University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Respect
10/28/2011 1:22:00 AM | Athletics
One of the songs that Cajun fans have come to enjoy is Respect. This song has been played for over 30 years at various UL athletic events. In fact, over the years, it has become the "unofficial fight song" of UL.
History of Respect
Before 1970, the marching band would play the Fight Song and followed it by playing Dixie. It was time for a change, but no one knew what could be played after the Fight Song. One day Sherry Lebas, the Sweethearts choreographer, had an idea. She had choreographed a dance set to Aretha Franklin's, "Respect." So she approached Jack Arceneaux, the band director, about playing it. Then Jack Arceneaux began writing the score for the song. It was played and was a hit. It became the song that would follow the Fight Song. Next time you are at a Cajuns athletic event and hear respect, think of the hard work that these two individuals put in to begin a tradition that stands to this day.
