Briar Cliff will move homecoming to fall
By Bret Hayworth, Journal staff writer | Posted: Monday, January 28, 2008
Briar Cliff fans cheer for their team as they take on Hastings during homecoming basketball action at Briar Cliff University. (Staff photo by Jim Lee)
SIOUX CITY -- Basketball predated football by several decades at Briar Cliff College and then Briar Cliff University.
Charger basketball teams began playing in 1966 (men) and 1969 (women), and football was added as a varsity sport in 2003.
The Briar Cliff homecoming has long been celebrated, like it was Jan. 19, with a women/men basketball doubleheader. Now that there's a Charger football team, Briar Cliff next fall will switch to a football-geared homecoming, matching most other colleges.
BCU President Bev Wharton said the move was first considered after football was added. It was looked at in earnest about 1.5 years ago, when the Briar Cliff University Alumni Board, student alumni association and student government association teamed to create a plan for how a fall homecoming might function. The idea was pitched on campus in a student forum, and students gave their input.
Wharton said the plan made sense, so while she strongly recognized "that winter homecoming was part of who we are," she approved the change.
"This came as the result of the work of our alumni board and our students, and they are the individuals who are most impacted by this decision," Wharton said.
Briar Cliff students recently debated two aspects of the move -- the weather and the probability of a victory in the homecoming game.
Senior Ashley Zenk of Le Mars, Iowa, has served on the homecoming planning committee since she was a freshman. Zenk said moving homecoming is not a universally popular move, but she likes it.
"Like every school has their homecoming during the fall -- it is right when you start school, and I think it gives us something to look forward to when we start school," Zenk said.
None of the three freshmen guys playing pool at the Stark Student Center in the early afternoon went to the homecoming basketball game Saturday night, although Michael Fuentes went to the dance later that night.
"It should stay with basketball, because football always gets recognition," said Fuentes of Houston, Texas.
Freshman Michael Slaton of Des Moines noted the Briar Cliff football team, yet to have a winning season and with a winless season in 2007, may be hard pressed to provide the desired homecoming victory.
"You always want to win your homecoming game," Slaton said.
"If it is a tradition to have homecoming with basketball season, then leave it," added freshman Danny Delfs of Sioux City.
Fuentes and Delfs said football players would be the group on campus most likely to embrace the change. Delfs said Briar Cliff students and alumni might be more likely to attend homecoming activities in the fall, due to the likelihood for nicer weather.
Zenk said a reason for supporting the homecoming move is for the nonwinter weather, which would be better "for us girls to wear dresses" to the homecoming dance. Wharton said alumni outside the area had a hard time planning to attend the homecoming.
"With homecoming being in either January or February, we don't see a lot of long-distance travel, in fact, very little, because the weather is unpredictable. A move to the fall at least makes travel less challenging," Wharton said.
Wharton added with warmer weather, more varied homecoming activities can likely take place outdoors. She pointed to having soccer, volleyball and the arts in the mix of weeklong activities. Wharton said it's important to recognize that homecoming week is more than a weekend sporting contest.
Zenk has attended much more than the basketball game in three of her four years on campus. She said she enjoyed this year, which had the theme "What Happens in Vegas ... Stays in Vegas." Among the activities were Casino Night, free ice skating at the IBP Ice Center, Mr. and Ms. BCU Contest and the homecoming court coronation between the basketball games.
Chris Tigges, a senior from Carroll, Iowa, went to the homecoming game and dance this year, which is more than he has previously taken in.
Of the change, he said, "I'm leaning toward more of it's not a good idea, because there is more history with the basketball and there hasn't been much established with the football program, and so there won't be as many alumni who will go along with football."
Said Zenk, "The basketball teams were good, and so we looked forward to a victory at homecoming, which, our football team is growing, so a loss may occur." But, she added, "You still celebrate (homecoming) with a win or a loss."
Since Briar Cliff officials are mindful of the winter trimester homecoming tradition, Wharton said a winter celebration won't go totally away.
"We will continue to have some type of a winter festival. Let me tell you, that was very positively received by our students and from some alumni who have asked that question. We will continue with this kind of tradition. Somebody suggested we should call it Snowcoming, but we haven't decided yet," Wharton said.
