The lights go dark, and the fans buzz with excitement. The cheerleaders hit the court first, dressed in blue and white uniforms, their voices sharp and loud as they perform. The lights stay off — just the sound of anticipation in the air. Then, the band comes out, marching like an army with loud, strong voices. The Human Jukebox takes over, gold chandeliers gleaming on their arms as the drums boom through the arena.
As the band plays, the cheerleaders lead the fans in singing “Wildcats,” and they eagerly join in, filling the arena with energy. The mascot, the Jaguar, carousels around the band and cheerleaders, keeping the energy high. The Fabulous Dancing Dolls move to the rhythm, their blue and black poms shaking to the beat while saxophones soar through the air. Once the band and dancers finish their performance, the spotlight turns to the basketball teams.
Basketball season is coming up, and expectations are high for the Jaguars this year. The men’s basketball team did not make it to the NCAA tournament, but they still finished strong with 20 wins and 12 losses. The women’s basketball team made it to the NCAA tournament against UCLA, and although they did not win, their resoluteness did not stop them from preparing for an even stronger run next season. Sunday night was the night to warm up the Jaguars’ basketball season and get the fans wired up.
Then, the Lady Jaguars step out to roaring applause, sparks heightening as each player walks out in line with the cheerleaders, with the song ‘Pookie Lean’ playing loudly as the players do their dance. The men’s team follows next as each player gets called while the crowd cheers. Predicted to finish second in the SWAC for the 2025–2026 season, senior guard Joe Manning shared his goals for the team’s upcoming season and what he expects of himself in his final season.
“Honestly, my goals this season — I think if I can pretty much be there for the whole team, I feel like we should want to make it to the NCAA tournament,” Manning said. “And not only that, we want to win the regular season and the SWAC Championship. So overall, pretty much just to win.”
The Lady Jaguars come into the season with high expectations, having finished last year with 21 wins and 15 losses and predicted to finish first in the SWAC for 2025–2026. Reflecting on the team’s preparation and dedication, women’s head coach Coach Funchess said, “It was a great experience; all the hard work that the ladies did in the summer leading up to the season paid off. So that’s what it’s gonna take. I mean, they were totally dedicated from the month of June all the way until March. So we’re gonna continue to try to keep that
legacy up and win another championship.”
The night is more than just a celebration. It’s a Southern statement. Jaguar Pandemonium shows what pride, power, and unity look like at Southern University. Graduate guard Jaylia Reed shared her determination for her first season with the Lady Jaguars.
“High energy, just doing whatever it takes to win. Being at peace to the puzzle, for real. Win a championship, back to back. We are going back to back.”
