Sharing a neighborhood with the Wolverines can sometimes overshadow the sense of school pride Eastern Michigan students do indeed have. However, with homecoming fast approaching, the EMU campus is all atwitter with excitement for this Saturday’s game.
With the vote for homecoming king and queen, the activities that have been going on all week and the anticipation of the team’s first win, who isn’t looking forward to Saturday?
In preparation for EMU’s game against Temple, the university has planned numerous events around campus. If you haven’t attended some already, there is still plenty of time to get your EMU spirit on.
Today EMU is hosting a T-shirt exchange at the northwest corner of Pray-Harrold from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. If you bring in your gently used university t-shirts, you will be given a brand new EMU tee. On any given day you can already see students sporting EMU gear; now is your time to join the crowd!
And later today, at 8 p.m., there will be a pep-rally held in University Park, where students will be showing up to support their Eagles in a win against Temple.
However, after stopping by the Student Center on Tuesday, it became apparent the students of EMU take football season just as seriously as if the Eagles were a Big Ten team. Senior Ramon Thomas says he’s “ready to party it up” on game day. Like so many other students, Thomas and his friends will be tailgating at home and at Rynearson Stadium.
To help make this year’s homecoming a safe and convenient one, EMU will be providing free bus transportation to and from campus on game day.
The buses will be picking up students from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Student Center, Eastern Eateries, Forest Street bus stop and the Peninsular Place Apartments. Return trips will begin at the end of the third quarter and will continue through the post-game concert.
Junior Sara Wilson said she’s looking forward to going to her first game.
“I had no idea students got in free! So, when I found that out, I decided it was time to finally go!”
Students can get in free to every game with their EMU ID, and for this week’s game only people who aren’t EMU students can buy tickets for just $3.
If you have friends or family who aren’t Eagles, just go to www.EMUtix.com, select the Temple game and enter the promotional code HOMECOMING to purchase $3 tickets.
Wilson also said she and her friends are looking forward to stopping by the Eagles Landing Fan Zone.
The fan zone, which will be located just outside Oestrike Stadium, will feature interactive games, activities for all ages, special offers from sponsors and much more. The Eagles Landing Fan Zone opens two hours before the game at 11 a.m. So, keep your schedule open on Saturday because EMU has plenty of events to keep you busy.
Eastern Michigan might get a bad reputation when it comes to school spirit, but looking around campus this week, that lack of spirit is no where to be found.
Senior Matt Schilk said it best, “We don’t have to be flashy like bigger schools, but when it comes down to it we’re all fans and supporters of good ol’ EMU.”
