In preparation for the much-anticipated 151st meeting of the Lehigh-Lafayette rivalry football game this Saturday, the Marching 97’s top priority is to increase students’ energy and excitement, what they refer to as “psyche.”
One of the most important events that occurs during spirit week, the week leading up to the football game, is the Marching 97’s Eco-flame tradition, which has been going on since the ‘70s. On Friday, Eco-flame will take place and members of the band will play traditional Lehigh fight songs and march their way through campus buildings, dining halls, classrooms and even the library.
“The goal of Eco-flame is pump up the campus community and get them excited for the game,” said Josh Hubert, ’16, drum major. “We try to be as enthusiastic as possible.”
The 97 has been working hard at practices to create a special show that will encourage fans to stay for the duration of the game. Michelle O’Toole, ’16, band manager and co-writer of the show, said that the 97 is a symbol of spirit at Lehigh and therefore it is their job to get everyone excited.
“I want to the band to play so well and have such a ‘wow’ moment that gets people so pumped up that they start cheering and stay energized for the second half of the game,” Hubert said.
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