The Spirit of Austin College
Yell leaders, also called pep or cheer leaders were elected by popular student vote at the beginning of each football season. In its early days, the group was made up of about 3-5 members, both male and female. Their duties were to supervise the pep rallies, football parades, and coronation ceremonies, as well as to also lead student cheering at the football games. The female yell leaders were also the officers on the girl’s Pep Squad.
“The girls pep squad was organized in 1927 for the purpose of providing young ladies a chance to develop more pep on the sidelines during the football season and to give special drill work on the field.” –Austin College Chromascope, 1930
Even when Austin College did not have a football team due to World War II, the spirit of Austin College lived on through these students.
“These cheer leaders lead the student body in school pep rallies to bring us together in the true spirit of Austin College. To keep alive the traditions of the college for those to come and those to return, in the purpose to these leaders without a football team to cheer to victory.” –Austin College Chromascope 1945
Click on a thumbnail to view a larger image.
