When alumni return to Loyola Marymount University on Saturday for Homecoming, they will cheer on the Lions alongside one student group that does it all year.
Patrick Hoffman, president of the Loyalty Booster Club, champions Lion pride and is eager to increase student involvement with LMU Athletics. Interviewed by Nathalie Rubin, Hoffman discusses Loyalty and student spirit on LMU’s campus.
What is Loyalty and its role at Loyola Marymount University?
Loyalty is the official Student Booster Club of LMU Athletics. Our role with Athletics is to provide programming for students around sporting events that will ensure a greater attendance at games. Our mission at LMU is to heighten spirit and change the culture for years to come.
What is the best thing about going to LMU sports games?
Our teams have been killing it on the court and the field this year. Women’s Soccer and Volleyball had great regular seasons and both made it to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament. Men’s Basketball also started off their season 6-0 at home. On top of that, LMU Athletics continues to provide dynamic and exciting in-game entertainment. This is the first year we have utilized student DJs during the games. The games give fans opportunities to get involved as well. For example, we feature shooting competitions on the court to win prizes, as well as the chance to get on our new center-hung big screen looking over all of Gersten.
How does Loyalty plan to get more students to go to the games and support LMU Athletics?
What has been very successful for us this year is some of the programming we are doing before games. The Tip-Off Tailgate that was held before our home opener against Cal State Fullerton was the catalyst for one of the biggest and rowdiest crowds I have ever seen at an LMU basketball game. I guarantee it was a huge reason why we won that game. We are going to continue to do more events like that before games throughout this season.
Can you explain the transition that Loyalty has gone through this year?
Loyalty was formerly known as Roar. Roar had a one-dimensional approach for several years – you sign up, you get your new shirt every year, then you are supposed to show up to games and sit in the Roar section through very little incentive. It was just not stimulating the student population very well, and a rebranding effort made sense. We now have a bigger executive board and have scaled our marketing efforts and operations to make our impact on school spirit as great as what we envisioned before this transition.
All of our sports teams have been exceptional this year, and everyone in the LMU community should give themselves a pat on the back.
What do the recent sports successes say about LMU Athletics?
It says that everyone involved in Athletics is doing something right, and we are only going to get better! It is no coincidence that both Women’s Soccer and Women’s Volleyball made it to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament. We are also on pace to get our first PCH Cup victory in several years, meaning we have dominated Pepperdine like we have not seen in recent times. All of our sports teams have been exceptional this year, and everyone in the LMU community should give themselves a pat on the back.
What is Loyalty doing for Homecoming?
We will be helping paint the campus crimson this entire week. We are also supporting the office decorating contest and the ASLMU 2016 Homecoming Court campaign heading into the first game of the week as the Lions host BYU on Thursday. Then on Saturday, the Lions will host San Diego for the 2016 Homecoming Game. The Lions will be wearing their crimson uniforms for this one, and the action begins with the annual LMU Alumni Association Tailgate Party on Alumni Mall.
What does Loyalty have in store for the rest of the year? What is most exciting?
The most exciting thing is definitely the rest of our Men’s and Women’s Basketball seasons. There will be a ton of fun centered around both teams and all of their home games. We will also be supporting a group to travel to Las Vegas to watch our teams compete in the WCC Tournament. After all of that, look out for several seasons to be underway including Men’s Baseball, Women’s Softball and Women’s Water Polo. All teams are expected to have great seasons, and there will surely be some awesome events happening around those games.
How can LMU students get involved and support the athletics program?
The easiest, and also the most important thing to do, is to show up to games. Our teams truly feel the vibes from our fans and students in the stands. I believe it is a huge reason why we have seen a lot of success from our athletes this year. For a more formal involvement with LMU Athletics, you can become a member of Loyalty through our website. Go Lions!
INFO: LMU Homecoming 2016
The LMU Alumni Association and Student Leadership and Development invite you to join us for a pregame reception before the LMU men’s basketball team takes on San Diego! Let’s all show our Lion pride and represent our alma mater. Alumni, parents, students, friends and family are all welcome to attend. We will have games, food, drinks and fun.
This year’s registration package includes a LMU jersey to everyone who registers and attends the pre game reception.
We will also have the LMU Athletics Spirit Sale, which offers alumni and fans the opportunity to purchase official team jerseys, shirts, shorts, travel bags, and other equipment that was used by LMU’s sports teams. All proceeds from the sale of these items will directly benefit the participating teams.
When:
Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016
Pregame Reception: 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Men’s Basketball Game vs. San Diego: 3 p.m.
Where:
Loyola Marymount University
Alumni Mall, next to the flagpoles
Pregame reception includes a meal, LMU jersey, games and a beer garden.
Cost:
Pregame reception and game ticket package: $30
Pregame reception only: $15
*A portion of the alumni ticket price will support LMU’s Greatest Needs
Register by January 21 at noon . For questions, please contact Alumni Relations at 310.338.3065 or alumni@lmu.edu.