Homecoming
While Homecoming may look different due to COVID-19, Auburn students still look forward to the festivites like crowning a new homecoming queen. Miss Homecoming 2020 will be announced during the halftime game against Tennessee. Homecoming candidates include Madison Birckhead, Alicia Peralta, Barrett Ramsey, Brooks Triplett, and Kelsey Wynee. Voting will take place on November 20 from 7:00 A.M. – 7:00 P.M. Central Time at aub.ie/sgavote. More information on elections and the candidates can be found on the Auburn SGA Website.
--
2019 article as seen in Glomerata 123 Edition
Homecoming on the Plains is a time-honored tradition for current students and alumni alike. Each year, the week-long celebration brings joy to all, marking an important part of the year for the Auburn family. As in years past, students enjoyed a week of activities and excitement around campus, topped off with a stellar performance by the football team on Saturday evening.
To begin the week’s festivities, a joint kick-off for all five Miss Homecoming candidates was held on Monday afternoon on the Campus Green. Mary Stewart, Sophie Brint, Caroline Mathews, Alison Beverly and Maggie Hightower each outlined their platform to fellow students. After the kick-off event, the candidates began working to garner support, standing out on the concourse with their friends handing out freebies and speaking to anyone who would stop to listen. Early on Friday morning, the chaos of election day began, and the various campaigns assumed their posts around campus for the day, waiting to ask any passersby for a vote.
Friday evening, streets were blocked off while students and alumni lined up along College Street to watch the cheerleaders, Tiger Paws and band lead the Homecoming Parade in an array of Auburn cheers, chants and fight songs. Next came each of the candidates, smiling and waving while riding in sleek convertibles. Then followed various campus organizations, many of which made elaborate floats for the annual Omicron Delta Kappa float-building contest. Finally came Aubie on a fire truck, waving at all his adoring fans. The parade ended at Samford Lawn, where the pep rally was held. The pep rally entailed music and dancing for all, with performances by the band and the Tiger Paws. Each member of the court spoke to the crowd, getting everyone excited for the next day’s events. Caroline Snow, a freshman on the dance line and a participant in both the parade and the pep rally says, “It was such an amazing experience to see the Auburn community come together to celebrate homecoming.”
Saturday’s festivities began early, with tailgaters across campus firing up their grills, enjoying great food and fellowship in the hours leading up to the game. As the sun began to set, fans began filing into the stadium to get a good seat for the game. Despite the evening start time, it was still over 90 degrees in the student section; everyone made sure to pick up a water bottle from the concession stand on their way in. Auburn dominated from the kickoff, going into the locker room with a comfortable 24-10 lead at the half. During halftime, President Gogue and the homecoming court took the field, and the crowd roared as Mary Stewart was announced as Miss Homecoming. Stewart’s platform focused on her partnership with Special Deliveries of Lee County, an organization that works to educate mothers on proper child care and prevent child abuse and neglect. “When my name was called I completely went into shock,” she said. “It was such an honor to even be nominated that actually winning seemed too good to be true. I talked to my dad after and he said he was so nervous for me he didn’t even hear my name! He only knew I won by how excited I was! After the shock wore off it was pure joy getting to see my team, family, and friends and celebrate that all of our hard work had paid off!” During halftime, the crowd was given a lively performance from the marching band. The football team kept their momentum when they returned to the field after the half, and the game ended with a final score of 55-16. Auburn fans ended the victorious homecoming week by rolling the trees at Toomer’s corner, a worthy conclusion to a week of spirit on the plains.
By George Cowles
Photos by Madeleine Ellison