Blue Jay Fans Enjoy Tailgate with Longtime Rival, Holy Cross Tigers
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View the Photo Gallery of the Rivalry Tailgate Party
Thousands of students, alumni, parents, and parents of alumni gathered in New Orleans City Park for the annual tailgate party that preceded the 96th meeting of the Jesuit and Holy Cross football teams. The event, which has grown into a massive celebration for both schools, took place just outside Tad Gormley Stadium on Friday, Oct. 2.
In the hours prior to the gridiron contest, the Blue Jays and Tigers set up tailgate parties on both sides of Marconi Court, with fans from the schools co-mingling and celebrating the storied rivalry game. Each school’s tailgate features multiple tents, music, food, a parade, and, of course, a healthy dose of school spirit.
Under the blue and white striped tent, Jesuit’s Class of 1985 prepared and served hungry Blue Jay fans tailgate favorites, such as pork chops on skewers, pulled pork sliders, smoked and green onion sausages, and alligator sliders. The Class of ’85’s efforts were organized by John Zollinger and Brian Illg. Meanwhile, jambalaya, hamburgers, and hot dogs were prepared by Koz’s Restaurant, under the direction of Max Gruenig ’06 and his wife Roz.
Soft drinks and bottled water were served by the friendly Jesuit maintenance staff, who did their usual outstanding job setting up tents and preparing the festival grounds. The Class of 1985 also helped with set-up for the big party.
Under the alumni tent, manned by Kevin Stierwald ’85 and Glen Gillen ’85, graduates received stickers identifying them as alumni, as well as Jesuit alumnus car window decals.
Parents of new Jesuit students received free tickets to the game and enjoyed the festivities with their sons and family.
Face painters worked their artistic magic on the cheeks of the youngest fans. In the open field next to the festival, Blue Jay fans of varying ages played games of pick-up football.
The tailgate party concluded with the Krewe of Rivalry parade featuring mascots, cheerleaders, marching bands, and honored guests from both schools. As the parade made its way into the stadium, the fans followed, closing out yet another successful Rivalry tailgate.
Read More
The New Orleans Advocate – Holy Cross-Jesuit more than a football rivalry
Galleries
Rivalry Game Tailgate Party, Oct. 2, 2015
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Jesuit Alumni Director Mat Grau '68 (right) visits with Holy Cross alumnus Steve Donnes ’76. Donnes, whose father and three brothers attended Jesuit, created a traveling trophy called The Golden Football in 2006. The trophy resides at the winning school until the following year. -
Elizabeth and Bill Furlong '52 are excited about this year's event. Lt. Col. Furlong of the U.S. Army is Jesuit's honored alumnus veteran. -
Half a dozen Blue Jay baseball players enjoy hanging out at the tailgate (from left): Brandon Briuglio, Mason Mayfield, Hayden Fuentes, Connor Maginnis, Austin North, and Jake Licciardi. -
Seniors Nick Slay, Jafar Gharib, Arsisio Etessam, Charles Rice, Lane Cormier, Ben Bares, José Aleman, Collin Gillen, and Kyle Westholz have their own mini-tailgate setup. -
Jesuit moms get together at the tailgate. From left: Carla Talbot, Chanae Watermeier, Dana Bendeck, Carol Besselman, Amy McMahon, Jen Demarestm, Pam Kerrigan, and Stacey Spiers. -
Enjoying the Tailgate Party are, from left, Kyle Huber '09, Ginny Bordelon, Warren Huber, Richard Bordelon '74, Lizzie Bordelon, and Cyndy Huber. -
Sue and David Sabrio '69 -
Freshmen wait for the start of the Rivalry Parade. From left: Brady Babin, Eli Shaw, Nicholas Cibilich, Brenden Bergeron, Blaine Calcagno, and Gus Bongiovanni. -
Aiden Johnston, son of switchboard operator and cheerleader coach Jenny Johnston, gets his face painted. -
