Megan Lowrance
Rowdy Reds Coordinator
Room Number:
Email: mlowrance@bellvillebrahmas.org

Meeting dates, times, and location still need to be confirmed with Mrs. Lowrance.

The Rowdy Reds are Bellville High School’s student section and fan spirit group, bringing energy and school spirit to Brahma and Brahmanette athletic events. Coverage of the Rowdy Reds should focus on the students, traditions, themes, preparation, and experiences behind Bellville’s student section, rather than simply reporting what happened in the game.

Student-section themes and dress-up nights
Pep rallies and spirit activities
Preparation for games and major events
Student-section traditions and chants
Rivalry games and special-event atmosphere
Playoff and postseason spirit activities
Student participation and attendance
Signs, decorations, props, and other creative displays
Rowdy Reds leadership and organization
Efforts to encourage student participation
New traditions or activities
Memorable moments from the student section
Support for Brahma and Brahmanette teams
Student reactions before and after major games
Behind-the-scenes preparation for special events
Changes or additions to Rowdy Reds activities during the year

Beat Updates & Resources

Check here for flyers, meeting information, upcoming activities, and other details that may help you cover the Rowdy Reds. Click on a flyer to view it larger. Information can change, so confirm dates, locations, and costs with Ms. Lowrance before including them in a story.

Covering the Rowdy Reds Beat

Start Here

Introduce yourself to Mrs. Lowrance and explain that you are covering the Rowdy Reds for the BVP Newsroom.
Ask how the Rowdy Reds are organized and what role student leaders have.
Ask how she prefers to be contacted and how far in advance interviews or coverage should be arranged.
Ask for the current schedule of games, pep rallies, spirit activities, and other events where the Rowdy Reds will participate.
Ask how student-section themes and special activities are selected and announced.
Ask for the names, grade levels, positions, and contact information of any Rowdy Reds student leaders.
Find out whether the group has regular meetings or planning sessions.
Ask about established Rowdy Reds traditions and any new activities planned for this year.
Check with Mrs. Lowrance and student leaders regularly for updates and possible stories.
When you discover a possible story, submit it as a pitch before beginning full coverage unless your teacher tells you otherwise.

Your Responsibilities

Check for Rowdy Reds updates at least once each news cycle.
Maintain contact with Mrs. Lowrance and student leaders.
Keep track of upcoming games, themes, pep rallies, spirit activities, rivalry games, playoffs, and special events.
Watch for traditions, unusual themes, large turnouts, creative ideas, and memorable moments that could become stories.
Look for the students behind the student section—the people planning activities, creating signs, encouraging participation, and keeping traditions going.
Remember that Rowdy Reds supports more than one athletic program. Look for opportunities to cover spirit surrounding both Brahma and Brahmanette teams.
Pitch promising stories to the newsroom.
Arrange interviews, photography, and video coverage in advance.
Confirm themes, dates, locations, student names, and other details before publication.
Follow up after major events to collect photographs, reactions, and stories about what happened.

Important

Your beat is the student section—not the game itself. Other reporters may be covering the athletic competition. Your job is to find the story happening in the stands and around the event: the students, traditions, themes, preparation, creativity, participation, and school spirit that make up the Rowdy Reds.

Don’t settle for simply saying the crowd was “loud” or the student section had “a lot of energy.” Show what made it that way. Find out who organized it, what students did, how they prepared, why a tradition or theme mattered, and how students responded to what was happening around them.

I think that distinction in Important is especially useful here, because otherwise the kid assigned Rowdy Reds could very easily drift into doing a second football or volleyball game story.

Reporting Your Rowdy Reds Stories

Possible Story Ideas

Rowdy Reds announce a new student-section theme.
Students prepare for a major rivalry game.
Rowdy Reds organize spirit activities for a playoff game.
A particularly large or energetic student section turns out for an event.
Students create signs, decorations, props, or coordinated outfits for a game.
A new Rowdy Reds tradition begins.
Students bring back an older Bellville tradition.
Rowdy Reds organize support for a Brahmanette team or a sport that normally receives less student-section attention.
Student leaders work to increase participation or attendance.
Behind the scenes of preparing the student section for a big game.
Students explain the meaning or history behind a Bellville spirit tradition.
A special pep rally or spirit event takes place.
Rowdy Reds travel to support a team during playoffs or another major competition.
An unusual moment in the stands becomes part of the story of a game.
Seniors reflect on their final season in the Bellville student section.
A student who regularly leads chants, creates signs, or helps energize the crowd becomes a feature story.
Rowdy Reds coordinate with cheerleaders, band, drill team, or another organization.
Students react to a major win, playoff advancement, rivalry victory, or championship run.

Signs There May Be A Story

Pay attention when:

A big rivalry or playoff game is approaching.
A new or unusual student-section theme is announced.
Students are making signs, decorations, props, or costumes.
You see students organizing something before a game.
Attendance is noticeably larger—or smaller—than usual.
The student section supports an event or sport it doesn’t normally attend in large numbers.
A new chant, tradition, or activity begins.
An old Bellville tradition returns.
Something unusual happens in the student section during a game.
Students organize a special send-off, welcome-home, or celebration.
Rowdy Reds coordinate an activity with cheer, band, drill team, athletics, or another organization.
A particular student becomes known for leading or energizing the section.
Students make an extra effort for a senior night, rivalry game, playoff game, or championship.
You hear students talking about an upcoming event several days before it happens.
Someone says, “Everybody needs to be there for this one.”

