The University Bookstore has been selling Generals Army t-shirts to encourage fans to not only attend games, but also to wear W&L's colors. Photo by Chelsea Stevenson

There are 23 NCAA Division III sports at Washington and Lee University, yet support for the W&L Generals is known to be extremely lacking.

Although there has been a slight improvement in school spirit over the last few years, members that make up the student body of 1,770 have got to step it up; according to various organizations and committees who have been working to improve this campus-wide issue. Primary groups that are contributing to this initiative are ’23,’ the Athletic Promotional Committee, the University Bookstore, and the Executive Committee.

Many of these groups have teamed together in their efforts to increase school spirit. Just before the start of the 2010-2011 academic year, Brian Laubscher, sports information director at W&L, approached the bookstore proposing an initiative to increase Generals support. The University Bookstore was immediately on board. Associate Director of the store, KC Schaefer ’04, who played Varsity Tennis at W&L, is all for an increase in spirit.

Laubscher presented the preliminary idea to sell “Generals Army” t-shirts exclusively in the store. The idea was that Generals fans would buy the shirt throughout the academic year. Each time a supporter wore their shirt to an athletic event they would be entered into a raffle. The bookstore has sold approximately 150 to 175 t-shirts and plans to continue to sell throughout the last weeks of the semester. The raffle will most likely be held in May.

“We got together, because the bookstore is a great outlet,” said Schaefer. “We designed shirts that were attractive and at an inclusive price point. Students were very enthused about the promotion.”

Aside from developing the Generals Army promotion, the W&L Athletic Department’s Promotional Committee has made many other small strides toward increasing school spirit. The committee that consists of several W&L varsity coaches has put on several community appreciation and sportsmanship events, on days when W&L hosts several home games.

Last fall, the committee organized a “Bleed Blue” day for all supporters to wear the school's colors to the day’s home games.  According to Committee Co-Chair and Assistant Football Coach Scott Abell, the committee’s winter “Pack the Stands” night was extremely successful.

“The basketball team saw the biggest crowd they had seen in years and we got Papa John's to donate some pizzas and did giveaways,” said Abell.

This spring, sportsmanship and community appreciation days have been the focus of home events—bringing community members to play in short scrimmages during half-time.

“It really is two-fold—within the campus as well as the community. We need to get the word out there that our home competitions are free,” said Brendan O’Brien, committee member and W&L assistant football coach.

O’Brien also works with ‘23’—a student-led group that promotes support and responsibility between student-athletes. According to ‘23’ President, Lauren Acker ’12, school spirit is definitely an aspect of W&L that the group is trying to address.

Recently, ‘23’ hosted an ice cream social where students and community members who attended both the women’s lacrosse game and men’s baseball game on Saturday, March 12, received free ice cream from a local Lexington sweets shop.

“I think it got a lot of people to the games that wouldn’t have otherwise come,” said Acker.

Acker and other members of ‘23’ agree that school spirit is improving and that more people are doing something about it.

“It’s getting better and more people are becoming aware of the lack of school spirit and are working to change it. It is more of a topic that people are trying to promote,” said Acker.

Executive Committee President Elect, Scott McClintock ’12, devoted his presidential platform to improving W&L spirit. Throughout his three years at W&L, McClintock has seen an increase in Generals support, but he has big ideas to implement tailgate events before games in the 2011 football season.

“I really want to get more people than friends of football players and certain groups of people at the games. My ultimate vision is a bunch of pop-up tents. I want each fraternity and organization to have their own tent and to be out there flipping burgers and hanging out,” said McClintock.

View a schedule of upcoming games at W&L