Members of the Class of 1979 were one of several alumni classes to set up a tent in the massive tailgate. From left: Greg Gillen, Semmes Hughs, Kirk Redmann, and Paul Perez. -
Freshmen Nicholas LaCour, Jacques Gaudet, and Alex Stapp stop for a photo. -
Celeste Arseneaux (far left) visits with new parents Craig (second from left) and Annie (far right) Howat. Craig and Annie's four children are, clockwise from left: Jacob, Jeremy, Jonathan, and Anne-Marie. -
Barry Tassin, husband of science teacher Amy Tassin, helps sell game day t-shirts under the big blue and white tent. -
A father divided? Doug Bowen, taking a neutral stance, sports a Blue Jays shirt and a Holy Cross hat. Doug has identical twin sons -- one a freshman at Jesuit, the other a freshman at Holy Cross. To keep his support for the schools 100% equal, he spent the first half of the game on one side of the stadium and switched to the other at halftime. -
Two sets of brothers enjoy the jambalaya from the tailgate tent. Junior Noah Martin (left) and his brother, senior Sam Martin (right), with freshman Gus and senior Joey Bongiovanni. -
Enjoying a shady spot for the tailgate are: (standing, from left) Todd Kelly, Sid Candies and (sitting, from left) Chris Watermeier '89, Matt Kerrigan, Kent Shropshire, Rick Besselman, and Ralph Cox. -
Matt Kerrigan cooks up a huge pot of jambalaya. -
Hundreds of Blue Jay fans showed up for the Rivalry tailgate. -
Prefect of Discipline Top Abshire visits with a group of Blue Jays. -
Mike McMahon '85, Fr. Anthony McGinn '66, and Mike Babin '85 visit at the tailgate. -
The crew of '72: (front row) Lindhe Guarisco and Lloyd Kilbert, (back row) Steve Barbier, R.J. Barrios, and Nick Viviano. -
The Jesuit maintenance staff did a stellar job of set-up, serving, and take-down of this huge event. From left: Kenny Boudreaux, Eddie Habisreitinger, Brian Habisreitinger, Kent Broussard, Sidney Gleason, Daniel Pierre, and Jack Truxillo. -
Pre-freshmen enjoy their first Rivalry tailgate as Blue Jays: Will Maloney, Gabe Gordon, Ian Hanemann, Mark Bergeron, Jacob Naquin, Max Holmes, Trevor Daigle, and Winston Smith. -
Seniors Joseph Dupré, Evan Dudenheffer, Brady Stiller and Cade Fuxan. -
A large group of the Class of 1985 volunteered to serve food and help set-up and take down the tailgate. -
Blue Jays played pick up games of football and fútbol in the field adjacent to the tailgate. -
Sharon and Tommy Moran and Frank and Sandra Thibodaux. -
Jesuit cheerleaders strike a pose just before the start of the game. -
Jayson greets a little Blue Jay fan. -
Jayettes Mia Leboutillier, Jordan Kleehammer, and Dina Alawamleh. -
Clockwise from left: Alan and Gail Gunnels, Rhonda and Matthew Armand, Jennifer Dudenhefer, and Richard Armand. -
Denise and Bernard Lacour visit with new parents Kris and Pat Huete and their son, PJ. -
Members of the Class of '79: Paul Perez, Ray Posecai, Greg Johnson, Geary Mason, Walter Wright, and Semmes Hughs. -
Joey Bongiovanni, senior captain of Jesuit's cheerleaders, and his counterpart from Holy Cross, lead the Krewe of Rivalry Parade. -
Riding in a Convertible are the schools' honored alumni veterans: Victor Guillory ’73 of Holy Cross (left) and Bill Furlong ’52 of Jesuit. -
The cheerleaders and Jayettes perform as the parade makes its way into Tad Gormley Stadium. -
Members of the 2005 Football Team and school administration, including former principal Mike Giambelluca '82 (foreground) march in the Krewe of Rivalry Parade. -
Jesuit senior co-captain Riley Reynolds and the rest of the Jesuit Cheerleaders finish one of their routines and prepare to start a new one for the crowd. -
Senior cheerleader Tyrus Norcise waves to some friends. -
Following the Cheerleaders are the Jayettes. -
Jayson displays the Golden Football trophy.