Questions to Ask: The 5 W's and 1 H

You will not necessarily ask every question below. Select the questions that fit your story and ask follow-up questions whenever an answer is unclear or incomplete.

Who was involved?

Who organized the activity, theme, or tradition?
Which students helped plan it?
Who participated?
Were cheerleaders, band members, drill team members, athletes, or other organizations involved?
Who came up with the idea?
Who should be recognized for helping make it happen?

What happened?

What did the Rowdy Reds do?
What was the theme or activity?
What were students asked to wear, bring, or do?
What made this event different from a normal game?
What traditions were involved?
What happened in the student section that made the event memorable?

When did it happen?

When did the event take place?
When did planning begin?
When was the theme announced?
How long did students have to prepare?
When is the next Rowdy Reds event or themed game?

Where did it happen?

Where was the game or event held?
Where did students meet or prepare beforehand?
Was this a home or away event?
Where was the Rowdy Reds student section located?
Where can students find information about upcoming themes or activities?

Why does it matter?

Why was this theme or activity chosen?
Why was this particular game important?
Why do students participate in Rowdy Reds?
Why does having a student section matter to the athletes?
Why has this tradition continued?
Why was this particular event especially memorable?
What does school spirit mean to the students involved?

How did it happen?

How was the activity organized?
How was the theme selected?
How did students find out about it?
How were signs, decorations, or props created?
How did organizers encourage students to participate?
How did the crowd respond during important moments?
How did the Rowdy Reds work with other spirit organizations?
How has the student section changed during the year?

Questions for Rowdy Reds Students and Leaders

What was your role in tonight’s activity?
How did you come up with the idea?
What did you do to prepare?
What were you hoping the student section would look or sound like?
How did the turnout compare with what you expected?
What was your favorite moment?
What makes a really good Bellville student section?
Which Rowdy Reds tradition is your favorite?
What do you think gets more students involved?
What does supporting Bellville teams mean to you?
What would you like to see the Rowdy Reds do next?
What is something people don’t see about the work that goes into organizing the student section?

Questions for Mrs. Lowrance

How are the Rowdy Reds organized?
What role do students have in planning activities?
How are themes and special events selected?
What traditions are important to the group?
What are the Rowdy Reds trying to accomplish this year?
How has student participation been?
How does the group support Bellville’s different athletic programs?
How do the Rowdy Reds work with cheer, band, drill team, athletics, or other groups?
Are there any new activities or traditions planned?
What would you like students to understand about being part of the Rowdy Reds?

People You May Need to Interview

Depending on the story, consider interviewing:

Rowdy Reds student leaders
Students participating in the student section
Rowdy Reds coordinator Megan Lowrance
Students who organized a particular theme or activity
Cheerleaders
Band or drill team members
Athletes supported by the student section
Coaches, when their perspective is relevant
Seniors who have participated throughout high school
Students attending their first Rowdy Reds event
Students responsible for signs, decorations, costumes, or other creative elements
Other students who can explain a Bellville tradition or memorable student-section moment

Whenever possible, talk to the students who actually organized or participated in what you’re reporting. Don’t rely only on an adult to tell you what the student experience was like.

What You Need to Collect

Before writing or producing the story, collect:

Correctly spelled names of everyone involved
Each student’s grade level
Student leadership positions, when applicable
Official name and date of the event
Athletic team or activity being supported
Location of the event
Student-section theme, if there was one
Who selected or organized the theme
What students were asked to wear, bring, or do
How students prepared
Any Bellville traditions involved
What made this event different or noteworthy
An explanation of how students responded
At least one useful quote from a Rowdy Reds student
A quote from a student organizer or leader when applicable
A quote from Mrs. Lowrance or another knowledgeable person when useful
Photographs or video showing the student section itself
Close-up photographs or video of signs, costumes, traditions, or activities
Images showing students preparing when possible
Identification of students featured prominently in photographs
Information about what the Rowdy Reds are doing next

Try to collect more than wide shots of the stands. Faces, reactions, signs, costumes, chants, preparation, and individual moments help tell the story of the student section.

Before You Leave

Ask yourself:

Do I have everyone’s name spelled correctly?
Do I know each student’s grade level?
Do I know what event I am covering?
Do I know what the student-section theme was?
Do I know who organized it?
Do I understand why that theme or activity was chosen?
Do I know what students did to prepare?
Did I find something more interesting than simply “the crowd was loud”?
Did I interview students who actually participated?
Did I talk to an organizer or student leader when appropriate?
Do I have a strong quote that captures the student experience?
Did I look for traditions, preparation, or interesting individual moments?
Do I have photographs or video of the Rowdy Reds—not just the game?
Did I capture close-ups and reactions as well as wide shots?
Can I identify the students prominently featured in my photographs?
Do I know what happens next for the Rowdy Reds?
Am I telling the story of the student section, rather than accidentally writing another sports story?

The Bellville Herd

NEWSROOM

A Brahma Video Productions Student Newsroom