In the past, the Bronco Brigade ran flags at football games and encourage school spirit. Last year, the group didn’t participate because of COVID-19. However, Major Sean Johnson works with new head football Coach Jeff Hulme to create a new Bronco Brigade run by JROTC members. This year, the group focuses on engaging the student section during the games alongside the cheerleaders. Bronco Brigade helps to promote the football team from the sidelines.
“Our JROTC cadets have been lucky enough that the cheerleaders have allowed us to hang out with them on the sidelines,” Johnson said. “We work as a supplement and complement to them.”
Before coming to Legacy, Hulme coached at Mansfield High School and worked with their JROTC instructor to form a similar group. It succeeded there and now Hulme plays a part in getting the brigade started here.
“The best part [of Bronco Brigade] is getting more students involved here at Legacy,” Hulme said. “The more you are involved in, the better high school is.”
Bronco Brigade members wear western apparel and cheer on the football team when they play well. Along with cheer, drill team and the color guard, they work to keep the students excited and involved by running the flags when the team scores. Aidan Daugherty, 12, joined Bronco Brigade through JROTC.
“We try to hype up the crowd and make everybody cheer on the Broncos,” Daugherty said. “It’s encouraging [to see] our students to have school pride.”
Daugherty receives community service hours and gets into games for free, but he says being a part of something that makes people’s days better is the biggest benefit.
“Honestly, I just wanted to do something with my senior year and be a part of something,” Daugherty said. “I think it’s a pretty cool thing.”
As of this season, only JROTC members run the brigade, but Johnson and Hulme hope the program extends to the rest of the student body next football season.
“It’s been a joy, a pleasure and a delight working with the cheerleaders and being able to be there on the sidelines with the students,” Johnson said.
