Homecoming Week offers something for everyone

A new tide has rolled in this semester, bringing with it a number of changes to the University that are commemorated in the 2007 Homecoming theme, "New Additions, Tide with Old Traditions."

"The theme came from all of the new additions to our school this year," said Lindsay Licata, SGA Homecoming executive director.

While Licata said the new football coach is an important change to the University, the SGA said they wanted to concentrate on other things as well as new Crimson Tide football head coach Nick Saban.

"We didn't just want to focus on him," she said. "But we wanted to throw him in there, as well as CrimsonRide and how well our school is doing academically."

The SGA wants to change the image of Homecoming in keeping with the changes made to the University.

"Our biggest goal this year is just to get as many diverse groups involved as possible," Licata said. "I know it has an image of being mainly for greeks, but we are trying hard not to make it like that this year."

As illustrated in the theme, Homecoming festivities will include all of the old favorites from years past but will also feature a new pie and chicken wing-eating contest, an improved Battle of the Bands concert and the first paid-admission Homecoming concert since Alan Jackson played in 1998.

In line with old traditions, the Spirit Cup will again be awarded at halftime of the Homecoming game to the UA organization with the most Spirit Points.

Spirit Points will be given out for placing in each of the following Homecoming festivities, including the traditional "Paint the Town Red," the choreography contest, the bowling tournament, the basketball tournament, the dodgeball tournament, the Homecoming parade and the lawn decorations contest. Spirit Points will also be given out for participation in the Roll Tide Run event, the Homecoming parade and for attending the Battle of the Bands.

The first of the week's events, the 19th annual Roll Tide Run, took place on Sunday at 2 p.m., which allowed UA students to run a 10K or walk two miles.

Monday's festivities include "Paint the Town Red," in which student organizations are assigned to local businesses to decorate their windows with Homecoming-themed scenes; the Banner Competition, in which student organizations create banners for Saturday's game; and a bowling tournament at Bama Bowl from 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.

The Homecoming Week service project will also kick off today, with all proceeds going to Cornerstone Schools in Birmingham. Students can donate by using their ACTion cards where Homecoming shirts are sold or by writing a check to the University for the Homecoming Service Project.

Tuesday's activities include Homecoming queen elections from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; the debut of the pie and chicken wing-eating contest at noon with the location to be announced; the annual SGA Homecoming basketball tournament at the Student Recreation Center; and the Urban Comedy Show in the Ferguson Center Ballroom. Both the basketball tournament and Urban Comedy Show will take place at 7 p.m.

The dodgeball tournament will take place on Wednesday at the Student Recreation Center at 7 p.m.

Thursday's events include the Banner Competition judging at 5 p.m.; the choreography contest at 7 p.m. at Coleman Coliseum, during which members of student organizations show their school spirit through choreographed dance routines; and the Battle of the Bands, which will follow the Choreography Contest at 8 p.m.

The third annual Battle of the Bands event will feature five bands competing to win a spot opening for this year's Homecoming act, DAUGHTRY, on Friday night.

"Last year's Battle of the Bands wasn't as big as we wanted it to be," Licata said. "So this year we moved it to Coleman and are including rock bands and alternative rock bands in addition to others."

Licata said five bands are scheduled to play but they are working on extending the time frame to include more bands.

Friday will feature the lawn decorations and "Paint the Town Red" judging at noon and the pep rally and bonfire from 7 to 9 p.m. on the Quad.

The lawn decorations have been a long-time staple of Homecoming Week and consist of various organizations decorating their lawns to be judged on use of materials, theme, creativity, neatness and overall effect.

"[Lawn decorating has] been around for a while," Licata said. "We have black and white Corolla pictures dating back to the 1950s. Lawn decorating is something that people always enjoy."

Though lawn decorating is prevalent among sororities, non-greek organizations also participate, such as the Computer-Based Honors Program and various residence halls, Licata said.

During the pep rally, the 2007 Homecoming Queen will be presented as well as the 2007 Grand Marshall Bart Starr, a former UA football player and Green Bay Packers player who helped the Packers win five NFL titles and two Super Bowl Championships.

Licata said Starr is a great person to serve as this year's Homecoming grand marshall.

"We felt like he met all the qualifications of a UA alum," she said. "He is a great football player, he is active in the community and an all-around nice guy. Plus, he is in the Alabama Hall of Fame."

Following the pep rally and bonfire, students can head to Coleman Coliseum for University Programs Homecoming concert, which will begin at 9 p.m.

A plan for transporting people from the Quad to Coleman for the concert is in the works and should be finalized today, according to sources.

Saturday, the final day of Homecoming Week, will begin with the Homecoming Parade line-up at 7 a.m., during which Starr will prepare UA students to walk from downtown Tuscaloosa back to campus at 9 a.m.

The 2007 Homecoming Week will conclude Saturday at the Alabama vs. Houston Homecoming game, which will begin at 2 p.m.