Not Your Average Homecoming

The annual Drive-in Movie was another highly attended Homecoming 2020 event hosted by the Student Activities Board. The movie shown was Jumanji: The Next Level. The students gathered in cars and in the backs of trucks to enjoy a normal Homecoming tradition.

In 2020 we saw the cancellation of events and gatherings around the world, and SAU’s football season and traditional homecoming festivities were not immune to the effects of the COVID regulations which were put in place. But, even though the GAC cancelled the Mulerider football season, SAU remained strong and continued with some of the most cherished Homecoming traditions – but in a different way. During the week of October 19-24, students, alumni, faculty and staff celebrated “Not Your Average Homecoming.” While Mulegating and a Mulerider football game were not able to happen, many SAU Homecoming traditions continued with a creative twist to follow new protocols, and some new events were begun.

A Virtual 5K was held, which allowed participants to run, jog, walk, or bike 3.1 miles at their convenience during Homecoming week. Participants wore blue and gold to show their Mulerider pride and posted pictures with the #MuleriderStrong2020 hashtag. A Shoebox Float contest was held which provided an opportunity for alumni, faculty, staff and current students to decorate a shoebox as a float and have it featured in SAU’s Virtual Homecoming Parade.

Other events included Street Painting, Muleshoe Hunt, Mask Decorating Competition, Banner Decorating Competition, Spirit Log Decorating Competition, Virtual Alumni Check-in and Virtual Update from Dr. Berry, Drive-in Movie, Virtual Alumni Trivia Night, Coronation Ceremony, Virtual Golden Rider Reunion, Murphy USA Mulerider Club Invitational Golf Tournament, and the SAU Rodeo.

Although this Homecoming looked different, we were still able to enjoy SAU Homecoming traditions together while staying safe. We are grateful that so many pulled together to be #MuleriderStrong in order to have a Homecoming at all. Even though Not Your Average Homecoming was a success, we are hopeful to have a traditional SAU Homecoming in 2021.

(Top Right) Instead of ending Homecoming Week with a Mulerider football game as usual, we ended the week with a weekend long SAU Rodeo! In order to attend one of the three nights of the SAU Rodeo, anyone could go online and purchase a ticket through the SAU Athletics website. Although it was unfortunate to not be able to attend a traditional football game at the end of the Homecoming week, the SAU Rodeo made up for it and was a huge success. (Right Center) T’Kobe McDonald and Serena Gill were named Homecoming King and Queen for Homecoming 2020. The Coronation Ceremony took place the Thursday night of Homecoming week following the first official SAU football practice and in conjunction with a “Happy Hour” held at Wilkins Stadium as a thank you for keeping our campus open during the semester. The event, which was hosted by administration, offered free soft drinks, popcorn and candy for students, faculty and staff. (Bottom Right) Street Painting has always been a popular SAU Homecoming tradition, and thankfully, despite the rest of the changes that COVID brought, Street Painting didn’t have to change all that much. Students were able to easily social distance from other groups as they painted on their assigned square, and each group came at a designated time to limit the number of people there at once.The winners of Street Painting for Not Your Average Homecoming were Sigma Alpha (First Place), SAU Cheer (Second Place), and Phi Lambda Chi (Third Place). (Left) Shoeboxes were decorated to look like parade floats for the Alumni Association virtual Homecoming parade. Students and organizations decorated logs with a COVID theme for the annual Spirit Log competition. This year’s winners were the Student Activities Board (1st place), Phi Lambda Chi (2nd place) and the Agriculture Club (3rd place).