On the dawn of the crisp morning of October 3, ecstatic War Eagle fans piled into Hughes Spalding Stadium to participate in the filming of Marist’s feature on the Today Show’s segment of “Friday Morning Lights.” The atmosphere of that morning was electric, and with the support of the Marist family behind the football team, cheer team, Touchdown Taco, and the band, we were ready to take on the segment.
The excitement surrounding the segment had built over a number of weeks through the extensive planning of the segment by Athletic Director Derek Waugh and Today Show representatives, as well as WIXA 11Alive representatives.
Through several Zoom meetings, the representatives viewed Hughes Spalding the day before. The discussion of logistics, such as moving the start of school so that students could attend and fill the stands, as well as coordinating the band, cheerleading squad, and the football team, and what each team’s participation would look like during the segment.
Due to all of the preparations and the cooperation of the Marist community, the three-minute feature on national television was a smashing success.
According to Waugh, “We were told by the Today Show that it was the best segment they had ever had and the largest crowd shot they had seen, even though we were one of the smaller schools featured.”
The true spirit of what it means to be part of the “Marist Fam” beamed through the segment. Everyone showed up, showed out, and demonstrated what it means to be a War Eagle.
As Waugh put it, “I don’t know how anyone could watch that segment and not want to be a part of the Marist community. We were spirited, classy, fun, and funny, and everyone’s love for the school and the event really showed through.”
Marist’s feature on the Today Show further demonstrated to the world how Marist is a community that is a family. We show up for each other, cheer each other on, and encourage each other to grow.
“Friday Morning Lights” was a beautiful example of how Marist is more than just a school, but a family. Whether it is Friday Night Lights or “Friday Morning Lights,” we stand together.
