SEMO kicks off new school year, football season with Redhawks Festival
FOX23 News at 9 p.m
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., (KBSI) — Southeast Missouri State University brought Redhawk spirit to downtown Cape Girardeau on Saturday during the Redhawks Festival at the Cape Riverfront Market.
The festival featured a spirit rally with SEMO’s football team, cheerleaders, dance team and marching band as the university celebrated the start of a new school year and upcoming football season.
The event ran from 8 a.m. to noon and included performances by the SEMO Steel Drum Band and SEMO Marching Band, along with giveaways, interactive inflatables and an appearance by Rowdy the Redhawk.
Hundreds gathered at the market to watch the performances, meet members of the team and explore vendors throughout downtown Cape Girardeau.
“If it’s August in Southeast Missouri, it’s hot, it’s back to school and it’s football. Let’s give a round of applause for that!” SEMO President Brad Hodson said during the rally.
Hodson said downtown Cape Girardeau was a fitting location to bring the university and community together. He also highlighted recent recognition from Architectural Digest, which selected Cape Girardeau as Missouri’s prettiest town as part of a list featuring a town from each state.
The festival also gave the Redhawks a chance to build excitement ahead of the football season.
“We’ve been working hard. We’ve been working hard since January,” SEMO football head coach Tom Matukewicz said. “We got 58 new players.”
The Redhawks Festival was held in conjunction with the Cape Riverfront Market and gave the community a chance to welcome students back to campus while kicking off another season of SEMO football.