Bret Hayworth may be reached at (712) 293.4203 or brethayworth@siouxcityjournal.com
Charger basketball teams began playing in 1966 (men) and 1969 (women), and football was added as a varsity sport in 2003.
The Briar Cliff homecoming has long been celebrated, like it was Jan. 19, with a women/men basketball doubleheader. Now that there's a Charger football team, Briar Cliff next fall will switch to a football-geared homecoming, matching most other colleges.
BCU President Bev Wharton said the move was first considered after football was added. It was looked at in earnest about 1.5 years ago, when the Briar Cliff University Alumni Board, student alumni association and student government association teamed to create a plan for how a fall homecoming might function. The idea was pitched on campus in a student forum, and students gave their input.
Wharton said the plan made sense, so while she strongly recognized "that winter homecoming was part of who we are," she approved the change.
"This came as the result of the work of our alumni board and our students, and they are the individuals who are most impacted by this decision," Wharton said.
Briar Cliff students recently debated two aspects of the move -- the weather and the probability of a victory in the homecoming game.
Senior Ashley Zenk of Le Mars, Iowa, has served on the homecoming planning committee since she was a freshman. Zenk said moving homecoming is not a universally popular move, but she likes it.
"Like every school has their homecoming during the fall -- it is right when you start school, and I think it gives us something to look forward to when we start school," Zenk said.
None of the three freshmen guys playing pool at the Stark Student Center in the early afternoon went to the homecoming basketball game Saturday night, although Michael Fuentes went to the dance later that night.
"It should stay with basketball, because football always gets recognition," said Fuentes of Houston, Texas.
Freshman Michael Slaton of Des Moines noted the Briar Cliff football team, yet to have a winning season and with a winless season in 2007, may be hard pressed to provide the desired homecoming victory.
"You always want to win your homecoming game," Slaton said.
"If it is a tradition to have homecoming with basketball season, then leave it," added freshman Danny Delfs of Sioux City.
Fuentes and Delfs said football players would be the group on campus most likely to embrace the change. Delfs said Briar Cliff students and alumni might be more likely to attend homecoming activities in the fall, due to the likelihood for nicer weather.
Zenk said a reason for supporting the homecoming move is for the nonwinter weather, which would be better "for us girls to wear dresses" to the homecoming dance. Wharton said alumni outside the area had a hard time planning to attend the homecoming.
"With homecoming being in either January or February, we don't see a lot of long-distance travel, in fact, very little, because the weather is unpredictable. A move to the fall at least makes travel less challenging," Wharton said.
Wharton added with warmer weather, more varied homecoming activities can likely take place outdoors. She pointed to having soccer, volleyball and the arts in the mix of weeklong activities. Wharton said it's important to recognize that homecoming week is more than a weekend sporting contest.
Zenk has attended much more than the basketball game in three of her four years on campus. She said she enjoyed this year, which had the theme "What Happens in Vegas ... Stays in Vegas." Among the activities were Casino Night, free ice skating at the IBP Ice Center, Mr. and Ms. BCU Contest and the homecoming court coronation between the basketball games.
Chris Tigges, a senior from Carroll, Iowa, went to the homecoming game and dance this year, which is more than he has previously taken in.
Of the change, he said, "I'm leaning toward more of it's not a good idea, because there is more history with the basketball and there hasn't been much established with the football program, and so there won't be as many alumni who will go along with football."
Said Zenk, "The basketball teams were good, and so we looked forward to a victory at homecoming, which, our football team is growing, so a loss may occur." But, she added, "You still celebrate (homecoming) with a win or a loss."
Since Briar Cliff officials are mindful of the winter trimester homecoming tradition, Wharton said a winter celebration won't go totally away.
"We will continue to have some type of a winter festival. Let me tell you, that was very positively received by our students and from some alumni who have asked that question. We will continue with this kind of tradition. Somebody suggested we should call it Snowcoming, but we haven't decided yet," Wharton said.
Bret Hayworth may be reached at (712) 293.4203 or brethayworth@siouxcityjournal.com
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