Ball State University - Orient Yearbook (Muncie, IN)

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The Homecom- ing Bed Race was 100 yards long. Four peo- ple pushed the bed while one other person was the passenger. 20 Homecoming The lowdown on the hoedown Western looks and cowboy boots celebrated Homecoming here were red-ribboned pigtails and blue flannel shirttails; wailing elec- tric guitars and a wild mechanical bull; a prolonged and passionate smooch-off, and a fast, furious bed race. And it was just about the biggest hoedown in these parts all year long. It was Homecoming Country Style, and while the University slipped on a pair of cowboy boots for the week, students pitched in by roaming about in a wave of blue overalls and an epidemic of freckle-faces. For six days there were more things for students to see and do than apples in a fresh country pie. Day after day the campus enjoyed one delicious bite after another. MONDAY, Sept. 26: Universi- ty Gym became a crazy quilt of costumes and colors as students turned out for the week’s open- ing event, the Kick-off games. Teams from residence halls competed head-to-head, and on occasion, back-to-back, in a mixed bag of events, including “Blind Piggy’s Bluff,’ and ““Cow-Milking Chaos.”’ The odd- ball olympiad lead to a lot of laughter and several bruised bodies for the competitors. ‘Look at my knees,’’ moaned Darryl Ables, New Albany freshman. He had joined the ranks of the walking wounded after racing across the gym floor and imitating the moo of a cow. ‘“‘I cut class to come here,”’ he said, still nursing his bruised knees, ‘“‘but it was worth it. ’m having fun, and I’ve met a lot of people.” While Ables was recuperating, team No. 2 from Schmidt Hall was winning the coed division of the competition. The Mysch Hall Maniacs were the women’s divi- sion winner and Swinford Hall, the only men’s hall to enter, won their division. Baker Hall shou- ted their way to a spirit award and were assisted by a kaliedo- scope of costumes “We practiced all week,”’ said team captain Jo Zimmerman Valpraiso freshman. ‘‘Really, we did? We were hollering up and down the hallway every- day,’’ Zimmerman said solemn- ly while sporting a gray and yellow leopard shirt, aqua and pink-striped sweat pants, black and red socks, checkered tennis shoes, cat-eye sunglasses and more costume jewlery than Mr. T. But then, it seemed ap- propriate that the wardrobe design of the competitors should be as outrageous as the competi- tion itself. TUESDAY , Sept 27: He worea faded, dirty white coat. A worn, blue saddle cloth was draped over his back. A thin, ratty rope that served as a tail hung behind him, and on his front were scrawled two crazed eyes and a leering grin that taunted would- be challengers. His name was Onry Oscar and he was a mechanical bull. On this warm, sun-basted after- noon, he came to LaFollette Field to see what sort of stuff the campus cowpokes and cowgirls were really made of. He showed no mercy, tossing the strongest men and most timid women from his back with joyful scorn. But the challengers were equally stubborn. ‘‘It was easier than I thought,”’ said Eric War- ren, Seymour freshman, as he wiped the blood from his bat- tered knuckles. ‘‘I used to ride dirt bikes, and that’s something like this. But you’ve gotta think about what you’re doing.”’ George Sanburn, Kokomo senior, had a little more success with Oscar, having taken no less than four bouts with the bull. “You’ve just got to keep your body close to the bull,’’ he said. “I think everyone’s a cowboy at heart.” Those bull riders from the residence halls later limped to the cafeteria to join their friends in a western-style dinner featur- ing barbequed ribs and chicken. And as the sun slowly settled on campus, Oscar was moving on, looking for another gang of would-be-bull-breakers. WEDNESDAY, Sept. 28: Stu- dents traded the bull rides for bed rides on Wednesday as the CONTINUED a= =é ee a Se

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a FLOWERS AND HUGS from WFBQ'’s “Bob and Tom,” Steve Cooper and Carrey Carlson, the afternoon’s emcees, went to Denise Beyers, Monticello junior, after being announced the 1983 Watermelon Bust queen. Photo by Sue Wilden A FIRM GRASP was important for Harvey Hansen, Muncie senior, and Gary Russell, Mooresville sophomore, to hold their melon. Roy Rodriguez, Fort Wayne senior, waits to race the greased melon to the finish line. Photo by Sue Wilden Watermelon Bust 19

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THE CARDETTES MARCH down McKinley Ave and through the campus during the Homecoming Parade The Cardettes performed one again in the afternoon during the half- time of the football game. Photo by Renee Gearhart GOING A “LITTLE BIT COUNTRY,” went right down to the red and white gingham table cloths . Some organizations use traditional checks to decorate the trucks which pulled their float during the Homecoming Parade. Photoby Tom Amiot = = — — me J DISAPPOINTING was the word for the Homecoming game. Ball State Quarterback Doug Freed, Jenera, Ohio, junior, met a tough Northern Illinois defense as the Cards fell 27-14. Photo by Tom Amiot Homecoming 2]