . FL Marsha Osborne - Ash Fl at , AR Clyde David Owen - Sea rcy. AH Arlisa Anne Owens - Mar ie tt a. CA Kelly Michelle Owens - Springdale. AH Christine Ma.-ie Pace - ~ea rc~-. AH Freshmen 287
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc5NA==