EXHIBITS

Where the Sagebrush Grows: A History of USU Homecoming Traditions: Homecoming Today

Homecoming Today

In the last ten years, new traditions have sprouted up for Homecoming Week at Utah State University. These new traditions reflect the changing values and needs of the students and alumni of USU and have already become an important part of the Aggie experience. Below are some examples of these traditions.

New Traditions

In the 2017 Powderpuff tournament, the USU Women’s Rugby team took first place.

The 2017 Powderpuff football championship game.

Powderpuff Football

In recent years, Powderpuff football games have been a popular Homecoming event. The women’s tournament takes place on a weekday before the Homecoming Game at Maverik Stadium.

Street Painting

Each year at Homecoming, a variety of student associations and clubs take up their paintbrushes and decorate the streets near the Taggart Student Center with their own welcome-home designs. The images remain throughout the year as a constant reminder of the celebration, until replaced by the next year’s batch of paintings. This tradition stems from a Town and Gown tradition of painting the main streets of Logan for the celebration. While that earlier tradition has faded, the intersections at 400 N and Main, and 700 N and 800 E still receive this special treatment.

Moving Forward

Homecoming has been a prized tradition here at Utah State since its inception in 1930, bringing together Aggies of all generations. Although the activities have adapted to fit the changing needs of students, faculty, and alumni, the Aggie family has continued to gather together, year after year, to celebrate their alma mater and the legacy of Utah State. In October 2018, the theme for Homecoming will be “The Spirit of the Scotsman,” and alumni will once again travel from all over the world to hear the words, “welcome home, Aggies!”