Showing up to school before 6 a.m. is not an everyday feat for most students. Yet once each year the small gym has been packed from wall to wall with screaming students by 6:30. This event was known as the annual Quarry Bowl morning rally.

However, the rally will not take place the morning of the Quarry Bowl this year for multiple reasons.

Speculation about  varsity  football players not being allowed to attend the rally was a huge concern for most students, however when asked about it, the varsity coach Paul Doherty declined to commit.

“In the past, we have noticed exhausted students were one of the bi-products of the early morning festivities. Many of these students [were] the football, cheer and dance participants themselves,” activities director Mr. Travis Mougeotte said.

Also, the rally is usually featured on Good Day Sacramento’s High School Kickback; however, due to a confusion with their schedule there was an uncertainty regarding whether the TV crew would be there to film.

“I think there is a tone on campus where people are thrown off by the change, but the level of excitement from what I have seen this week still looks to be the same. In perspective the decision to not have the rally has allowed more focus to be on the game and festivities of Friday evening rather than preparing for an early morning rally,” Mougeotte said.

Students took the rally tradition for granted and were expecting another this year.

“It’s kind of a bummer, considering it’s my senior year and I’ve gone to every morning rally, but I don’t think it should stop Whitney from being spirited on any level. A few seniors are planning a morning tailgate to prepare and get spirited before school,” Jemima Degamo said.

The “morning tailgate” is completely student-planned and will takes place at 7 a.m. on Friday morning in the senior parking lot. Krispy Kreme donuts and drinks will be provided.

Seiyani Sukkar, one of the planners of the morning tailgate, said, “I think what was so uniting about the morning rally was we almost had half of our student body at school at 5:30 in the morning. We all went to class together exhausted, but there was a type of adrenaline rush that came with just getting super excited about such a big game and doing it all with your friends that made it all worth it.”

by OLIVIA GRAHL