Block Party Kicks off Homecoming

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley held a Homecoming Block Party Monday, on the Brownsville campus and Tuesday in Edinburg.

The party celebrated UTRGV’s first football Homecoming game and started new traditions that intend to bring the community on campus closer.

Raul Leal, program coordinator of Student Activities at UTRGV, said, “I want students to get into the Vaquero spirit since it’s the first football Homecoming for UTRGV.”

According to him, before the football team’s first season, Homecoming was tied to basketball in the spring.

“Now that Homecoming is in the fall, I think it gives students more excitement to start the year,” Leal said.

At the event, the Office of Student Activities provided free shirts to students when they checked in, along with two complimentary tickets for tacos and lemonade.

UTRGV students gather around a table Monday on the Brownsville Student Union Lawn to decorate their cowboy hats complimentary of the Homecoming Block Party. Fatima Cazares/Pulse

Vaqueros could also decorate cowboy hats, make their own custom playing cards and practice their football kicks and throws for UTRGV merch. Gilberto Capistran, a local musician, played live music at the event.

“Events like this is what Vaquero spirit means. It keeps everyone motivated,” UTRGV volunteer Carlos Gamez said.

Adolfo Salinas, a UTRGV integrated health science junior, also said that because of the new football team, there has been a greater sense of community, “especially with how exciting the team has been in these past few games, it gets everyone rallied up.”

Mia Gonzalez, an integrated health science sophomore and UTRGV cheerleader, said she was thrilled to see the campus look as lively as the block party with events throughout the week. She said she has noticed a greater sense of community in and out of campus.

“I’ve even gotten recognized for cheerleading at the football games,” Gonzalez said.

The Vaquero mascot admires an encased UTRGV Homecoming Royal sash and crown at the Homecoming Block Party Tuesday on the Edinburg Chapel Lawn. Odessa Tinay/Pulse

The Homecoming game will be at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Robert & Janet Vackar Stadium in Edinburg against University of the Incarnate Word.

At Saturday’s game, UTRGV will start a new tradition. Instead of mums, UTRGV is encouraging students to create their own Vaquero Crown for the upcoming football game.

Priscilla Juarez, a UTRGV volunteer at the event, said she hopes to see these traditions, such as decorating cowboy hats to wear to Homecoming games, replacing mums.