Rivalry Fans Refuse to Let Showers Dampen Their Blue Jay Spirit
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Holy Cross’s Thunder and Jesuit’s Jayson lead the 2014 Great American Rivalry Parade prior to the 95th meeting of Jesuit and Holy Cross on Friday, Oct. 10, 2014.
Thousands of students, alumni, parents, and parents of alumni gathered under and around the blue and white big top for the annual tailgate party that precedes the Jesuit vs. Holy Cross football game. The event, which has grown into a massive celebration for both schools, took place outside of Tad Gormley Stadium on Friday, Oct. 10.
Complimentary hamburgers and hot dogs — grilled to perfection — were prepared by Koz’s Restaurant, under the direction of Max Gruenig ’06 and his wife Roz. Delicious jambalaya rounded out the menu. Soft drinks and bottled water were served by the friendly Jesuit maintenance staff, who did their usual outstanding job setting up tents and preparing the festival grounds. Face painters worked their artistic magic on the cheeks of the youngest fans.
New for 2014 was the addition of an alumni tent — manned by Rene Alvarez ’83 and Kevin Stierwald ’85 — where graduates received stickers identifying them as alumni, as well as Jesuit alumnus car window decals. Parents of new Jesuit students received free tickets to the game.
When rain began to fall, the large tent served as safe harbor for fans looking for cover, adding to the Blue Jay Camaraderie.
The tailgate party concluded with a parade featuring mascots, cheerleaders, marching bands, and honored guests from both schools, as well as a performance by the 610 Stompers.
Jesuit won the game, 56-14, before an estimated crowd of 15,000.
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Rivalry Game Tailgate Party, Oct. 10, 2014
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Holy Cross's Thunder and Jesuit's Jayson square off. -
Pre-freshmen Reed Darcey, Jacob Reeder, David Nimmo and Justin Fortier enjoy refreshments and jambalaya at their first Rivaly game as Blue Jays. -
Pre-freshman Corey Bell stands with his parents Monica Bell-Smith and Rocky Smith and little brother Justin. -
Blue Jay families spread out around the grounds in front of Tad Gormley Stadium. -
Jays set up a net and competed in a Blue and White volleball game. -
And then it rained. -
Pam and Dooty Patron '51 help to shelter Fr. John Brown, S.J. from the rain. -
Not everyone had an umbrella. Freshmen Giovanni Lorusso, Nick Ho, Donald Barrett, and Andrew Brechtel -
Michael Armelin, Brenni Crabtree, Denise Lacour, Mr. Jason Lalonde, S.J., and Mr. Julio Minsal-Ruiz, S.J. -
Skip Santos '81 buys his game ticket from the alumni tent with freshman Ryan Santos. -
Jesuit's Jayson and senior Niko Ros carry the rivalry banner leading the Krewe of Rivalry into the stadium. -
The Legends of the Game march in the parade: Jesuit’s Legend, Frank Massa ’54 (right), and Holy Cross’s Legend, Billy Truax '60 (left), were recognized during the halftime ceremony. -
Jesuit’s 2014 Legend of the Game, Frank Massa ’54, and Honored Alumnus Veteran, U.S.M.C. Col. Beau Higgins ’85 -
The Blue Jay cheerleaders amp up the the spirit. -
The Jayettes follow the cheerleaders into the stadium. -
The 610 Stompers are the last to perform in the parade. -
Graduates from the class of 2014 revel in the rivalry. Pictured from left: Riley Conroy, Adam Waguespack, Matthew Blasini, Conner Gillen, Zach Adams, Jorges Abadin, Chris Dupre, Chase Eckholdt, Luke St. Germain, Andrew Tufts, and Ryan Bergeron. -
Class of 2010 alumni return to the rivalry. Pictured from left are Fritz Metzinger, Tyler Treuting, Matt Firmin, Jude Foret, Brycen Koch, Patrick Spruell, Alex Hritz, John Eumont, Gary Langlois, Jr., Joey Giglio, Derek Dunham, Tyler Bologna, Joey Schrempp, Matt Fabacher, and Phil Landry. -
Danielle Porche and her children Danielle and Ryan catch the Blue Jay spirit. They are the family of the football team's physical therapist, Robbie Porche '91. -
Barry and Amy Tassin sell Rivalry T-shirts to Blue Jays. -
Jenny Johnston with daughter Piper and son Aiden along with Christopher Dupre '14 get ready to have their faces painted. -
Rene Alvarez '83 and Kevin Stierwald '85 sell tickets at the alumni tent, a new feature of this year's tailgate. -
Ed Mazoue '62 and Bill Eastin '59 -
The Blue Jay community is always grateful to Jesuit's maintenance and facilities staff who handle the heavy-lifting and the icy beverages. Pictured from left are Jack Truxillo, Eddie Habisreitinger, Brian Habisreitinger, John Ledoux, Daniel Pierre, Kent Broussard, and Sidney Gleason. -
Jays of all ages play their own game of football before the headliner. -
Brian '85 and Michell Illg, parents of a sophomore football player (Christian), set up party music that entertained Blue Jay fans before the game. -
Max '06 and Roz Gruenig prepared burgers and hotdogs for the hungry crowd. -
Senior Mako Geordina, senior William Arnold, senior Andrew Amedee, junior Carolo Carino, Mr. "Top" Abshire, seniro Joshua Parfait, senior Ethan Martinez, junior Thomas Hellmers, and sophomore Nolan Lambert -
Class of '85 alumni: Kevin Stierwald and Brian Illg join their classmate U.S.M.C. Col. Beau Higgins who was the Honored Alumnus Veteran. -
Senior Mako Giordano is interviewed by WGNO's "Wild Bill" Wood -
Blue Jays show off their spirit for the camera. -
Jesuit football team parents set up a tent, showing that they know how to tailgate. -
Freshmen Blake Mire, Gabe Massey, Luke Sisung, and Matthew Palmer -
Gerry '78, Drago, and Tommy Cvitanovich -
Enjoying a friends and family are (clockwise) Gail and Allan Gunnels, Andy Fuxan, Cyrus Fuxan and Morgan Gunnels.
