Hester Street is painted, the dorms are decorated, and you find yourself in the pomping room more than the classroom. All of these things can only mean one thing: Homecoming Week. We attend the school that is famous for America’s Greatest Homecoming. Little did we know what we were getting ourselves into (#12hoursofpomping). 

Before I came to this wonderful town of Stillwater, I had no idea just what the spirit of homecoming meant. This was probably because in my neck of the woods (Texas), homecoming meant spending a ridiculous amount of money on a mum and keeping your fingers crossed that you or your best friend would make it on the homecoming court. 

For all you hondos out there, I’m here to remind you of those good times (hopefully not when you peaked) and why the college days are even better.  

Decorating 

Decorating for high school homecoming usually consisted of using massive amounts of colored butcher paper from the art room, making the perfect signs for the pep rally and blowing up enough balloons to fill the gym for the dance. We can’t forget about tagging all of the football team’s cars while they were in practice, either. 

College brings decorating to a whole new level. I tend to laugh when my friends from other universities complain about decorating a float for their homecoming parade or their homecoming traditions in general. A float; really? How about helping put together a massive transformer in the front lawn? 

The pride doesn’t stop at the house decks either. The painting of Hester Street, Residential Hall decorating and the sign contest on Library Lawn all put our high school homecoming spirit (along with the spirit of every other university's homecoming) to shame. Go Pokes, am I right? 

Homecoming Court 

I would like to believe that most high schools have a fair system of nominating the homecoming court. However, I have heard stories about high schools where the football team handpicked the girls to be nominated. No matter what the case may have been for your high school, I am glad to attend a university where the homecoming royalty members are men and women who exhibit true pride for OSU. 

Those who make it to the homecoming court must go through an extensive application and interview process. The winners of the crown have the responsibility to return to the following year’s celebration and crown the new the winners. Similarly to high school, tiaras and sashes are still involved. It wouldn’t be right without them.  

The After-Party

In high school, the night after homecoming was even more important than the football game. Why? Because of the homecoming dance. A less intense, yet just as important, version of prom, the homecoming dance was always the highlight of my weekend in high school. Who cares about a football game when I need to be getting beauty rest for the thousands of pictures that will be taken? 

Now, if the football game is in the morning, we take a power nap before we begin the night’s activities. 21 year-olds get to cross over the holy threshold, also known as Murphy’s. The rest of us spend our evenings celebrating with our homecoming pairing partners. Because win or lose, we still… enjoy our night.  

No matter what your high school traditions consisted of, there’s no way that they can compare to the traditions that we are a part of now. From pomping, to the Harvest Carnival, to the crowded streets at walkarounds, I am so glad that my traditions have graduated into America’s Greatest Homecoming celebration.