Lindsey Wilson University Blue Raider Band, Singers Collaborate 'On the Hill of Lindsey Wilson'

Musical ensembles celebrate alma mater before Lindsey Wilson-Ave Maria football game, which Blue Raiders won 52-6.

by Duane Bonifer

COLUMBIA, Ky. (09/06/2026) — Lindsey Wilson University's Jennifer Bersaglia and Robert Palmer are working to revive a Blue Raider tradition.

During Saturday night's pregame activities before the Blue Raiders' football game against Ave Maria (Florida) University at Parnell Family Stadium, Bersaglia took the Lindsey Wilson Singers onto the field to perform the school alma mater, "On the Hill of Lindsey Wilson," with the Blue Raider Band, which is directed by Palmer.

It was the first time the two musical ensembles have performed "On the Hill of Lindsey Wilson" together. Palmer had the idea of performing the song together, but what he didn't know is that both he and Bersaglia, both of whom arrived at Lindsey Wilson in summer 2025, had been searching for a copy of the school alma mater, which was written more than 80 years ago.

Part of the school's fabric

The alma mater was once performed at nearly all Lindsey Wilson events, but it faded in popularity and frequency during the latter part of the 20th century. Bersaglia and Palmer say that Saturday night's performance before more than 1,300 fans is part of a plan to help reintroduce the song to Lindsey Wilson culture.

"It's kind of neat that we both see the value of the tradition of performing the alma mater and the important role it plays in the school's fabric," said Bersaglia, who is director of choral activities, which includes the Lindsey Wilson Singers. "The alma mater has got to be an important part of school spirit."

Palmer said "it was great to be part of a historic night."

Saturday was also the first time since Lindsey Wilson revived football in 2010 that the Lindsey Wilson Singers and the Blue Raider Band had performed the National Anthem together at Parnell Family Stadium.

"I said to her that this would be a unique opportunity, so let's do it," said Palmer, who is director of university bands. "And then I said, as long as we have you on the field, let's perform the National Anthem as well."

The one thing Bersaglia and Palmer might not have expected when the collaboration was planned was that Saturday afternoon's sweltering weather lingered into the evening. The region was under a heat advisory, issued by the National Weather Service, during the day. Even though the mercury was no longer threatening to push into triple digits during the pregame activities, humidity as thick as an unmowed field -- back when football was played on grass -- still hung over the stadium.

"The heat is high, but so is the energy," said Palmer about 40 minutes before the performance.

Bersaglia noted that high relative humidity is not necessarily a bad thing for vocalists. She pointed out that opera singers are known to wear face humidifiers and wrap their throats with a scarf before a performance, even in warm weather. But the conditions of Columbia's balmy late-summer evening were enough to prepare the members of the Lindsey Wilson Singers to perform two songs on Saturday night.

Football team wins 52-6

It was also a big night for the Blue Raider football team as NAIA No. 6-ranked Lindsey Wilson rolled over Ave Maria 52-6 in only 49 minutes and 49 seconds of play. With 10:11 remaining in the fourth quarter, the game was called due to lightning in the area. Lindsey Wilson rolled up 500 total yards, which led to seven touchdowns and a field goal; the Blue Raider defense held the visiting Gyrenes to 153 total yards and two field goals. Lindsey Wilson improves to 2-0 on the season and Ave Maria opens the season 0-1.

The Blue Raiders hit the road for the first of three road games on Saturday, Sept. 12. Lindsey Wilson travels to Jackson, Ohio, to play the University of Rio Grande (Ohio) at 2:30 p.m. CT at Holzer Field at Alumni Stadium. Lindsey Wilson's next home game is Oct. 3 against Campbellsville (Kentucky) University.

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