Every year on campuses across America one tradition brings together people both young and old. The tradition I’m speaking of is Homecoming, one of my favorite times of the year. Every year, here at Illinois State, the theme may be different, but the feelings are the same. Homecoming is all about students, alumni, and faculty coming together to celebrate one thing, and that’s their Alma mater.
Most schools have an entire homecoming week where fun events take place. These events can sometimes seem really lame, but they can be fun if you go with the right people and actually give it a chance. My favorite event that my school does is a little something called redbirds rumble, which is a series of team competitions such as tug-of-war, 3 legged races, and my personal favorite, frozen T’s – where members of a team must get a t-shirt from the middle of a block of ice. This event sounds easy enough, but there are always challenges that judges can throw in to make it a little harder and a lot more fun.
The morning of Homecoming is when the real fun begins: Yes, you have to get out of bed earlier than usual, but it’s all for a good reason. First off the homecoming parade: this event allows student athletes and groups to march around town and have a good time. In most cases there’s a pregame to the parade which includes the classic kegs and eggs scenario, but if not it can still be a good time. It’s only the beginning…the real fun has yet to come.
After walking around town giving candy to children and waving like your life depended on it, it’s time for the tailgate. Tailgating is a big part of homecoming at any school. Students get out there bright and early to start the day off right. Everyone is rocking their school colors with shirts, hats, and sometimes even body paint if they have enough school spirit. Tailgating lasts until the game begins, but for some it doesn’t stop there. It’s common for some students to continue to tailgate throughout the course of the game until it’s time to go home, but the entire time they are cheering for their team.
Finally this brings us to the most integral part of the homecoming activities, the football game. Whether or not your team is any good or not, you swear up and down that you will beat your opponents and really that’s what homecoming is all about, school spirit and making your alumni feel like they never left.
