I remember Homecoming in high school. It was a big deal. There was a parade, a dance, and lots of underage frontloading. And it was fun, let me tell you. Everybody went to the football game, and it was unequivocally cool. Even the too-cool-for-school kids went, making homecoming cooler than cool (mmm, ice cold).

In college, the scenery change a bit. So much so that the other evening I witnessed a debate, involving a football player, over whether Homecoming had already passed or not. We ultimately came to the conclusion that yes, Homecoming had come and gone. None of us were too upset.

Imagine my surprise when I found Homecoming t-shirts on sale in the dining hall. Now imagine my further surprise when I was assigned to write about Homecoming. What a surprising day, I said. Turns out, Homecoming is Saturday! We didn’t miss it, after all.

All this confusion is due to a few factors. Allow me to explain. Factor one: Homecoming is being held at CMC this year, not at home. This has generated some resentment amongst the student body because Homecoming as the word implies, is traditionally held on the home turf. We like our home. And because we waited until the CMS game to have Homecoming, it will be significantly colder. Some students, such as Lauren Kissner ’04, have now abandoned their plans to streak during the last Homecoming game of their college career, claiming, “It’s just too freakin’ cold.”

The confusion also may also be related to Factor two: No one told us! I suppose it is on the stupid calendar, but who ever looks for that? I would have appreciated a Digester message, at least. Come on Susan Dietz, where were you when we needed you? Also, who was it that made this rash and careless decision?

Apparently, Factor one was decided upon to encourage students to support the team up at CMS. The mysterious decision-makers also assumed that because CMS is such a “big rival,” a lot of people would want to go to this game anyway. Maybe they liked the poetry of having our Homecoming game against our neighbors, CMS. Whatever the impetus for the move, it has ruffled a few Sagehen feathers. But that will not stop us from supporting P-P on Saturday, no sir.

I am pleased to bring you the glorious news that we will all have a chance to go to the game on Saturday at 1:00 pm. That is a pretty good time, giving even late risers a chance to do some tailgating beforehand. So come on out! Support my favorite sport ever. Let us make this a big deal, just like it was in high school.

Maybe we can go to the Homecoming dance afterwards and make out in the backseat of your mom’s Honda. Chirp chirp, baby.