Sports fans and spirited students alike will reignite a tradition of school spirit at Red Rally, Thursday, Sept. 14. The annual pep rally takes place at 8 p.m. at Johnson Field.
Thousands of Lobos are anticipated to turn out for the burning of the 25-foot Aggie-like effigy in preparation for the weekend’s rivalry football game against New Mexico State University. Students and staff from across campus, led by the Associated Students of the University of New Mexico (ASUNM) Lobo Spirit, have worked to build the Aggie for several weeks.
The event, which began twenty years ago, is often cited as an all-time favorite by students, in part because it helps set the stage for events held throughout the academic year.
“Red Rally is a campus tradition that has brought students together for twenty years. It is unique in how it brings UNM students together from the start of the building process all the way until the burning,” Krystah Pacheo, president of ASUNM, said. “There are not many events on campus that promote unity and school spirit in the way Red Rally does. This event gets students excited for the upcoming game against NMSU, and it allows students to show why they’re proud to be Lobos!”
The event features the UNM football team, spirit teams, and the Spirit Marching Band. The groups will help lead the pep rally.
Since it began in 2003, Red Rally has become a nationally recognized university event, ranked #55 in Sports Illustrated's "102 Things You Have To Do Before You Graduate."