Get Ready for Drexel’s Biggest Winter Tradition

Pull out your blue and gold and brush up on how to cheer on our Dragons, because Drexel University’s Homecoming will be here on Jan. 24 and with it, a whole host of school spirit-filled activities.
Homecoming is Drexel’s largest winter tradition that brings the entire Dragon community together, as alumni come back to their old stomping grounds, students pack the DAC (Daskalakis Athletic Center) and athletes come home to be honored in the Hall of Fame. The official festivities kick off on Jan. 24 with the annual bonfire at 5 p.m. Note that it will be on Lancaster Walk instead of Race Lawn like it’s been in the past and stop by early for giveaways like beanies and other surprises.
“The Bonfire is the perfect place to kick off the Homecoming festivities. Cozy up with a hot drink, enjoy great music and soak in the atmosphere as we light up campus,” said Associate Director of Development in Athletics and Homecoming co-chair Phil Denne. “The women’s basketball team also plays that evening (at 6 p.m.) so people can stay warm and walk over to the DAC to cheer on the Dragons.”
On Saturday, the main event kicks off at 2 p.m. in the DAC with the men’s basketball game against Delaware. Admission for students is free, so don’t miss this matchup — this is the last year the University of Delaware will be in the CAA before they move to Conference USA.
The DAC will be packed; Homecoming is usually sold out, so be sure to get your tickets early. Drexel is currently on a four-game win streak against Delaware, so don’t miss their last conference matchup.
During halftime of the game, six former Dragons will be honored as the most recent inductees into the Janet E. and Barry C. Burkholder Athletics Hall of Fame; athletes are inducted every other year. Gabriela Marginean '10 (women's basketball), Joe Linderman '01 (men's basketball), Ryan Hluschak '08 (wrestling), Emily Hoesch '07 (women's lacrosse), Kerry Kelly '07 (women's lacrosse) and former soccer head coach and administrator Johnson Bowie will have been officially inducted earlier on Saturday as a testament to their excellence at Drexel.
There are other goings-on beyond the bonfire and basketball game, however, like voting for the Homecoming Court and Royal Dragon. Students nominate and vote for their peers who exemplify what it means to be a Dragon; the Royal Dragon receives a $500 scholarship. Voting runs from Jan. 20 until noon on Jan. 24.
Also keep an eye out for the window decorations that pop up at the DAC in the week leading up to Homecoming. Teams of students can reserve a window online and make it their own with art and lettering — for example, Simmons once copied the Athletics font onto her team’s Homecoming window.
The window-decorating isn’t the only pre-Homecoming event to kick off the celebratory time. The “Bluau” game, in which students dress up in tropical attire, typically happens the week before the Homecoming game; this year, it will be held at the DAC at 7 p.m. on Jan. 16 against Elon University. The DAC Pack, which is Drexel’s student cheering section, will be handing out shirts for Dragons who didn’t come wearing their own.
The Homecoming fun isn’t limited to students — the alumni are the ones “coming home,” after all. The Drexel Alumni Association will host the Fan Zone before the game on Jan. 25. There will also be a brunch with the Drexel University Black Alumni Council on Jan. 25 and a special Mass with the Drexel University Newman Alumni Council on Jan. 26.
Finally, the weekend closes out with the women’s basketball team playing Elon University at 2 p.m. on Jan. 26.
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