GW’s basketball season might be one of your few chances each school year to get a real taste of school spirit, so make it count.
Although it can’t compare to the intense school spirit students experience at colleges with more eminent sports programs, you can come close by flooding the stands after the COVID-19 pandemic prevented fans from attending games last year. From sporting buff and blue with fun accessories to making it on the Jumbotron with an eye-catching sign, we’ve compiled some ways for you to show your school spirit at GW’s basketball games.
Raise high a supportive sign
An interactive and attention grabbing way to show your school spirit is to show off a hilarious sign that might land you a spotlight on the Jumbotron. Visit any website that offers custom signage like Party City and bring a custom big-head George Washington cut-out to the game. If you want to go the traditional route, you can head to CVS and get a poster board to write supportive puns like “GW scoring higher than my GWorld” or “GW, get that ring by spring!” Find more inspiration for GW themed humor on Jeti, a social media app frequented by GW students. Write your favorite trending jeet on a sign.
Flood the stands
When it comes to attending this season’s games, the more friends you bring, the merrier. Make up for lost time last season and gather your group of friends and make a day out of it. Text your core friend group chat and suggest hanging out at a game or send a message in your class GroupMe and propose some post-midterm, pre-final serotonin bonding. Convince your Marriage Pact match to couple up and go to a game – it’s a high-energy environment, a low-stakes date and it’s free. Take advantage of the old school date vibe and get your date a snack at the concession stand.
Coordinate festive outfits
For an easy way to show school spirit that requires minimal planning, don any GW merchandise and you’ll be looking like a die-hard fan. Wear anything with a GW logo on it and if you’re really in a pinch, wearing the school buff and blue colors works just as well.
For a more festive look, you can throw on blue, white or dark yellow accessories like a cowboy hat or beads. To show full commitment, you could even try out some blue eye-black, glitter or eyeshadow. Spread a little humor in the stands with funny t-shirts like ones from Redbubble. Upperclassmen, represent your seniority with a shirt that says “I survived Thurston” or bring some ear-rubbing luck to the game and wear a shirt emblazoned with “Hippo Kid.”
Attend a pregame
What better way to get in high spirits than to hang out with a group of friends before a game. Get pumped and get ready together while listening to a great playlist to get you in the right spirit. The Sounds of Spotify Schools has a GW Spotify playlist compiling the most played songs by students on campus. Alternatively, you can listen to a high-energy game day playlist or one of your own.
Make a few GW-themed cocktails with your friends and indulge in a drink or two before the game.
Learn the cheers and chants
When Cheer and the First Ladies come out to rile up the crowd, you know it’s time to chant. Learn the GW Fight Song word for word to add to the roar of the crowd and show off your singing skills. Out-shout the opposing team’s fans by raising GW high and your voices even higher with the “Na Na Na Na, Hey, Hey, Hey, Goodbye” chant.
