Alumni find their way back to Laramie
Photo Credit to Eric Vigil
This week marks one of the most exciting in the school year for the University of Wyoming. School is in full swing, the first day of fall was Tuesday, Sept. 22 and football at the War is officially back for its second game this week. Most importantly, it’s homecoming week! Many annual events make their return this week, and we welcome alumni and all back to their old stomping grounds for a week full of excitement and nostalgia. Parades, social hours, tailgates, many athletic events all capped off by some Cowboy football.
Homecoming started at the University of Wyoming in October of 1922. Homecomings across the nation, while different in their own ways, are often centered around a football game, pep rallies and parades. UW started as a way to celebrate the new football field at the time, Corbett field, and give alumni a central place to come back and celebrate. Ever since, it has been a fall staple in Laramie.
According to an article published by the American Heritage Center, the official repository for UW Archives, “The purpose of Homecoming has always remained the same for the University of Wyoming. It will always serve as a way to reinforce Poke Pride for students, alums and the community.”
The week starts off at the Hansen Arena, the home of the UW rodeo team. The tribute to steamboat event happens on Wednesday. This is a barbeque dinner followed by vintage old west competitions like bronc riding and wild steer riding. Then, it is followed up by a country swing dance.The old west theme of this event is perfect for getting into your poke pride and cowboy roots.
Next up on the docket is a busy Friday, when most of the alumni will start rolling back into Laramie. The Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center, by the football stadium parking lot, is the central location for alumni and homecoming. Registered alumni will check in all day Friday here, receiving their swag and reconnecting with each other. The major milestone, the 50th club, hosts a dessert social for all alumni who graduated 50 years ago or more. This year, they welcome the class of 1976 to the club.
Friday night, homecoming happy hour is hosted at three locations. From 4-6 p.m Bonds Brewing, The Cowboy Saloon and the Gateway Center are all hosting happy hour. Then, Saturday, the parade happens. The parade this year starts on 9th street, goes down to Grand Avenue, then turns up on 3rd street and ends on 3rd and Bradley. The theme for this year is Cowboy fever. Expect to see a multitude of brown and gold on the route. After, the alumni tailgate at the Gateway Center begins, leading up to the football game.
There is a plethora of athletics events jam packed into Friday and Saturday. With the opening of the new aquatic center, Swimming and Diving is hosting two intersquad events. Friday night at 5:30 p.m, Brown, Gold & Old. Saturday at 9:00 a.m they will host Brown vs. Gold. Volleyball takes on UTEP in a double header. 6:30 p.m Friday, and 6:00 p.m. Saturday.
Of course, this all builds up to the main event. Wyoming Cowboy Football hosts the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Fans are asked to wear gold and gold out the stadium. Homecoming week will be filled with Poke Pride from the minute alumni come back to the minute they ride off into the sunset.
