The annual Homecoming Bonfire took place on Cook Field. The bonfire was lit by Roomie but ended early due to weather conditions.
Imari Simmons/The Lion's Roar

The Student Government Association hosted the annual Homecoming Bonfire, giving students and organizations a chance to get pumped and show their school spirit leading up to the Homecoming Lip Sync Competition.

The Bonfire took place on Cook Field, Thursday, Oct. 20 at 6:45 p.m. Students, faculty and multiple organizations gathered around the fire to show their school pride.

“The purpose of the Bonfire is to gather up everyone before the Homecoming Game,” said SGA President Erin Fernandez.

Before the night’s events took place, students were excited and overjoyed about the festivities that were about to take place. 

“I am really excited,” said Raymond Paul, a sophomore business management major. “It’s a great way to get all of the organizations together to show Homecoming spirit.”

The Spirit of the Southland Marching Band played the university’s Fight Song before Roomie the Lion lit the fire. Head Coach of the football team Ron Roberts, and senior linebacker Caleb Young, gave words of motivation and encouragement to the crowd to support the team. 

“We have just as many home games as away games this season,” said Young. “While we are away, people are against us, but it’s nice to come home and have people that want us to win cheering us on. The support really helps us make plays, so please come out, support and turn up.” 

At the Bonfire, organizations participated by showing who had the most school spirit, with the “Roar Rally” Spirit Contest leading up to the annual Lip Sync Competition. First place winners of the spirit contest were NAACP and the Black Student Union, who were later announced at the Lip Sync Competition. They turned the theme song of television show “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” into a chant about Roomie’s Road Trip.

SGA made minor changes to this year’s festivities to make things bigger and better than last year’s. 

“We changed a couple of rules since last year,” said Harley Arrington, Director of Homecoming and special education major. “This year we allowed props and glitter.” 

Some may say that the minor changes and preparations might have even made the event an even bigger success than the years before. 

“This Bonfire is bigger and the spirit competition was well thought out,” said Fernandez. “We even monitored the weather.”