So this weekend, instead of following suit and going to the Ohio State football game, I headed to Wilberforce, Ohio to Central State University's Homecoming. It was about 50 miles away from campus and pretty close to Xenia and Dayton, all the way in the country with actual cornfields! I went with my Godbrother and his Aunt, who graduated from Central State and comes back down from California every year to go to the Homecoming game.

I really wanted to see what it is like having a big celebration for Homecoming, which Historically Black Colleges and Universities are known for. And it was indeed a festival, with tons of people out there packed at the small school and still having a good time. It was interesting to see that even though their football game was going on, the attention wasn't really there. People more so came to see the band, the dancers, and the huge Marketplace gathering. It was like the rib fest and the fair with many vendors selling barbecue, catfish, funnel cakes, and peach cobbler as well as purses and T-shirts. They had a Step Show after the game that was sold out and had a line wrapped around the University just to get in!

Their Homecoming really seemed "homey" and it was no surprise why so many people come back to it each year. They have a lot of events planned and have a big, elaborate parade right before the Football game. I think Ohio State's Homecoming just consists of the football game. And we have a really good and well-known team so that is expected, but can there also be some other things planned? I don't know what I would come back to for Homecoming as Alumni. Maybe we are just to big to organize a lot of events. But that doesn't even make sense as the largest school in America. We should have entertainers and events for Homecoming week instead of just for Welcome Week and Beat Michigan Week.
Even though the Central State is about a fraction of Ohio State, they have a strong sense of community that I guess comes with a smaller school. They have a Homecoming court member for every college, and I think that would be great to get more people involved in the Homecoming festivities at Ohio State even though there are soooo many colleges. It still would be nice to vote for a representative for the School of Music, Business, Communication or whatever and have them be in the Parade. Anything to try to better connect the student body together and give people a chance to take pride in their school.


Homecoming Week will be here in a couple of weeks, and after attending Central State's, I'm intrigued to see all that Ohio State has planned.