Sororities, fraternities, students and Registered Student Organizations (RSO) came together to perform team chants and cheers, sing the alma mater and meet A-State’s athletic teams at the annual Order of the Pack (OOTP) event.

The OOTP pep rally, held Thursday, was organized by the Student Activities Board (SAB) and the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, with help from several other departments, to get ready for the first home game for the Red Wolves. Usually held on the football field, the event moved to First National Bank Arena this year due to rain. 

Caleb Sterrett, a junior civil engineering major and athletic engagement director for SAB from Dumas, Arkansas, said his favorite part of Order of the Pack was seeing all the students cheering for the athletic teams and being excited for the first football game. 

“The environment is going to be crazy, and I can’t wait to be in the presence of it from a director standpoint,” Sterrett said.

Before the pep rally, the arena door opened so students could participate in an indoor tailgate. Tables were set up where students could make signs and talk to different organizations. 

Chloe Clemons, a freshman biology major from Conway, Arkansas, said she loved that the event gives everyone a chance to be wild and crazy with school spirit.

A major part of OOTP is the competition between the sororities and fraternities, RSOs in attendance and university housing. These groups competed to win four different awards, including best dressed, most spirited, One Pack, and the Golden Wolf Award. 

The One Pack award went to the Greek team that was most collaborative and worked together to cheer and make signs. The One Pack Award was given to the Greek Team with Alpha Omicron Pi, Sigma Chi and Phi Delta Theta. 

The Golden Wolf Award went to the Greek team that showed the most school spirit all around, from costumes to chants to signs and more. This award went to the Greek Team comprised of Chi Omega, Kappa Alpha, Phi Beta Sigma.

Kevin Heang, a senior pre-professional biology major and member of Sigma Chi from Jonesboro, said his favorite part about OOTP is experiencing the unity that gets the students excited for the upcoming football season and the school year.

“The award we won was a brand-new award that was introduced this year, the One Pack award. I was honestly surprised because of us being in the back this year, but it felt great to hear that our Greek team was announced for winning that award,” Heang said.

OOTP served to get A-State fans excited for the Red Wolves’ season before their home opener as well as their historic game against the Razorbacks. 

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