Students who thought that dry ice, beer and barbecue were all a tailgate entailed received a surprise from the UH Athletic Department.
Student-athletes participated in Saturday’s tailgate before the sold out football game between UH vs. Texas Tech.
‘ Maria Peden, associate athletic director for student-athlete services, was excited for the tailgating festivities to begin.
‘Our student-athletes really enjoy getting to know the fans,’ Peden said, ‘and contributing to the game day atmosphere as well.’
Student-athletes were promoting school spirit by offering face painting to the crowd and giving out player-signed basketballs.
‘The game day activities like face painting by the swimming and diving team or the basketball shoot-offs with the men’s basketball team allow our fans to meet student-athletes in some of our spring sports, and build pride and excitement for all our teams,’ Peden said.
Olympic silver medalist, Anastasia Pozdniakova, captain of the diving team, was on hand to help with the face painting.
‘Since my major includes painting, I really enjoyed it,’ Pozdniakova said. ‘It was my first time doing face painting and I would definitely do it again.’
Basketball center Nick Mosley, a health education senior, enjoyed shooting hoops with the young fans.
‘It felt good. The kids, they see us as role models,’ Mosley said. ‘We’re so tall compared to them, but it’s a great feeling that we are helping them have a good time.’
Sean Randall, assistant athletic director of marketing and promotions, explained the athletic tailgating project.
‘We’re just now getting started with getting students involved with the ‘Family Fun Zone,” Randall said. ‘We’re doing our part to work on being family friendly.”
Randall said he hopes to achieve a connection with both non-athletes and outsiders.
‘ ‘We want to mix with our alums and fans and share in positive activities with their kids,’ Randall said. Randall said there are plans to have more events and extend the size of the tailgates.
‘ ‘We’re expecting our largest tailgate for homecoming on Oct. 24,’ Randall said. ‘This tailgate is important because a lot of alums are coming, and we want to go large.’
