Football games are a huge symbol of fall sports in any college across the country. The students gather, in Colorado Mesa University’s case, to watch for free. This last Saturday was an even grander case, for the weekend’s home game was coupled with the annual Parents’ Weekend.

Every football game brings with it plenty of activity, and it’s important to give credit where credit is due, for there is much more to a football game than the actual game itself.

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Two hours before the game was the tailgate party, in which people parked their vehicles across a grassy field, grilled, drank and played games. Associated Student Government Vice President Jeff Vela started out at the gate, providing identification bracelets to people over 21 years of age, giving them the right to consume alcohol in the tailgate area. Security guards were also present at the tailgate party, keeping watch over the area.

A football game would never be the same without the folks responsible for caring for the school mascot, the real steer Rowdy. The mascot was at the tailgate and was later transported to the field so that he could run at pregame to amp up the crowd’s spirits.

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These same folks who dealt with Rowdy also dealt with Rowdy’s droppings that he left at the edge of the track.

During the game, the Maverick Stampede Marching Band worked alongside the cheerleaders to pump some energy into the student section on the west half of Stocker Stadium. The Herd was present to cheer on their team, led by student Maddison Chaffee.

Below the east stands, concession employees were hard at work feeding people burgers, hot dogs and more, dealing with the overwhelming rush at halftime especially. Those who stayed in the stands, however, were provided quality entertainment.

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The Mavettes performed for the student section as soon as halftime began. Directly after that, the Maverick Stampede Marching Band performed this year’s entire 1980s style show for the first time at a football game this year, whereas they only had part of their show down on the field in previous weeks. They even managed to get the announcer to sing along to the familiar songs throughout the seven minute performance.

All throughout, the costumed Rowdy (not the actual steer that ran the field at pregame) could be seen milling around the premises, taking selfies with people and high-fiving children, creating the “maverick” atmosphere that students who attend these events have learned to expect.