The eastside steps of the Limestone County Courthouse, and the conjoining Marion Street, were completely filled Friday, asAthens High School students, faculty and fans gathered for an annual Pep Rally on The Square.
The highly anticipated event, held just hours prior to the Golden Eagles home opener every year, brought community members — decked out in the signature AHS school colors of Black and Gold — into downtown Athens for an evening filled with school spirit.
“It’s my all-time favorite tradition we do here,” AHS Principal Wille Moore told The News Courier after the event. “It’s just a great opportunity for our community to come out in full force and show their support for our football team. I know it means a lot for our athletes to see adults take off of work, and little kids in their jerseys and cheerleading uniforms, just for them.”
The event started at 3 p.m. as the summer sun beat down on the Athens High School marching band, dance team and cheerleaders who kicked off the occasion with a number of routines.
Droves of fans flooded the street to take part in the environment created by the AHS students, cascading rousing cheers off the decorated windows of the downtown businesses as various banners and pom-poms flew through the air.
“This pep rally has been around for 70 years or so, and this year we got Mayor (Ronnie) Marks to proclaim today Rep the ‘A’ day,” Paige Hicks, assistant cheer coach for Athens High School, said. “We’ve gotten complete community support for our football team, band and cheerleaders.”
After a handful of performances from Athens High School’s pep squad, the football team made their grand entrance. Soon after they arrived on nearby buses, football players swiftly marched into the pep rally to the loud cheer of the Golden Eagles faithful.
The loudest eruption came when head coach Cody Gross took the stage and delivered his short address to the crowd of supporters.
“This is one of those traditions that more people would be disappointed if we didn’t do this,” Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks told The News Courier. “We’ve been doing this for many years, and to see the energy level never drop off or dip in the slightest is just amazing. It’s truly something that never gets old.”
That sentiment would be repeated by Athens City Schools Superintendent Beth Patton who emphasized the importance of the event she remembers attending when she was a child. She also mentioned how the special event highlights the idea of “One Athens.”
“I was born and raised in Athens and some of my earliest memories are going to the Square for that pep rally,” Patton said. “It’s a very special time of the year for all of us residents, because you get to come together and look past all of those disagreements. Everybody loves football.”