It’s homecoming week for the University of Wyoming, which means it’s time to show why “the world needs more cowboys!” The celebration started with free t-shirts and pizza, and it will end on Saturday with the UW vs. Utah football game in War Memorial Stadium. In between was an array of events to entertain students and faculty, and to show the Cowboy pride.
First there was a Horseshoe Scavenger Hunt. Students were challenged to find hidden horseshoes around campus all week with clues being posted on ASUW social media each day. Every individual who brought in a horseshoe to the ASUW office was given a prize. On Wednesday night there was a special dinner in Washakie where the first 250 students were let in without needing to swipe their student ID’s. Next followed an assembly in front of Orr Hall where a Pep Rally formed, which traveled all the way to the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts Concert Hall for the Homecoming Sing. This sing event was an entertaining show of UW student groups, consisting of three or more individuals, performing for their fellow pokes. The traditional Car Push was on Thursday, which consisted of teams under certain weight classifications pushing a car up the ramps of the War Memorial Stadium in order to win a UW banner. Finally, on Friday the ASUW will host their annual Pig Roast in Prexy’s Pasture full of pulled pork sandwiches, music and games.
Bailey Vogler, a UW junior transfer student from Nebraska, has been to almost every swing dancing event Thursday nights in the Union, and she used the Homecoming Dance to show off her newly perfected moves, especially with the live band making the audience more interactive with the music. Vogler also was a part of the Big Event where her and a few other individuals raked leaves up for an elderly couple. This was her first year participating and she states that she will definitely participate again next year. When asked about other events, though, she was not sure of what else there was around campus to join in on the Homecoming fever.
“I think the decorations in the Union have been really nice, but I don’t really know of any other events besides the dance and game on Saturday,” said Vogler. “I’m hoping for more free stuff! I feel like for homecoming week in other schools there is more stuff going on every day and that’s what makes it exciting, so even if it’s a small thing it would make homecoming more interactive and fun for students.”
Brennan Coppola, a freshman UW cheerleader, had the same opinion about advertising this week’s events. Since he is a cheerleader, Coppola will be in the Homecoming Parade on Saturday before the football game. The cheer team has been practicing their routines all week, per usual, and will have multiple appearances throughout the day Friday around campus to “hype up” the school spirit.
“I’m not one-hundred percent sure what we will do in the parade,” said Coppola in a recent interview, “but I think we will mostly call out cheers, and toss t-shirts and candy to people of all ages. Performance wise we will do our pregame performance at the gateway center and usual pregame with the band on the field alone with our run out with the football players.”
It’s been a stressful week, especially for athletes, according to Coppola, who have to practice more than usual and still be a full time student, but it will be a Homecoming for the books!
