Northwest Missouri State University - Tower Yearbook (Maryville, MO)

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Tht BMrcaa maka an explosive entrance on to the field for their season opener against Arkansas Tech. Fans were excited for the Bearcats return to the field for the first time since they won the national championship in 1 998. Photo by Vahrit Moiunan

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by Sarah Smi With a championship season behind them, Bearcat fans convened at Rickenbrode Stadium with high expectation s. Through a sea of green and gold, spirit was apparent in nearly every spectator. Was this infatuation with Bearcat football due to loyalty to the team, or was it simply a case of football fever? Fans are really loyal, Bearcat Sweetheart Cindy Carrigan said. The community gets involved and the campus gets involved. The attendance at the away games is always really high and that shows loyalty, too. Students and faculty alike shared the same passion for Bearcat football. Karen Kepka, generalist for periodicals at B. D. Owens Library, attended every home game since she came to Northwest in 1998. She (Kepka) is a die-hard Bearcat fan, Brent Connelly, Kepka ' s student assistant, said. She is a very good supporter of the team and has more enthusiasm than anyone. Kepka ' s devotion to the team was not influenced by the championship. Her passion for Bearcat football routed from more than just the game. I ' ve always had this enthusiasm, Kepka said. I think there ' s true loyalty and that ' s what I like about it. There are good fans and good sportsmen. I love the atmosphere, the band, the pom pon girls and the Steppers. I just love the whole thing. Students and faculty were not the only sources of support for the team. Community attendance at games proved that the Bearcats had support beyond the walls of the University. It ' s going to be a wonderful year, former Maryville mayor Bridget Brown said. It ' s a means of putting the town, the school and the community together. It ' s great to see everyone come together. Dave Arnold, Maryville Public Safety officer, shared Brown ' s feelings. It ' s going to be a great year, Arnold said. We ' ve established a winning tradition and now it will be easier to carry it on with recruitment and things like that. Spectators were not only from the local community. Many people traveled from around the Midwest to watch the Bearcats in action. For Melissa Auwarter ' s family. Bearcat football was a tradition. The Auwarter family held season tickets since Melissa was a freshman in 1996. Her mom, dad and grandfather ventured from Kansas City, Mo., • Continued While the Bearcats slaughter Missouri Southern State College in the Homecoming game, Rachel Lipira and the other cheerleaders keep the fans spirited.The Bearcats defeated Southern 52- 1 3. Photo by Amy Roh Matt Montgomery, Mindy Hayden and Greg Hutchison plead with Bobby Bearcat to toss them a T-shirt during the football game againstTruman State University.The Rickenbrode Rowdies were an active voice cheering the Bearcats on to a victory.Photo by Heather El peHY tudentLife • .V V

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for every home game. Watching her perform in the Bearcat Marching Band turned them into loyal fans. They saw the Bearcats evolve into national champions, but continued to stay true to the team whether they won or lost. I think that people are a little overzealous, Melissa said. We did good last year, but that was one season. There are different players, but people think we ' re going to win the championship again. It ' s not necessarily going to be that way. I ' m not going to count my chickens before they ' re hatched. Bud Leipard, Auwarter ' s grandfather, shared her feelings. He showed his loyalty to the team by learning each of the players ' names and positions during the first game. Once you get to the quality that this team has had the last few years, you will continue to have a pretty good following, Leipard said. Coming out here, you ' re going to see some good, exciting football that gets better with every play. It ' s unfortunate that a lot of people are fair weather, but with what happened last year, and the quality of winning this year, they will continue to come. Fans are kind of fickle sometimes and they won ' t show support to the team if they lose. Wide receiver J.R. Hill charges past the Missouri Southern defender Hill had four receptions for 93 yards in the Home- coming game. Photo by Heather Epperly de ntLife