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Homecoming starts this week UAB Celebrates “Growing Through the Decades”

Posted on Nov 03, 2009 in News

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“Homecoming Week 2009” is now in full swing, with events each day leading up to the homecoming game on Saturday, Nov. 7 against Florida Atlantic University. This year’s theme, “Growing through the Decades, Blazing toward Tomorrow,” honors UAB’s 40th anniversary.

Beginning on Sunday, Nov. 1, campus will come alive with multiple events held in honor of homecoming.

Homecoming celebrations feature newer events like Pancakes and Karaoke combined with traditions such as the Gurney Derby and the parade.

“The goals of the events are to get people out there socializing and to promote the Blazer spirit,” said Emily Craig, 2009 Homecoming Chair.

Craig believes homecoming is important to UAB because “it is a great way to bring the community and the university together for a week.” She said the most popular event is the Homecoming Stomp-Down, scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. in the Campus Recreation Center. Student groups compete by performing dances, step shows and skits.
On Wednesday, the committee is hosting the Blazin’ Cookout at 12:30 in the Mini Park immediately following the Gurney Derby Race at 12. The Gurney Derby features groups of students and staff dressed up in costumes racing down 13th Street.

Wednesday will also feature a new event added this year — Casino Night held at 7 p.m. in Hill University Center.
“Casino Night had been tried before a few years ago but this year we decided to bring it back, try it again, and really promote it,” said Craig.

Another homecoming tradition, “Blaze the Night Pep Rally and Bonfire,” will be held Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Mini Park. The homecoming parade will be Friday at noon and will feature floats, the Blazer Marching Band and Janice Rogers from Fox 6 News as the grand marshal. The highlight of the week, the homecoming game, will begin at 1 p.m. at Legion Field with tailgating beginning at 11 a.m.

During halftime the winners of Mr. and Ms. UAB 2009 will be announced. This year’s winners will be chosen by students for the first time. On Nov. 2 and 3 students will be able to log in to BlazerNet to cast their votes, which will make up 14 percent of the final score to decide who wins.

Craig said the goals of homecoming are “to have great events that run smoothly, have tons of people at all of them, promote Blazer spirit, and of course, win the football game.” Devin Joubran, a junior, said he is looking forward to Homecoming Week because he likes any event with free food. This year’s Homecoming Committee used creative ways to publicize the week’s events, including life-size birthday cake cut-outs, magnets, gum packets and posters, all with the events of the week listed. Josh Wilson, a member of the Homecoming Committee, said that with the variety of publicity he hopes “every student will have an opportunity to experience the joy of homecoming. “

Although UAB is 40 years old, homecoming has not been around for very long. According to Tim Pennycuff, UAB archivist, homecoming originally started in January 1979 during basketball season, with the first Mr. and Ms. UAB contest in 1981. Pennycuff said homecoming wasn’t moved to football season until 1994, which he attributes to the fact that UAB did not play its first intercollegiate football game until September 1991.

For updates on homecoming and a full schedule of events, visit the official blog: http://blogs.uab.edu/homecoming.
 

Email: hncaygle@uab.edu

 




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