This weekend’s homecoming football game and festivities have come and gone.
And, as in year’s past, we fear this year’s events were dominated too much by competition among student groups instead of the desired focus of school spirit.
Each year, fraternities, sororities and other student organizations form groups to compete in a series of events, including building a float, chalking a piece of sidewalk on the South Oval and performing a dance, among others events.
This year, however, six greek organizations that normally compete in the events decided instead to pool their homecoming funds and put on a children’s carnival. Also this year, the theme was a little different, in that it focused on remembering favorite OU traditions.
While these things helped make the homecoming events less about brutal competition, this type of competition between student groups did occur, and that is unfortunate because homecoming should be a time when the entire OU community comes together.
We are not saying this unity did not occur, and we realize many students worked hard, giving much of their time to organize and participate in homecoming.
But instances of students waiting until halftime of the football game to see the announcement of the homecoming competition winners and then leaving the game were frustrating.
What can be done to alleviate these problems? We don’t know. Perhaps nothing.
But we would like to encourage students to think about what the true meaning of homecoming should be. It’s an event designed to foster school spirit. Despite our allegiances to different student groups, we are all members of the OU community.
This love of our university is what will inspire us to return to Norman after we graduate. Just remember that when we do come back, we won’t care about the student group rivalries that exist. Instead, we will care about fond memories of our time here at OU.
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WOW! This is not only impertinent and boring, it is senseless.
I totally agree. I was more than just a bit bothered by the fact that nearly 300 people got up and left at half time when the game was very much not over. I believe it was about 21-7 or something like that at the half which is not a decided game like we normally had with 45-0 in the past.
If I noticed, I'm sure the football players noticed and that would have had to be a terrible feeling.
Also, on a football note, I think it's sad to see how many people didn't show up for the game since were not ranked. I think it's sad that so many people show up when were in the top 5 but no one shows up when were unranked for a bit. We have an amazing team regardless of our rank. I mean, hey, we could alway be Missouri.
ummm false.
In Homecoming's defense I have to disagree with the majority of this article. Yes, there is a high degree of competition in the air but most of this charged energy is there to encourage student participation. Because let's face it, the student organizations that mostly compete in Homecoming are the same students that support the school the most.
And I don't know if you were actually at this year's pep rally but that was the most school spirit I've felt for a long time. Being in McCasland field house with all those studnets cheering for one another and chanting BOOMER SOONER is one of the reasons why I love Homecoming and all that it brings forth.
And Lastly concerning the game, yes attendance has suffered because of our three losses this season and yes there are fairweather fans but let's not forget that the game did take place on Halloween night, one of the biggest party nights of the year. I am a recent May '09 graduate and I have came to every home game this year driving for more than two hours each way. I am not what you would call a fair weather fan by any means but I too left at halftime because all though I love my sooner football team and supporting them I also enjoy spending time with college fans, and celebrating all Hallow's Eve. So if you'll excuse me for being one of those people that you saw leaving the game at halftime but OU spirit is about much more than just the football team, and regardless of their AP standing I will always support and cheer on my SOONERS, near or far.
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