The Homecoming Steering Committee is changing the traditional schedule of events to build more excitement for Ball State University's Saturday football game against the University of Toledo.
This year's Homecoming theme, "In It to WIN It," features a logo of a deck of playing cards picturing Charlie Cardinal.
"It's been a transitional thing," Air Jam Chair Kelly Hedinger said. "It started out as a play on words - cards, cardinals - and we wanted something catchy, but we wanted to keep the double-meaning."
Homecoming General Chair Libby Skiles said she wants the week to build up to the game, and she feels the theme fits that idea.
"I think we really want to bring it back to the football aspect of it," Skiles said. "We are in the game to win it. That's the point of homecoming - to get people excited about the football game."
A four square competition has been added to the Opening Day Kick-Off. The kick-off, which takes place at 7 p.m. at Irving Gym, also includes tug of war, relay races, and the faculty staff coronation.
"We were just at a group meeting talking about different activities, and someone said there was a four square club," Executive Assistant Lora Fulton said.
Air Jam and the Student Scholarship Talent Search are switching nights to help build the excitement leading up to the weekend Skiles said. In the past, Air Jam was held on Tuesday night and the Student Scholarship Talent Search on Thursday night.
"It's just something we have talked about doing for several years," Skiles said. "This year we decided to give it a try - to build up the enthusiasm and end the week with a bang."
Coronation of the Ball State Homecoming king and queen traditionally is done at the Student Scholarship Talent Search but will take place during Air Jam.
"Air Jam is a more spirited event for students, and putting it on Thursday night puts it closer to the game," Hedinger said. "It's more of a weekend type of event."
Homecoming participation has been up so far, but Skiles said the Homecoming Steering Committee cannot predict how big the crowd will be for the football game.
"We've had such great student participation so far," Skiles said. "There were 800-some-odd people at the Royalty Fashion Show, and the royalty voting is two or three thousand more votes then we have received in the past."
Hedinger said she hopes the football team's five-overtime win on Saturday will bring more people to the game.
In addition to the traditional events, John Gouwens, a carillonneur, will play the bells in the Shafer Tower on Wednesday at 6 p.m. Gouwens, who plays several concerts a year at Ball State, approached the Homecoming Steering Committee with the idea and plans to include original works in the hour-long concert. Afterwards, visitors may tour the tower.
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