Cornhole season is in full swing, as showcased at Shea Brigade’s bag tournament, which took place during the pre-game tailgate in the parking lot of Shea Stadium Saturday.
Joshua McGehee, Shea Brigade president, said he came up with the idea for the tournament to emphasize the game against Missouri State. “Bradley and Missouri State have a long standing soccer rivalry in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC),” McGehee, a junior sports communication major, said. “In the past we’ve brought DJs to tailgates or minor party games, but this time we wanted to do something big.”
The tournament consisted of teams of two competing to win small prizes like candy bars and Avanti’s gift cards.
“I think the turnout for the tournament was pretty good considering it was our first event and we started advertising it kind of late,” McGehee said.
McGehee said he believes the tournament helped people get “psyched” for the game.
“The tournament was a lot of fun,” Eric Santos, a junior computer science engineer, said. “I’ve been going to games for a while now and things have really picked up since Shea Brigade showed up. There’s a lot more energy.”
Shea Brigade is the official “hooligan” group of Bradley soccer, according to its Facebook page.
“Last year, [head men’s soccer] coach Jim DeRose came to the Red Sea about creating a soccer-specific cheering section,” McGehee said. “Basically, the Shea Brigade is an extension of the Red Sea specifically designed for soccer. We have our own sign, our own logo and our own shirts just like the support groups for professional soccer teams.”
Students can join the Shea Brigade for $10. Official members receive a T-shirt and access to end-of-the-year prizes.
“Our goal is to create a rowdy and crazy atmosphere in the stands,” McGehee said. “To do that, we need more people, so I really encourage people to join us and participate in the fun before the season ends.”
