As Efren Ramirez marched out onto the Lantz Arena gym floor he had with him a secret weapon.

He slipped a harmonica out of his pocket and began to play.

The crowd at the pep rally cheered for a minute and acknowledged that he was “voted” for.

Ramirez, better known as ‘Pedro Sanchez’ from the movie “Napoleon Dynamite” served as this year’s Homecoming Pep Rally emcee, but from the crowd’s reaction, failed to deliver the pizzazz.

Just minutes after Ramirez was introduced and given a Blue Crew T-shirt, the crowd began leaving the arena.

The appointed emcee was not as popular as the University Board had hoped when they booked him for the event.

Microphone problems and general disinterest also hindered the production.

Emily Himpelmann, sophomore nutrition major, was one of the many students who felt this way.

“He would have been a good two years ago, but now he’s a little late,” Himpelmann said. “I wasn’t sure what to expect, but his performance definitely let me down.”

The crowd in the arena became noticeably thin by 9 p.m., only moments after Ramirez took the floor, where he hyped the crowd and tried to dazzle the audience with his harmonica playing.

Aside from the standard procedures of a homecoming emcee, Ramirez only talked briefly about himself and his career.

“I honestly couldn’t understand half of what was said,” said Justin Susala, a junior business major.

“Did you vote for me?” asked Ramirez in his Pedro voice. “Cause if you voted for me all your wildest dreams will come true.”

The rally, which was not poorly attended, lacked the excitement of last year’s pep rally, where Dennis Haskins – also known as “Saved by the Bell’s” Mr. Belding – hosted to a record number attendance and an overwhelming response.

Among the other emcees the University Board considered for this year were Hulk Hogan and Danielle Fishel (who played Topanga on “Boy Meets World”). However, scheduling and expenses led the UB to ultimately choose Ramirez.

“I’d even rather see Mr. Belding again,” Susala said.

At 9:15 nearly half the audience had left.

Other facets of the pep rally kept the crowd entertained.

Cheerleaders, Pink Panthers, other various dance squads and even the football players gave spirited performances and wooed the crowd.

A group of Eastern football players dressed in drag coordinated a comedic routine with the Pink Panthers.

Efren Ramirez plays a harmonica while emceeing Friday night’s homecoming pep rally in Lantz Arena. Eric Hiltner/The Daily Eastern News

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