Leila Durmaz is a journalism freshman and Mustang Daily freshman columnist.
I came from a high school with minimal school spirit.
You know how some high schools have spirit weeks where every day has a theme such as “Twin Day” or “Disney Day,” and everyone dresses up to match the theme? Well, that wasn’t my high school. Maybe 20 percent of my high school — if that — actually dressed up.
Football games weren’t fun unless you had friends who were playing, but then again, it’s always more exciting when you are friends with the guy who scores the touchdown. I’m not trying to hate on my high school (I actually enjoyed it), but we definitely were not one of the most spirited high schools. Because of this, I was never really into the pep rallies the school put on and — not going to lie — I didn’t have much school spirit either. It’s because of this that the first home football game at Cal Poly was a huge change in environment.
Most — if not all — Week of Welcome groups went to the game against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits (what is a jackrabbit anyway?). Seeing thousands of students all dressed in green and gold (even if they were all the same Fall Launch shirts we received that week) and waving their keys in the air for kick-off was ridiculous. But it was ridiculous in a “Wow, this is so cool” way. Never have I seen literally everyone get on their feet and go crazy for their home team … at my high school, anyway.
I thought it was really weird, but at the same time it was almost overwhelming to be with the rest of the freshman class and feel the nothing-but-good vibes in the air. Sorry, I’m getting a little touchy with this, but you can’t blame me. I’m not even a huge fan of football; I’m more of a basketball person. Going to that game, though, and getting to sit in the stands around people who were yelling and stomping their feet made going to the football game worthwhile.
If you haven’t heard already, homecoming is this week. Starting Tuesday, there’s a game going on every day. This is obviously to get you pumped for this weekend which will, without a doubt, be amazing (and this is coming from a girl who isn’t into football). Stop by the University Union Plaza on Thursday during UU hour for a pep rally to get you stoked for the weekend.
Friday night just might be the best, not because you’re done with classes or you’re going out, but because we’re playing men’s soccer against our biggest rival, UC Santa Barbara. I’ll definitely be going to the game, and so will you because, as a freshman, you need to go. You absolutely need to. End of story.
The homecoming football game is on Saturday against Southern Utah, definitely another game you should go to because I want to feel all that love between us Cal Poly students. If you found that weird, please, you know it’s true.
In the final event of homecoming weekend, women’s soccer plays UC Davis, one of our biggest rivals in soccer, on Sunday.
You might be busy this weekend with homework, or you might just want to hang out with your friends, but don’t miss out on homecoming weekend. It’s our first homecoming at Cal Poly as freshmen, and it’s not something you want to miss.
Think about it, you miss the game because you decided to go shopping or play basketball with your friends, and you come back to your room tired and wanting to find some quiet. Instead, all you hear is a vuvuzela outside (you know you hate it when people are blowing the horn right outside your residence building … ahem) and loud talk about nothing but the game.
Do you really want to be that person who misses out on homecoming and a once-in-a-lifetime experience with your friends? Maybe the latter is a little bit too far, but hey, you won’t know until you go.