Pep Rallies never were exciting for me. When we got to junior high suddenly we were faced with this phenomenon. In elementary school herding everyone into the gym was meant for school wide movies or fund raising spiels. Now it was different. Herd everyone into the gym for screaming and somehow building commitment for going to the football game. And I only went to one junior high football game – the 9th grade homecoming game…and I only attended because I was in band. We played the theme to the Muppet Show during halftime…but that’s another story all together.
Pep rallies usually occured before the first football game of the year…and possibly before homecoming. Usually it consisted of the cheerleaders awkwardly doing their halftime show to an unsympathetic crowd. I distinctly remember seeing the halftimers dance to Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation (1814, you know). This past Saturday MTV had a special titled “22 of the Greatest Albums.” Rhythm Nation was on there. And there’s that controversy about 1814. As it turns out R is the 18th letter and N in the 14th letter. Nothing to do with the date.
Then came high school where we’d have to gain membership in the pep club to be able to go to pep rallies. I went to a few. I remember there were a few fights during the rallies. Mostly girls. Catfights. Put anyone in a crowded room long enough and they’ll find something to fight about.