Homecoming means “Hey, it’s football season,” and “Hey , fall is really here.” Because someone slapped this Homecoming title on the upcoming October weekend, we’ve been led to believe this weekend is different. And we have began to act that way.

The university tells us to wear red and we comply, because it rewards us with free pizza. We wear buttons in order to get special meal deals in town. And with all this manipulation and organized hoopla, it’s pretty hard not to get excited about Homecoming traditions and events, especially weekend sporting events.

Homecoming weekend allows the Cyclone hockey, basketball and football teams take the ice, court and field to do their things.

These three teams have their own traditions and are presently creating what will be tradition for future Iowa Staters.

The hockey team’s slogan, “The puck stops here” is kind of 0 funny. I mean funny “ha ha,” because of the pun. Anyway, the slogan slapped on hockey posters in the preseason has been right on the money. Goaltenders Rob Howitt, Mike Grammatikos and Nick Makris and hockey defenders have been stopping the puck here (here being that little area before the line that counts for a goal) since the season opener in September.

The ISU hockey team traditionally embraces excitement, charisma and pushing and shoving (some of the excitement and charisma is due to all the pushing and shoving). Coach Al Murdoch, who has been at ISU 28 years, brings this tradition back year after year. The team’s early season record says it all.

So far this season, the puck chasers are 8-0. Taking things one match at a time, the team hopes the end of the season will put the 1998 championship pennant in the arena rafters and a Murdoch Cup in the trophy case.

The Cyclone Shoot-Out featuring our men’s basketball team and its charming coach (a man who doesn’t need an introduction) hits the hardwood to dunk some through the netted doughnut.

Wonder-Coach Floyd’s three Cyclone years have drawn national attention to the basketball program. With a title and postseason success in his recent past, Floyd presents another hoops squad he hopes will have a Cinderella season.

With Floyd in charge, no one worries about the basketball team’s success. Floyd has no qualms either. The shoot-out will showcase the team’s new players as they prepare to continue the solid winning tradition Floyd is known for.

For Cyclone football, the tradition has not been so terrific. This tradition is something we want to get rid of.

In order to break a longtime losing streak, our football team needs to show Baylor who is boss at Jack Trice Stadium this Saturday. No, it is not to be our marching band, it is our defensive and offensive lines. Although we are all disappointed our record doesn’t show the progress we have made, it’s Homecoming and we will be there to cheer you on.

We don’t care how you win, whether leading the whole game or seizing the lead in the fourth quarter. If this calls for red pants, then red pants it is. Just win. We haven’t eaten a win in a year, and we are hungry.

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Amanda Fier is a senior in journalism and mass communication from Davenport.