The Vandal fight song echoed through Moscow Friday evening as the Homecoming Serpentine wound through the University of Idaho campus.
Connor Bunderson | Argonaut
University of Idaho students socialize around the Bonfire as part of Homecoming Week Friday night after the announcement of Homecoming Royalty.
The Vandal Marching Band and a Moscow police car led the charge starting at the top of New Greek Row. Lights from the police car glinted off the band’s instruments and the pompoms of the Idaho cheer squad.
UI President Chuck Staben and his wife Mary Beth walked behind the cheerleaders, clapping and waving with the music.
“We had a great time at Serpentine,” Staben said.
Students flooded out of houses on Greek Row to watch from the sidewalk and then joined the crowd following the band.
Glow sticks swung from the instruments as the band snapped their horns to attention for round after round of the fight song. Students whipped flags through the chilly evening air, milling in and out of the band’s lines.
Junior Kassidy Kirby said she noticed more people were singing and chanting with the band than there were in Serpentines of the past.
“This is the most people I’ve seen join in,” she said.
The motley crew stretched several blocks of 6th Street. Beer cans tumbled from hands and crunched under hundreds of feet.
As the mob moved up Stadium Street, past the Hartung Theater, rain drops began to fall.
The smell of the bonfire hung heavy in the air.
Tailgaters clapped and cheered as the band entered the parking lot in the shadow of the Kibbie Dome. Another round of the fight song rang through the parking lot, cast in the orange hue of street lamps. The band launched into a peppy tune, then made their exit, playing the Beer Song as they left the lot.
Fraternity flags flew high, despite the steady drizzle of rain.
“So who’s ready for homecoming?” Homecoming Committee Chair Emily Rasch asked the crowd, which roared in return.
Idaho Athletic Director Rob Spear led attendees in a chant, before pulling out Troy University’s flag.
“They had the nerve to put their banner up in our house,” he shouted.
The crowd chanted to burn the flag.
“Take it away boys,” Spear said as the flag was tossed onto the roaring bonfire.
Moscow firefighters tended to the blaze.
Coaches and athletes encouraged students to attend upcoming events. Junior quarterback Matt Linehan and Idaho women’s basketball coach Jon Newlee tossed T-shirts into the mass of people.
“The Sun Belt may not want us, but we’re going to kick that door down tomorrow,” Linehan said.
Newlee said his team plans on earning its fourth ring in five years.
“That’s right baby, we’re going back-to-back,” he said.
As the Homecoming Committee began Homecoming Royalty announcements, the rain subsided.
Tanner Beymer, Trevor Kauer, Sierra Turner and Leslie Fowler were selected for the Homecoming Court.
Darryl Kerby was appointed Homecoming Queen and Evan Barton was selected as King.
When Barton’s name was called, his face split into a grin. He pulled in Rasch, his girlfriend, for a kiss.
Kerby said the win was unexpected.
“It was fun to be a finalist, because I knew all of the girls nominated really well,” she said. “I was up against some stiff competition.”
The Homecoming Court attended the Moscow Firefighters Annual Pancake Feed and Safety Fair and rode in the Homecoming Parade Saturday morning.
Fireworks lit the sky as people began to head home.
Junior Gabrielle Diebner and her father Ken attended the Serpentine and the Bonfire. Gabrielle attended the events three times before, but Friday was Ken’s first Idaho homecoming experience.
“Fathers’ weekend was a little late this year for us,” Ken said. “We didn’t realize it was Homecoming Week but (homecoming) is way more fun than fathers’ weekend.”
Serpentine is Gabrielle’s favorite homecoming event, she said.
“It’s fun to have a big group of people with school spirit,” she said. “The band makes everything fun. They’re dancing and getting everyone into it.”
Tess Fox can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @tesstakesphotos