By Beth Pullias and Tara Laskowski
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Homecoming Week is Feb. 11-16, 2013. The block party takes place on Feb. 16 at 1 p.m. in Lot K, and the basketball game against Georgia State begins at 4 p.m. in the Patriot Center, followed by a fireworks show over Mason Pond. See the full schedule of events online.
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Since the beginning, Mason’s Homecoming has experienced all sorts of weather — rain, snow, sleet, warm sun and crazy, unseasonable, unexpected temperatures —but festivities have never been cancelled.
At first, Mason celebrated Homecoming in the fall, with a soccer game as the focus. Although there may have been celebrations before, the 1990-91 Senior Expressions view book was the first to mention any type of Homecoming.
“Who said you can’t have Homecoming without a football team? 1990 proved to be more successful than many would have imagined,” read the opening line to the page spread in the view book. The page was filled with photos of former President George Johnson with the Homecoming court, the Masonettes’ dance team debut and a winning float called “Phantom of the Art Center” by Pi Kappa Sigma and Gamma Pi Beta.
A photo from the 1990-91 Senior Expressions view book shows former Mason President George Johnson with the Homecoming Royal Court
“I remember going to Homecoming soccer games where they had a handful of floats circling around the field,” says Mason alumnus Andy Gibson, BA History ’92 and Alumni Association director at-large. “I don’t recall much of a Homecoming experience when I was a student. For me the Homecoming experience has grown along with the success of the basketball program. It’s become a big family event — I have 12 family members coming this year — and it’s more than just a basketball game.”
In an effort to create a new tradition and build the basketball program, in 1999, a group of university administrators and stakeholders decided to switch the event from fall to winter to coincide with the basketball season. That same year, the men’s basketball team won the Colonial Athletic Association tournament. The Homecoming theme that year was “Hoop It Up.”
The potential for cold weather didn’t faze any of them. “Around the committee table we had people from Wisconsin, Montana and Buffalo,” says Chris Clark-Talley, associate vice president for alumni affairs, who served on the first winter Homecoming committee.
As winter Homecoming became a tradition at Mason, the tailgating before the big game also evolved. But the committee didn’t use the word “tailgating” — they decided on “block party.”
The Phantom of the Art Center Homecoming float by Pi Kappa Sigma and Gamma Pi Beta from the 1990-91 Senior Expressions view book
“We wanted to create a community experience that welcomed the entire university and encouraged alumni to come back,” Clark-Talley says. “There were examples on other college campuses, but we wanted to do it the Mason way. It is very gratifying to see how the tradition has developed into a major university event that continues to grow.”
For the first few years, the block party was just that: a party where people could reserve a block several parking spaces wide. There were approximately 200 people at the first block party; it’s been growing exponentially for the past 15 years.
The evolution continued with block party spaces and 10×10 tents for colleges and schools, called “college row.” The deans quickly became competitive to see who could have the best block party area— especially the School of Management and Volgenau School of Engineering.
In more recent years, college row was replaced with large heated tents. The Alumni Association continued this evolution by providing a central tent with food and giveaways where alumni and their families could reconnect with their deans and administrators as well as each other.
Some of the more serious groups who regularly attend the block party are known for their own traditions. Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity is known for roasting an entire pig. The Fairfax Social Club, alumni who love Mason basketball, have in prior years distinguished themselves by offering a big attraction, such as a tricycle race and a large slot track race with remote controls.
Even though the club doesn’t do the races anymore, they still get together for games and especially Homecoming.
“Homecoming is one of the few times the Fairfax Social Club has the opportunity to get together these days. Several of the members have moved away to other areas. While most of the guys are still busy with work and business travel, we still get out to the games and will be at Homecoming this year,” says Christopher Preston, BS Management ’96 and Alumni Association president-elect.
Six years ago, Student Involvement added what is now another block party tradition — the kid’s zone — which provides fun for future Patriots.
Patriots have fun at the Block Party despite the cold weather. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Creative Services
The block party isn’t the only thing that has evolved. What started as a few events before soccer Homecoming became a full week of events culminating in the game and post-game parties today. The pep rally to kick off the week used to take place on Fridays but four years ago was switched to Mondays at lunchtime in the Johnson Center.
This year, every day highlights a time period from the 1960s to today to promote the “Evolution of Greatness” theme.
“The activities that are planned by Patriot Activities Council [formerly Program Board] work to increase the school spirit on campus throughout the week of Homecoming,” says Dennis Hicks, associate director of Student Involvement. “It’s important that we share in the fun of and build those memorable moments at events like the annual talent show or the lip-sync contest — or even how they painted their faces green and gold and came to an event. It’s all about loving life as a Patriot and being proud of the school you chose to attend.”
The Alumni Association is encouraging alumni and friends to attend their events throughout the weekend. For the last seven years, on the eve of Homecoming, the Alumni Association has hosted a popular beer tasting. Three years ago, they added an after-party in the Mason Inn’s Grand Ballroom on Saturday night.
With the evolution of the block party, pep rally, themes and activities, one thing is still certain: Rain or shine, win or lose, Mason spirit has always been, and always will be, bigger and better every year.