Instead of “Capture the Excitement,” the theme of the 1995 Homecoming Pep Rally was changed at the last minute to “Capture the Warmth,” said emcee Ryan York as hundreds of students, faculty and alumni huddled together by the Campanile Friday night.

Cold temperatures and a few raindrops did not dampen the spirits of those who turned out to kick off the Homecoming weekend at the rally, where Karleen Hunter and Judd Hoffman were crowned 1995 Homecoming Queen and King, respectively.

ISU President Martin Jischke, Athletic Director Gene Smith and head football coach Dan McCarney pumped the crowd up with talk of spirit, pride and team support for ISU. McCarney said besides having the nation’s leading rusher, sophomore Troy Davis, ISU has the “best damn fans in all America.”

Davis accepted the game ball from the 1995 Torchathon runners. This year’s torch was carried by ISU student volunteers from Boulder, Colo., to Ames. It was “the longest trek in torch run history,” said Chuck Schleusner, Torchathon co-chair. Runners covered 750 miles.

Dressed in everything from red bell-bottoms to gold running tights, five finalists also competed for the 1995 Yell-Like-Hell title. The winner of the Yell-Like-Hell small division was Kappa Delta, Phi Beta Chi and Alpha Gamma Rho. The large division winners were Phi Delta Theta, Chi Omega and Phi Gamma Delta. Trophies for winning lawn displays, banners, spirit sheets and tournament teams were awarded as well as the prize for the overall winner of Homecoming 1995. The team of Phi Delta Theta, Chi Omega and Phi Gamma Delta took home the top award.

York, in closing, told the group they still had plenty of time to buy chapstick before mass Campaniling Friday at midnight.