2013 D-Days ends week with big win

Homecoming week at the University of South Dakota is a tradition that calls for students, faculty, and alumni to celebrate what it means to be a coyote. The week was filled with events to bring students together, giving the campus an overall feeling of school spirit.

Homecoming week at the University of South Dakota is a tradition that calls for students, faculty, and alumni to celebrate what it means to be a coyote. The week was filled with events to bring students together, giving the campus an overall feeling of school spirit.

Starting Sept. 29, homecoming week was in full gear. Sept. 30, Rob Little visited USD campus and the audience was full of students and faculty alike. Although most students seemed to enjoy Rob Little’s act, some found his comedy a bit raw.

“He was funny but sometimes offensive,” Sophomore Rachael Rinner said.

Coronation Oct. 1 narrowed down the candidates to seven men and seven women for the eventual coronation Saturday at the homecoming game. Gavin Pochop and Anna Hyronimus were named Mr. and Miss Dakota Days 2013.

Oct. 2 was the Vermillion Bash in Prentis Park. The night was filled with games, food and fun for the fellow coyotes as they continued to celebrate the week.

Oct. 3 was the annual Fun Run event that started at the USD Wellness Center. Following this event was the first annual ‘Yotes Got Talent, a talent competition hosted by the Campus Activities Board. Talents ranged from singing and dancing to an auctioneer auctioning cattle. Although each talent was followed by a roomful of applause, junior Nick Burke walked away with the win after performing Mumford and Son’s “Babel.”

“I am glad Nick won, he did a really good job,” Sophomore Erica Erickson said.

Oct. 4 was the start to D-Days weekend, kicked off with a pep rally for the football team, pumping up students and getting them ready for the game on Saturday.

Saturday, Oct. 5, the biggest day of the week, began with a parade downtown. The cold weather did not stop students and alumni from coming out and cheering on the parade to celebrate the big week. Tailgating before the big game began at noon, in the parking lot just south of the dome. This has become a new tradition on campus, allowing tailgating on campus, and homecoming seemed to be a perfect game to get them pumped up for the big game. With a 17-14 win over Missouri State, the USD football team celebrated a big win with students cheering them on in the stands.

“I thought the game was amazing! There was a lot of energy and school spirit [in the student section] which was a perfect representation of the whole week of D-Days,” sophomore Anshu Chandra said on the excitement and overall feel of the game.

D-Days has come and gone with a fast week filled with events. As per usual, school spirit and celebration of being a coyote was apparent during one of the biggest week here on campus.