BU Homecoming 2011

[Warning: This is a picture-heavy post!]

This past weekend was Baylor University's 102nd Homecoming. The oldest in the nation, it's a massive event with thousands of people celebrating school pride.

My small, private liberal arts university in Washington did not have such a large homecoming. Besides being significantly smaller, no homecoming is quite like Baylor's.

I tried to document with plenty of photos so you can celebrate along with me! It's a fantastic experience.

Friday night is the pep rally and bonfire. Although it's nothing like Texas A&M's (although we've never accidentally killed bystanders so I think we win), it's a massive contained bonfire made out of wooden shipping pallets.

A group of friends that Nick went to undergraduate with, at the bonfire.

This is the second bonfire Nick and I have attended while dating. He was supposed to actually be out of town and changed his plans so we could go together. Sweet, right?

I wore my green for the Bears! Sic 'em!

Saturday morning is the homecoming parade, before the afternoon football game. Baylor's parade is the largest homecoming parade in the nation, which is hard to believe until you actually attend.

Nick and me prior to the parade (notice how Nick is in the SOLOeyewear TWoods I won?).

You can see the sheer number of people, and this is just a small portion of the parade (the parade starts in downtown and goes all the way into campus). I accidentally told Nick an hour before it really started, but it worked out well for us because we got to place our seats right at the front and didn't have to stand.

The only float that floats in the parade, the Baylor Bear. Sic 'em!

The sororities and fraternities spend thousands of dollars to make their floats and to win prizes (I don't actually know if they win a prize or just the title of winning). Regardless, they're creative, witty, and massive works of art. Some of my favorites included...

A Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory-themed float

...that had a chocolate fountain. Awesome!

Lots of Bears vs. Tigers (Mizzou's mascot and our homecoming opponents) fights, with the Bears winning.

Green and Gold Rush-themed float (Gold Rush is promotion at Baylor with $7 gold t-shirts that everybody wears at particular games), with a moving cart on tracks.

And my favorite, a fraternity's big Radio Flyer wagon that was "pulled" (towed, but had a big handle that members held). It had a bunch of old-school toys in it (like giant Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots, with the loser's head popping up), but by far the best part with the moving Mario playing on the Pretendo SAMETOY. Genius.

The wittiest--and cruelest--float was titled Two By Two Except Mizzou and was Noah's Ark-themed. However, the Mizzou Tiger got left behind. It's hilarious Christian and not Christian at the same time, and fantastically witty.

A fairytale-themed float, which was okay, but had a witty poem on the back that Nick and I enjoyed (Robert, AKA RG3, is our super amazing quarterback that outshines practically everybody, and Kendall Wright is our fantastic inside receiver).

My love and I after the parade

So that's a Baylor homecoming! I didn't attend the game because it started late, it was cold, and I was worried about becoming sick (which sadly occurred anyway), but you can see how big of a deal homecoming is in Waco, TX. Sic 'em, Bears!

Lastly, have you voted for Chase and Ashley? They're currently in 3rd Place; please help them move to 1st!

What's your favorite part about your high school/college/university's homecoming?