University of Arkansas Fayetteville - Razorback Yearbook (Fayetteville, AR)

Page 19 text:

Former UA cheer . leader hangs out with a group of students at the Greek Theatre during the homecoming pep rally. photo by Melissa Purdy Newly crow ned home¬ coming queen, Abbie Decker, is shielded from the rain by her escort ' s umbrella. photo by Melissa Purdy H-O-G-S fans show their not-so-fair-weather spirit despite the bitter cold at the homecoming victory of 34-0 against Ole Miss. photo by Melissa Purdy Homecoming ♦ 15

Page 18 text:

ueen Homecoming is always a time to gather in school spirit, crown a new queen and play football. Despite the unusually warm weather this past fall, homecoming was riddled with biting cold winds and even colder rain, but the Razorback fans did not notice. School spirit was warmer than ever and so were the Razorback fans. Houston Nutt led the Arkansas Razorbacks to a flawless record of 7-0 up to home¬ coming and the Razorbacks delivered another victory for everyone to cheer about. Fans were not just cheering on the Razorbacks, but also the new homecoming queen, Abbie Decker, chosen to replace Angie Kovalcik. Standing on the sidelines with a bouquet of roses in one hand, she stepped into the shining crown of the former queen, Angie Kovalcik. Decker said she was surprised to be nominated and was shocked when she was announced as the 1998 UA Homecoming Queen. Deckers saga toward inauguration began when she was nominated by her sorority, Kappa Delta. She then had to write an essay and go before the presidents of 10 organizations for an interview. She stood firmly on her platform, which stated that a queen should speak to students in elementary schools and that she should be a role model represent¬ ing the student body. Decker added that a queen should show the qual¬ ity of the university and represent its leaders. Decker is a UA senior from Mountain View, and is majoring in criminal justice and sociology. There ' s tradition here, it ' s a good school and I ' ve had an awesome experience here, she said. Decker ' s court included Monique Brunson of Little Rock, Katherine James of Benton, Amber Meza of Red Oak, Texas, and Olivia Walton of Fort Smith. The game and crowning a homecoming queen were the main events of homecoming, but there were other homecoming activities that week. Residence halls and Greek houses competed in a homecoming decorating contest. A 5K run was held before the game began , the alumni band got together for a collaboration of the UA band of now and then and a Nursing Alumni Reunion was taking place during the busy day. Tailgate parties were held early in the morning since game time was moved up, but it didn ' t stop the Alumni Association. Pep rallies, open houses and cookouts all took place to help celebrate and cheer on another Razorback victory and tradition of homecoming. — Aimee Morrell u There ' s tradition here, it ' s a good school and I ' ve had an awesome experience here. — Abbie Decker 1998 Homecoming Queen 14 ♦ Campus Life

Page 20 text:

a “Wooo Pig Sooie” could be heard all over campus as UA students joined in spirit to support their Hogs. The roar of hog cheers bellowed out of the Greek Theatre four times in the fall as the students gathered for pep rallies to support the Razorback football team. “The pep rallies are a lot of fun and a good way to show the guys that we are behind them 100 per¬ cent,” said freshman Lacey Brunner. Rain or shine, there was always a sea of red and white in the student sec¬ tion of the Razorback Stadium as the students hoped to cheer the players to victory. Baum Stadium was another popular place for UA fans to show their enthusiasm for the baseball team. The stadium continuously filled to its capacity every game. Win or lose, students filed into Bud Walton through the winter to let the basketball Hogs know who they could count on for support. Basketball coach Nolan Richardson said, “The Kentucky and Auburn The Kentucky and Auburn games were the loudest crowds ever in Bud Walton. the loudest Bud ever in — Nolan Richardson Razorback basketball coach 55 games were crowds Walton.” The Ladyback basket¬ ball team showed their appreciation for the record-breaking crowd of 14,161 by beating Wisconsin in the final game of the National Invitational Tournament. “This is the start of something next year,” said senior Ladyback, Tennille Adams. “We needed this, we needed the win for the fans to get them in the seats,” she said. — Melissa Purdy Red and white painted students pose for a photo with the pom sqad during a basketball game. photo by Melissa Purdy 16 ♦ Campus Life