With the beginning of a new academic year, Samford University has welcomed a new addition to the athletics department—and it is already thriving. The Auxiliary team, led by Coaches Halee Hudson and Victoria Jones, is composed of several sections, including tasks in rifle, flag, and dance work. Each has a distinct role that requires both physical coordination and strength, together making a cohesive team that performs during the halftime of Samford Football games.
“Game day is usually an all-day affair. Even if the game is at 5 or 6 p.m., we have the pep rally and Bulldog walk,” freshman Juliette Dill said. “There’s also warm-ups, and then even after the game is done we have fun team bonding traditions. It truly is an all-day thing.”
Because Auxiliary is such an integral aspect of Samford Football, it is unsurprising that this is not the first year for Samford to have a team. It is, however, the first year since the COVID-19 pandemic that Samford has had one in full. The flag lines never returned after 2020; the only visual performers were majorettes, a specific dance and baton role that is slightly different than Auxiliary. However, Coach Halee Hudson, along with the Director of Bands, Dr. Patrick Young, began pushing to bring Auxiliary back.
“Patrick and I have been working over the last year to get everything prepared,” Coach Halee Hudson said. “We’ve been recruiting, we’ve been to high school band exhibitions and competitions, and we did a lot of social media marketing as well.”
The result of Coach Hudson and Dr. Young’s work culminated this fall, with the announcement of a full Auxiliary team. Though only made up of nine girls, the team is comprised of a variety of backgrounds and skills.
“Some of the girls came in just as trained dancers; they had never even touched the flag before,” sophomore Gabriela Canales-Alvarado said. “But within a week and a half of training they learned how to march and do flag choreography. I hope they continue with Auxiliary, because they’re amazing.”
“We’re all learning new things,” freshman Juliette Dill said. “It is our collective first year, and that’s honestly been really sweet, because we’re on a team where we’re all experiencing it for the first time.”
Though this team is new, the Auxiliary is already thriving. What began as a faculty-lead initiative has resulted in nine girls that train and work for one another.
“We want to keep growing,” Coach Halee Hudson said. “We want to be a program that Samford looks at to always lean on in times of wanting community.”
Though it is only nine girls, it is these nine that will set the precedent for future teams and create a culture that embodies Samford ideals of excellence and camaraderie.
Samford looks forward to the future that Gabriela Canales-Alvarado, Samara Clay, Juliette Dill, Lynley Forbus, Grayson Jobes, Lacie Jones, Mar’Kayla Kennedy, Natalie Moore, and Lydia Parsley are paving with eagerness and anticipation.
Follow @samfordauxilary on Instagram to watch their team grow and perform.
Staff Reporter
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