Morgan County High School celebrates 2008 Homecoming with week of festivities

By Kathryn Purcell

At Morgan County High School, Homecoming is a week unlike any other. What begins simply, with multiple, theme dress-up days, culminates under the bright lights of Bill Corry Stadium Friday night.

Why all the hoop-la? The festivities bring the individual classes - freshmen, sophomore, junior and senior - together. And, of course, it gives the seniors a chance to prove their "superiority," which they inevitably do, whether it's in the Powderpuff Football Game or in the Womanless Beauty Pageant, Tug-of-War or Musical Chairs.

The bigger message, however, comes into play when students are reminded that they are merely a part of something bigger than themselves - the Morgan County High School community.

The week kicked off on Monday, themed "Sports Day," and students wore their favorite sports apparel.
Tuesday was "Camo/Tye Dye Day."

The real festivities began on Wednesday, also "Opposite Day," with the Powderpuff Football Game, which the seniors won, of course, and the Womanless Beauty Pageant, which was held during half-time. There were about 10 competitors in the pageant, with Richard "Daisi" Thomas taking the pink, feathery crown.

After the game, several students participated in a rather large game of Musical Chairs, with Senior Class President Gary Walker on the loudspeaker, who worked hard to maintain order.

"Who forgot to take the chair out?" Walker asked, befuddled by his classmates, when no one lost one round.

Thursday, "Costume/Halloween Day," students took part in Tug-of-War and a Water Balloon Launch.

On Thursday night, each of the classes were given an opportunity to decorate their respective sections in the old gymnasium for the next day's Pep Rally. However, no class could be in the facility at the same time; the freshmen started at 3:45 p.m. and the decorating went well into the night as the seniors didn't begin until 8:30 p.m.

Friday, also "Spirit Day," began bright and early with the Senior Parade (which included near __ floats) at 8:15 a.m. Following the parade, the school's students and faculty made their way to the old gym for the Pep Rally, which included a performance from the Morgan County High School Marching Band's Drumline, a Scavenger Hunt, another game of Musical Chairs, a performance from the Morgan County High School Cheerleaders, the naming of the 2008 Homecoming King, Gary Walker, and the singing of the school's Alma Mater.

Friday night saw the Morgan County High School Bulldogs take on Eastside High School at Bill Corry Stadium. Half-time brought with it the recognition of those young ladies who made Homecoming Court, as well as the naming of the Homecoming Queen.

The Court included freshmen representative Haley Day; sophomore representative Talia Waller; junior representatives Patrice Boswell, Brittany Harvey and Claire Pritchett; and senior representatives Jessie Ashurst, Shamaya Eppinger, Queshia Glover, Sharda Massey, Greta Pritchett, Sarita Smith, Anna Beth Spence, Amber Williams, Charmaine Williams and Elesha Young.

Based on the votes of the entire school, Greta Pritchett was named Homecoming Queen, Massey, first runner-up, and Spence, second runner-up.

The end of Homecoming Week, and all of the festivities and celebration it entailed, may have ticked down with the ending of the fourth quarter, but the memories made, especially for this year's seniors, will surely last much longer.