Hanover College football: Game Day, Part II

One of the fun aspects of visiting the campus of a small college on football game day is the community atmosphere. Students, alumni and townsfolk converge on the grounds early to tailgate, the school colors radiant everywhere. And in the case of Hanover (Ind.) College, whose colors are two of the three primaries -- cardinal red and royal blue -- those colors also are brilliant.

Such was the atmosphere Saturday, when I visited Hanover for a shoot of both the football game and the campus. My previous post featured photographic highlights of the game, which the host Panthers won 58-7 over Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference foe Manchester. Today's second post in a three-post series is devoted to the game-day atmosphere -- tailgating, cheerleading, pregame and postgame fanfare and the halftime salute to the four newest inductees into the Hanover College Athletic Fall of Fame.

The next post, the third and final installment in this Hanover College series, will reflect on images of the campus captured during a post-game stroll.

Above: L.S. Ayres Field, home of the Hanover Panthers, as the home team warms up before the game. 

Above and next several: Glimpses of pregame tailgate activity in the meadow immediately adjacent to the football stadium.

Above: Twenty minutes before game time, the home team's stands are still thinly packed, as tailgaters wait till the last moment to file in.

Above: The tree offering shade to the stands on the visiting team's side of the field. 

 

Above, fans gather before the game at a condiment station; below, Hanover team merchandise is offered for sale.

Above: A small gathering at the south end of the end zone. 

Above: A ticket-taker stationed where Clemmons Street meets the south end of the stadium.

 

Above: A pep band provides musical entertainment, interludes ... and enthusiasm.

Above: Minutes away from kickoff, fans now fill the home side of the seats.

Above: Hanover and Manchester team captains meet at midfield to review key rules and toss the coin to determine possession and field position.

Above: The Panthers take the field after their pregame meeting with coaches and staff.

Above and below: Current Hanover Athletic Hall of Fame inductees joined new inductees -- athletes Jennifer Skaggs, Kevin O'Donohue and Mike Miller, along with longtime recruiter Nick Rutsis -- on the field for recognition at halftime.

 

Above: Throughout the game, I looked to compose at least one good game shot using the campus water tower as a backdrop. 

Above and next two below: Senior offensive lineman Matt Money (74), at left, turned for a cue to lead the team in a post-game song, ending with a salute of helmets.

Above and below: Fans file out of the stands at the conclusion of the game.

Above: Many of the fans lingered behind the stadium to greet players. One player who seemed particularly pleased with the opportunity to mingle was junior wide receiver Dwayne Eubanks, who scored on two long touchdown pass plays in the Panthers 58-7 win over Manchester, including one for 96 yards, a school record.

Above: Fans exit via Clemmons Street at the south end of the stadium.

 

Above: Just a few yards from the Clemmons Street junction were these bottles and cans, empty except for the first bottle on the right. They were lined up on the top of a metal transformer box.