The cheerleaders, the Bear Nation Varsity Band and the WashU Bear added a collegial ambience to the Fox & Friends broadcast Sunday morning. (Jerry Naunheim/Washington University)
Who needs ESPN for a “game-day” atmosphere when you have CNN, Fox News, MSNBC and other national media — all at the same time!
At a school not known for Division I game-day excitement, Washington University got a taste of big-time hoopla when national media set up stages around campus.
As the dawn glow began to shine over Mudd Field on the Danforth Campus, the WashU Bear and cheerleaders were adding a collegial ambience to the Fox & Friends broadcast.
The WashU Bear greeted students early Sunday morning. (Jerry Naunheim/Washington University)
Cheerleader Loring Telleen, a sophomore majoring in international affairs and minoring in Spanish, loves seeing school spirit.
“Coming from a D-III school, school spirit at athletic events isn’t quite up to par with D-I schools,” she said. “To see school spirit manifesting itself in an event like this is really special for me. The energy is incredibly electric.”
The cheerleaders greeted the Clydesdales and Dalmatian visiting courtesy of Anheuser-Busch, and they helped the network segue to and from commercial breaks.
A handful of Young Republicans were allowed into the stage compound to be interviewed individually. Other students were wielding signs for the Democrats. Even three sophomores in pajamas, who earlier tried out their signs on MSNBC and CNN, jumped into camera view at the back of the Fox stage compound.
At 7 a.m., the Bear Nation Varsity Band joined the scene. After a tune-up that was both quick and quiet for live television, they aligned with the cheerleaders and Bear to open the hour with a rendition of the National Anthem. When the band later played the Fox theme into a commercial break, a surprised anchor Tucker Carlson turned to them — with Fox off the air — and exclaimed, “That was so good; it was awesome.”
In the afternoon, the band was still going strong by the CNN stage in the Quad.
“There are a lot of students coming out,” said junior band member Gabby Bloom. “It’s exciting for us to bring our energy into this atmosphere and engage both with the students and the media. My parents are really excited, and they have the DVR going.”
The Bear Nation Varsity Band also played for MSNBC later in the day. (Tom Malkowicz/Washington University)