Thus far, the weather has been beautiful for the majority of the season, and the Johnnies are perched atop the MIAC standings at 9-0. Who could ask for anything more? Well, I could, for one. The Rat Pak, a key piece of the Johnnie game day experience, began a downward spiral under former dean of students Jason Laker. Many thought that the Rat Pak of old would return upon Laker’s departure, but the enthusiasm brought to Johnnie games by this wacky group has been relatively silent for too long.
My first experiences with the Rat Pak came in the late 90s. The likes of “Thorr” and “Wolfman Chuck” entertained the crowds during lulls in the game and got the fans into the game at key times. A blaring trombone, “the wave” and the “YOU GOTTA PLAY BY THE RULES…CHEATERS” cheer are still etched in my mind.
1999 brought my freshmen year at Saint John’s, and while Gagliardi may have hated their antics, I still found the Rats amusing. I can remember being awoken from my slumber in Mary Hall at 7:00 prior to our first home game by one of the Rats and his trumpet. Annoying as that may have been, it got attention and maybe a few more people went to the game because of it. It was also awesome to see the Rats storm into the stadium at Hardin-Simmons University in 2000!
The Rat Pak continued to shine throughout my years at SJU. Although I surely missed a lot of their antics due to on-field commitments, it was always a joy to see them come down the hill in the Southeast corner of the stadium on bikes or in a boat or by any other method a sane person would avoid. During the 2002 St. Thomas game, the Rats posed as Tommie fans early in the game. Once they had gained the allegiance of the Tommie hoards, they convinced them to hold up a banner in front of the visitor stands, telling them that it read “GO TOMMIES.” Of course, the banner actually read “TOMMIES SUCK” which got a lot of laughs from the home stands.
Prior to the 2003 season, dean Laker met with the Rat Pak to outline what was acceptable and unacceptable for them to do. I’m not sure how much of this was the administration and how much was solely Laker, but the guy is an easy scapegoat. Laker clamped down on the Rats’ creativity with threats of suspensions and expulsions. During one game, the Rats made their traditional downhill entrance in a cardboard minivan—a forbidden act—and were promptly escorted to awaiting Stearns County Sherriff squad cars. They were eventually turned loose, but it was obvious that Laker meant business.
Since then, the Rat Pack seems to have kept a low profile. Past Rats have traveled to Texas, Oregon, and Virginia, but now we barely see them in Collegeville. Most recently, I noticed them for about 10 minutes during the St. Thomas game. Is it because the administration is still keeping them on a leash? Are they simply sticking to the newer student section? I’m not sure. I am sure that a lot of fans miss their antics, though.
Here’s my challenge to the 2007 Rat Pak (it’s not too late!) and Rat Paks of the future: Get involved! Make us laugh. Get the 80 year old men and their wives off of their butts. Start some chants. Make some noise. Make some cardboard letters to get 8,000 people screaming S-J-U or D-FENCE. Work the crowds—not just the students, but the entire crowd. Get them yelling on third downs. Find a cheap trumpet or trombone to make a racket. Get the kids involved. Harass the other team’s mascot. Most of all, just live up to the Rat reputation!
