Best of Florida Schools 2004
Best Homecoming

Best Homecoming
Sweet Home, College Campus
There’s only one “Best of Florida Schools” category where medieval knights, Madonna look-a-likes, and two-stepping cowboys face off for bragging rights—Best Homecoming. This is the one category that gets the entire campus pumped to the point that they’re flaunting their school spirit like the splayed plumage of a peacock.

Students at the University of Central Florida jousted their competition out of the way with their new-and-improved eight-day homecoming bash, “Knightmare.” Looking to kick off the celebration with a bang, Director of Homecoming James Fisher worked in collaboration with Axis Magazine to organize a concert featuring recording artists Uncle Kracker and Sean Paul. “We closed down Church Street in downtown Orlando and set up a stage,” Fisher says. “From there, the event just blossomed.” Around 9,500 students and community members packed the streets for the event.

The following week included other UCF traditions like “Movie Knight,” “Skit Knight,” and “Comedy Knight,”—when student organizations teamed up with professional entertainers to put on a show for the thousands in attendance.

In preparation for the big homecoming game on Saturday, about 8,000 fun-seekers participated in one of the school’s oldest and most favored traditions, “Spirit Splash.” Faculty, alumni, and students jumped into the campus reflecting pond for an afternoon of soggy fun. While enjoying entertainment provided by the school band, cheerleaders, and the mascot Knightro, participants faced distractions like bouncing beach balls, passing toy boats, and tons of airborne freebies. “The whole event is great,” says Director of Student Affairs Jill Painter. “It’s hilarious to see the whole band in the pond with their giant tubas and drums.”

After a long week of planning and organizing, one would think that the weary Student Government members would enjoy a good night’s rest before the big homecoming game. However, several officers had to stand by throughout the night to oversee the construction of all the parade floats. “Then, with no energy in us, we lined up over 100 units for our parade through downtown Orlando,” Fisher says. Featuring UCF’s own Miss America, Erica Dunlap, as the parade’s grand marshal, the event drew the attention of more than 10,000 spectators and several TV stations and newspapers. “The student leaders selected to set up these events put their hearts and months of time into creating this week,” Fisher says. “I think it all really paid off.”

Although UCF takes the cake for best overall homecoming week, the students at Jacksonville University earned the title of best theme with their “Old School Homecoming.” Busting out the hair crimpers, blue eyeshadow, ripped jeans, and Chuck Taylor All-Stars, students spent a nostalgic week reverting to forgotten fashions of yesteryear. “It was all about going back to when we were in elementary school and junior high,” says Katie Bohn, director of Dolphin Productions, the student programming board.

Throughout the week, students participated in traditional JU homecoming events—with an Old School twist. Their field games day included Ultimate Twister and tug-of-war, while their movie night on the football field featured the recent blockbuster Old School. Then, students lip-synched to popular ‘80s tunes in the time-honored “Mock-Rock Competition,” which ended with a pep rally and fireworks show.

On the day of the big game, JU held a huge tailgating carnival where students could dunk faculty members by throwing pies, win a goldfish by tossing a ping-pong ball into its bowl, or feel like a kid again by gliding down a big blow-up slide.

Although exhausted from a long week of homecoming fun, everyone went all out in preparation for the Old School dance after the game. Seeking puffy old prom dresses and tacky leisure suits, students raided nearby thrift stores. “So many people were going to a local Goodwill that they actually gave JU students a discount,” Bohn says. While it was fun rocking out to Vanilla Ice, New Kids on the Block, and other ‘80s favorites, students agreed that seeing each other dressed up was the highlight of the evening.

To add a touch of genuine Old School flavor to the event, the SG invited actor Dennis Haskins, who played Principal Belding on the popular sitcom Saved by the Bell. Students dressed up like characters Screech and Kelly to make him feel at home. “Everyone looked hideous—it was awesome,” Bohn says.

Instead of going Old School, students at the University of West Florida decided to go Old West with their unique homecoming event, “Two-Steppin’ Tuesday.” Donning boots, hats, and anything with fringe, hundreds of wannabe cowboys showed up to flex their dancing muscles. Instructors led them through dances like the tush push, watermelon crawl, electric slide, and of course, the two-step.

This 10-year-old tradition is the focal point of the entire homecoming week, drawing hundreds of members from the local community as well. To accommodate non-dancers and wallflowers, the Special Events Committee of the Campus Activity Board invited the Chick-fil-A Cow to provide some additional entertainment and refreshments. “Pull on your boots, grab your hat, and join us for the party,” says Tara Christie, CAB advisor.

By Chelsea Greenwood

Contact Fisher at ucfhc@mail.ucf.edu, Painter at jpainter@mail.ucf.edu, Bohn at kbohn@ju.edu, or Christie at ucprogl@uwf.edu.

Copyright © 2006 Oxendine Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved