Concordia Plans for Homecoming 

by Karl Jones and Hayley Wallace 

Concordia begins its 2016 homecoming celebration on Monday, Oct. 3. This year’s theme, “Count it All Joy,” was taken from James 1:2-3: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”

Included this year will be a variety of dress-up days throughout the week, beginning with Superhero Day on Monday, followed by Jersey Day, Dress Your Best Day, Represent Your Class Day and finally Bulldog Pride Day leading up to the home games on Saturday.

On Thursday, the freshmen are asked to wear white, the sophomores to wear green, the junrios to wear red and the seniors to wear blue.

Following the junior varsity football game on Monday, coach Vance Winter plans to speak at the kickoff celebration on the theme verse. The celebration starts at 9:30 p.m.

On Tuesday, a 6 vs. 6 coed volleyball tournament is planned for 8 p.m. at the sand volleyball court directly outside of Janzow.

New this year is an additional 3 vs. 3 coed basketball tournament located at the new outdoor basketball court just in front of David.  It will begin at 8 p.m., with popsicles and water being provided by Concordia’s Alumni Association.

Sign-up sheets for these events will be available near the student mailboxes on the lower level of Janzow.

The annual Variety Show will be held on Wednesday, beginning at 7 p.m. in Weller auditorium, along with the crowning of this year’s homecoming king and queen. The official reveal for this year’s homecoming court is on Sept. 28.

A movie night will be held Thursday at 9:30 p.m, in Weller Auditorium. While the title of the movie has not yet been released, it falls into the themes of this year’s verse.

Praise and a bonfire will be held at 9:30 p.m. Friday at the outdoor chapel.

The festivities on Saturday, Oct. 8 will begin at 10 a.m. with the annual activity fair held at the Holthus Family Plaza in front of Janzow Campus Center.

The fair will include activities run by clubs on campus as well as a bouncy house and the distribution of Bulldog tattoos.

At 1 p.m. the football team will take on the Briar Cliff Chargers. The men and women’s soccer teams host Mount Marty College at 5:30 and 8 p.m.

At 9 p.m. the week’s festivities will conclude with a dance held at the Holthus Plaza. Popcorn, hot chocolate, candy and juice will be provided.

“We are trying to switch up a lot of things, making it more of a college party feel,” junior and Homecoming Committee Co-chair Michael Sanderson said.

Homecoming celebration has seen a drop in participation the past few years.

“It will be fun,” Sanderson said. “Participate in the dress up days. Homecoming will be as fun as you make it. If you go into it thinking ‘homecoming is stupid,’ it will be, but if you think it will be a blast and fun, it will be that.”