By Staff Writer: Cristina Boluda Piqueras
Last week was homecoming for the Greyhounds. This year’s theme was “Greyhounds in Paradise,” and it ran from October 20 to 25. Various activities took place throughout the week, culminating on Saturday with an athletic event.
The athletic events that took place on campus last week began with women’s soccer on Wednesday the 22nd, playing against Angelo State at the stadium at 6 p.m. This was followed on Friday the 24th with the volleyball match against UT Dallas in the arena, after which the pep rally and bonfire took place outside. Saturday the 25th was the big day with the football game against Western New Mexico Mustangs at 3 p.m. Before the game, there was a tailgate in the stadium parking lot and a parade in the streets of Portales.
As we can see, homecoming integrated athletics, not just the other activities on campus. Football was not the only important thing going on for athletics, it also included other athletics programs. The calendar indicated that several sports, including football, volleyball, and soccer, were featured during the day’s activities.
Alumni, students, the community, and the sports teams were brought together by the tailgate, pep rally, and bonfire. Sports activities become a part of a broader campus tradition when the community attends, alumni return, the parade, and other festivities take place.