No where else can you experience a massive bonfire, pep rally, the largest collegiate parade, and great football--all in the same weekend.
What I love most about Baylor Homecoming is the long, rich history of tradition. To date, Baylor has celebrated Bears coming home for 103 years.
It's my senior year, and I can't help but to get a little emotional when I think about the past four homecomings I've experienced. Freshman year, I went to Freshman Mass Meeting. I learned about the significance of the Immortal 10 and stayed up way too late dancing to Michael Jackson music, while building the bonfire with some of the girls in my dorm. I was a little sleep deprived the next morning in Scriptures class.
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Immortal Ten Ceremony
Freshman year |
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Freshman Mass Meeting
Freshman year |
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Building the bonfire with my roommate, Stormy
Freshman year |
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Building the bonfire
Freshman year |
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Bonfire
Freshman year |
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Bonfire with my friend Lauren. We both lived in NORO.
Freshman year |
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100 year celebration
Freshman year |
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At the Homecoming parade with Corrin and Lauren
Freshman year |
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Running the line
Freshman year |
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Corrin and I with Bruiser
Sophomore year |
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Meagan and I at the parade
Sophomore year |
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At the bonfire with Momal, Hannah, and Mom
Junior year |
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ADPi's float: The Mad Tea Party
Junior year |
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ADPi's float with Lauren and Kaitlyn
Junior year |
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ADPi's Float with Hannah
Junior year |
Every year is different in its own way, but the homecoming celebrations remain constant. At the pep rally, Patt Neff shines bright green as shimmery fireworks explode from the side of the building. The bonfire's heat is strong and visible as orange and yellow flames reach to scary heights.
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Fireworks at the pep rally
Freshman year |
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The family at the bonfire
Senior year |
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The bonfire
Senior year |
The next morning, the cool crisp early air hits your face, as you leave your apartment in pitch black to reserve front row spots on the curb for your family and friends. Then there's the rush of excitement and anticipation of waiting for your float to come sauntering down 5th street.
Memories of messy paper mache, monotonous "pomping" of bright colored tissue paper, and tireless cutting of cardboard leafs all culminate to this one rush. I'm snapping all the pictures I can from the sidelines, trying to take it all in, and making sure my family gets a good look at it, too. I'm also sizing up the other floats...they get credit, but ours is always the best to me. After looking up at all the floats for a couple of hours, it's time to go the game.
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ADPi's float: Baylor in Paradise
Senior year |
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The family at Floyd Casey Stadium
Senior year |
A Bear Dog with mustard and relish, accompanied by a Diet Dr. Pepper serves for lunch. Then it's sic 'em bears and a beautiful performance from the band. After we win, we go scout out more food. George's is always a game day favorite; you can order a Big 'O everything. Another Baylor homecoming has passed.
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The family at Floyd Casey Stadium
Senior year |
When I go to Baylor Homecoming next year, I will be an alumnae. The year 2013 will be very different, but I'll come back home to Baylor, and it will all be the same. Sic 'em.
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Pep Rally
Senior year |
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