This week creates more memories than most.
Giant bonfires. Fireworks. Air Jam. They're events we see in university marketing material, joke about on Facebook and will remember long after we've left here.
This is Homecoming. At a school where athletics never routinely rule the limelight, this year's spirit party comes at a time when our football team is doing remarkable things. There's every reason to celebrate.
We are living history.
Our collective actions - selling out games and rocking IU's tailgate world - are putting us, as individuals, in the history books. As current students, we inherently have the pleasure of experiencing what generations of BSU students never could: a university thriving on spirit.
These are the days, long nights and drunken tangents we'll recall when we begin our stories with, "I went to Ball State that year."
Underclassmen will hear all sorts of advice for what to do and not to do this week. Perhaps some upperclassmen have hid in caves - or the Architecture Building - for most of their college tenure. Either way, there's a lot to take in this week. With this is in mind, some advice as we head into this memorable Homecoming Weekend:
DO attend the football game. We're 4-0 atHomecoming. Woah.
DO NOT leave the game early. We're 4-0 atHomecoming. Duh.
DO wear red for the game, like the BallState home uniform.
DO NOT wear a red IU T-shirt.
DO bring signage to support Dante Love.
DO NOT bring signage saying 9/11 was aninside job.
DO wake up early Saturday.
DO NOT expect beer and eggs to sit comfortably together in your stomach.
DO "Chirp" at every opportunity.
DO NOT hesitate to use new cheers;including those referencing Web addressesfor Ball State e-mail.
DO cheer and yell wildly whenever BallState scores.
DO NOT cheer and yell wildly when yourbuddy Will scores.
DO visit the Village on Friday and/orSaturday night. The "entertainment" district only comes to life this much oncea year. It's an experience not to miss.
DO NOT grind with friends' or randomunknowns' parents at Dill Street, howevertempting it is. You know who you are.
DO attend some of the parade. There areno mega-floats, movie stars or giantinflatable Charlie or President Gora heads,but there is free candy.
DO NOT eat free candy that you've pickedup from random street corners.
DO adhere to the previous guideline forsexual partners, as well.
DO NOT bed race during unauthorizedhours in unauthorized locations.
DO assume the prior two statements wereput back-to-back for the sake of humor.
DO NOT discuss the results. DO share your food and beveragegoodness with fellow tailgaters.
DO NOT over-consume adult beveragesbetween the parade's end and the game'sstart, despite the early kick off.
DO use the rest room prior to kick off.
DO NOT mud wrestle at tailgate ... withouta teammate.
DO take pictures of your adventures forFacebook documentation purposes.
DO NOT be surprised when some hackmakes a post about it on a sleazy gossipWeb site.
DO NOT post to said Web site. Ever.
DO maintain writing rhythm during column.
Crap.
DO suspend any political campaigns.
DO NOT suspend anything from RVrooftops.
DO hug Charlie Cardinal.
DO NOT hug any other furry costumerunning around tailgate.
DO play corn hole.
DO NOT expect me to make a joke aboutthat.
DO observe all posted signs, placards, lawsand police instructions.
DO NOT do the "do nots."
DO turn Kent State's nickname, "GoldenFlashes," into a double entendre.
DO NOT actually do that ... then blame mefor the consequences.
Write to Dave atheydave@bewilderedsociety.com@bsu.edu
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