By Mylah Joseph
Xavier Activities Board hosted a football-themed Live Music Friday on the University Center Yard to give students an HBCU tailgating experience. Students flocked to the yard on Sept. 23 to enjoy a live performance by XULA Golden Sound, hamburgers, and receive gift bags. To match the theme of the event, students came dressed out in their favorite football jerseys, shirts, and hats.
“I wanted to bring a football vibe to the school, since we don’t have a football team,” said Madison Brydie, chairperson for Live Music Fridays.
Xavier University of Louisiana discontinued their football in 1959.
“It’s nice to have a football experience on campus, since we don’t have a team. It brings everyone together to enjoy something after having a stressful week,” said Skylar Stephens, a sophomore mass communication major.
While students indulged in the food and gift bags, XULA Golden sounded gave a live performance.
“I wanted to implement the school band into one of the events, so football team and bands correlate with each other,” Brydie said.
Students jammed to the music from the band, and the performance became a communal experience for everyone around.
“Everyone was very interactive when the band made their appearance. They were dancing and enjoying each other’s company as the band performed,” said Velvet Tapp, a sophomore English education major.
While some simply enjoyed the performance, for others, the music was nostalgic. “It gave me chills the entire time. It made me feel like I was back at home again, “said Aziayah Moll, a freshman biology pre-med major from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
In addition to the live performance by XULA Golden Sound, a clothing booth was set up on the yard.
The booth is called Maison D’Avi by Avis Morton, a New Orleans native and Xavier alum. Students shopped for items at her booth, such as clothes, sunglasses, and purses. “I wanted to sell clothing pieces for girls who want to feel cute and look cute but don’t have to do anything drastic,” Morton said.
Before ending all the fun at the event, students threw the football to each other to really revel in the experience of playing football on the yard. Students are hopeful the school will consider introducing a football team, so they can have more events like this on campus.
“It would probably be rocky and shaky at first, but in the long run students in the future would love a football team. It would bring a different kind of scope to the school,” Brydie said.
