Stranger in a Strange Land: A Big East Girl Attends an SEC Homecoming Game

[sigmagrrl]

I've always wished I could have an additonal college career, just so I could experience something like this. I'd love to see what it would be like to be in atmosphere like the one you described. I would pick a larger, more liberal arts school that has a larger Greek community, a much larger athletics program, and a stronger alumni network.

[Bama_Alumna]

Bama_Alumna, does Alabama have an equivalent of Vanderbilt's Gold Stars?

Yes. Actually, there is a separate, similar program for each of the "major" sports... basketball, baseball, football. The football one is, obviously, the most prestigous and most competitive. They are called the Bama Belles. But they are certainly NOT encouraged to do, um, "whatever it takes" to get a recruit. I've never even heard that!

[rubyrose]

Originally posted by KillarneyRose
Ok, so once we got to the stadium my one and only thought was, "I am SO underdressed in my jeans and blouse!" Most of the female alumnae were decked out in skirts and blazers and practically every female undergraduate had on a dress or skirt and top and all were wearing high heels. They all looked beautiful; they really did. In fact, at one point leaned over to me and said, "do you think they hide the (less attractive women) during homecoming weekend?"

I enjoyed seeing something that was so different than my own college experience; and I have to admit that putting on a dress and heels to go to a football game then stopping by a fraternity for a drink in a glass glass seems pretty cool to me

Being a Vandy alum, I have to say that it is a lot of fun to dress up for a football game every now and then. But at least when I was in school there, the student body dressed up for every home game with dates and attended the fraternity parties afterward with free beer flowing for all who attended (well at least all females). I am sure some things like the free beer have changed, but the dressing up is still a big deal. As a student, I used to think it would be a fun change of pace if we all just wore jeans and sweatshirts with school colors once in a while. I think I almost enjoy attending the games as an alum more than as a student because I feel more freedom to wear jeans and sweatshirts. More importantly, I would enjoy the games a lot more if we could just win one every so often.

[CutiePie2000]

Originally posted by KillarneyRose
According to the program, these women are "...enthusiastic supporters of the athletic program...that serves as a liaison between visiting prospects and their families and the coaching staff. Another role is to introduce prospective student-athletes and their families to the tremendous resources the university has to offer."

I can tell you inequivocably that something like this would never fly in Canada.

Oh, and when I was at UBC, I never attended a football, ever. (And I don't know anyone who did). Sports is not a big deal in Canada unless you go to one of the football schools like Queens, University of Western Ontario or McGill.

You can get your smelling salts out now...LOL.

[CutiePie2000]

Originally posted by KillarneyRose
Most of the female alumnae were decked out in skirts and blazers and practically every female undergraduate had on a dress or skirt and top and all were wearing high heels. They all looked beautiful; they really did. In fact, at one point, one leaned over to me and said, "do you think they hide the (less attractive women) during homecoming weekend?"

I would have been LMAO if you'd replied, "Yes, actually, I know an unattractive woman who was offered $5,000.00 from the University to "disappear" from campus just for the Homecoming Weekend". Can you imagine the look on her face? LOL

[Cluey]

You just have to love SEC football

A lot of people dress up for all the games at UGA, not just homecoming. Of course, you will see folks with t-shirts and shorts on, too, but they're not in the majority.

I think it's easier for us, though, because nice clothes are easier to find in red and black than, say, purple and gold or bright blue and orange.

To answer your other question, Georgia has the Georgia Girls. Ditto on what everyone else has said about no hanky-panky and it being an honor. I think I just always assumed that there were these types of organizations everywhere. I learned something new today!

[MTSUGURL]

I have never heard of this before... We have Rowdy Raiders, but it's just another student org with lots of people who run around on the field, get free cokes, make alot of noise and tailgate before the game. No real high honor, but it's a lot of fun. But then again, we're not a big time SEC school or anything.

When some of the girls in Phi Chi talked about dressing up for a game, I didn't realize what they meant, and they didn't explain, so I was going to show up in school colors, MT painted on one side of my face, my letters on the other side, and my MT hair ribbon... Thank God I got sick and didn't go... how embarrassing it would have been to show up like that when they were wearing these cute little denim skirts, etc...

[VirtuousErudite]

The University of Tennessee has Vol Hostesses. It is a huge honor and you have to have a certain GPA and go through vigourous interviews. One of my friends is one!

[KillarneyRose]

Originally posted by VirtuousErudite
The University of Tennessee has Vol Hostesses. It is a huge honor and you have to have a certain GPA and go through vigourous interviews. One of my friends is one!

You know, when we were in Nashville this past weekend the whole state seemed to be excited about the Tennessee-Georgia game. Is TN-GA a particularly fierce rivalry or is it that crazy every week? I loved it; reminded me of growing up in football-mad Southwestern Pennsylvania!

[AOIIsilver]

It's football time in Tennessee.......

As a Vanderbilt alum, I can honestly agree with Rubyrose <nods to my sister> that the student body and most alums dress up for every Vandy football game. I do not wear heels anymore, but Mr. Silver and I have sevral matching "game day" outfits for each football season.

The UT-GA game was such a big deal because this makes the 4th (?) time in a row that GA has won the game! When I was at Vandy, we played GA for homecoming every year because they were the only team that we could beat!

Crystal, actually MTSU does have a similar program but for both women and men. It is called "Student Ambassadors." They were the wonderful, immaculately dressed young people in royal blue suits standing on the football field around President McPhee at homecoming....

Roses and football to you all,
Silver

[Eclipse]

It not just the south that has the female "hostesses" for recruits. I bet some of the big 10 (12) schools have them as well, and there was a recent expose' on a University in Arizona where there was some hanky panky going on, or expected.

The TN-GA game is a big game normally, but it was even BIGGER this year because both teams have good records and a good chance of going to a great bowl game.

[AGDee]

It was many years ago, but I clearly remember wearing long underwear, jeans, wool socks, hiking boots, a turtle neck under a sweatshirt with my sorority coat over it all.. gloves, scarves, hats and all wrapped up in a comforter and STILL being cold!!!!

(Can't imagine a dress and heels at any football game in Michigan!)

Sure wish they'd had those football seat warmers back then...

Dee

[TriDeltaGal]

GPhiBLtColonel,
USC still has Helenes...last time I was Greek Escape (USC's greek store) I saw tons of Helenes paraphenalia there.

UCLA doesn't have a program like these; we do have recuitment hosts that take recruits to various games and try and pump them up about UCLA. A couple of girls in my house are hosts but it is more a paid job than an honor...they have little UCLA polo shirt uniforms and everything. Wait, we do have Bruin Belles but I think that they are geared more towards philanthropy than as a school hostess.

[UGAnchora]

Here at UGA, its a mix of people dressing up for games and people who don't. I'll wear a cute red and black dress one week and then jeans and a red top the next. I went to the UGA/UT game this past weekend and just wore a UGA hoodie and jeans. My sisters and I were so suprised when people said they wore T-shirts and jeans to band parties! . That does NOT happen here!

[GPhiBLtColonel]

Originally posted by TriDeltaGal
GPhiBLtColonel,
USC still has Helenes...last time I was Greek Escape (USC's greek store) I saw tons of Helenes paraphenalia there.

Helenes paraphenalia??? OHMYGAWD -- wonder what it is???? I just cannot imagine!