Student Homecoming Experience

Homecoming 2025: Soarin' 20s

Get ready to take flight, Kohawks! Join us for a week of high-flying fun at Homecoming 2025: Soarin' 20s, a modern twist on a classic era. Let your spirit soar as we celebrate our Kohawk pride with a week of themed events!

Homecoming Royalty

Nominations: Open on September 14 and close on September 22
Candidates Announced: 2025 Homecoming Royalty candidates will be announced via email on September 29
Requirements: Candidates must be a fourth year student (Graduating December '25 or May '26)

Banner Contest

All student organizations, residence halls, and campus groups are invited to show off their spirit with the banner competition.

Banner Pickup: Banners (quarter of a queen sized sheet) can be picked up from the Student Life office starting September 22
Banner Due Date: Banners are due back to the Student Life office on September 29
Display: All banners will be hung on September 30 in the Upper and Lower Gage windows
Judging: Judges will stop by on October 2 and write down their scores
Winners Announced: The winning groups will be annouced via email on October 3. The top three groups will each receive a $50 Visa gift card to use for their group.

Door Decorating Contest

Get ready to show your school spirit! We're inviting all departments to participate in the first-ever Homecoming Door Decorating Cobntest. This is a chance to unite your team, showcase your creativity, and cheer on our football team as they prepare for the big game!

Registration Deadline: All participating department must register by September 24 at 5:00 pm using the official registration form
Removal Date: All decorations must be removed by the end of the day on October 6

Guidelines & Regulations

Who can participate: The contest is open to all departments and administrative offices with a dedicated (or temporarily dedicated) door in a campus building.
Theme: All decorations must align with the homecoming/school spirit/football theme.
What to decorate: You may only decorate the main entrance door to your office or department. Ths includes the door itself and the immediate area around the door (e.g., the frame, threshold). Decorations should not exceed two feet beyond the door's frame on any side.
Safety first! Decorations should not impede the door from opening and closing freely. Do not use any materials that could damage the door or wall, such as permanent adhesives or nails.
No blocking! Decorations must not block hallways, fire exits, or access to neighboring offices.

Judging Criteria

A panel of judges will evaluate each door on the following criteria:

Creativity & Originality (25 points): How unique and imaginative is the design?
Adherence to Theme (25 points): How well does the door embody the Homecoming, School Spirit, and Football theme?
Overall Visual Impact (25 points): How does the door look from a distance? Is it eye-catching and well-executed?
Use of Materials (25 points): Does the team use a variety of materials effectively and creatively?

Prizes

Prizes will be awarded to the top three doors that best exemplify school spirit and creativity.

1st Place: Big snack basket, announced in “winner email”
2nd Place: Medium snack basket, announced in “winner email”
3rd Place: Small snack basket, announced in “winner email”

Registration Form

The Great Kohawk Chalk Off

Chalking Dates: October 1 (October 2 will be a rain out date)
Judging: All artwork will be judged by a panel of faculty and staff at 9:00 am on Thursday, October 2 (October 3 as a rain out date).
Location: Approved chalking areas will be designated on campus in front of Stewart Memorial Library.

Guidelines & Regulations

Who can participate? This contest is open to all student organizations, groups of friends, and individuals.
What do we provide? We'll supply all the chalk you need to bring your vision to life.
What's the theme? Show your school spirit! Your chalk art should celebrate our school, our football team, and the excitement of Homecoming week.
Where will we be chalking? Locations will be assigned upon registration on a first come, first serve basis.
No obscene or offensive content. All artwork must be family-friendly and appropriate for a campus environment. Any content that is hateful, discriminatory, or inappropriate will result in immediate disqualification and removal of the art.
Stay in your designated area. Please respect other participants and only chalk within the space you've been assigned.
Chalk is the only medium. No paint, markers, or any other materials are allowed.
Cleanliness. Please help us keep the campus clean by picking up any trash or debris from your area when you're finished.

Judging Requirements

Relevance to Theme (25%): How well does the artwork capture the spirit of Coe College, the football team, and/or Homecoming?
Creativity & Originality (25%): How unique and imaginative is the design?
Execution & Technique (25%): How well was the chalk applied? Is there a good use of color, shading, and line work?
Overall Impact (25%): How does the artwork make you feel? Does it evoke a sense of excitement, pride, or fun?

Prizes

1st Place: Gold medal
2nd Place: Silver medal
3rd Place: Bronze medal

Registration

Registration Period: September 22 - 26

Registration Form

Powder Tough Football

Gear up for the most exciting night of the semester at the inaugural Powder Tough flag football tournament. Gather your squad of 7-10 players, and prepare to compete for glory and bragging rights. Every player gets an exclusive team T-shirt to rep their team. Don't worry about getting hungry—we'll have local food trucks on-site all night to keep you fueled up, along with plenty of awesome giveaways. Sign up your team and get ready to play!

Guidelines & Regulations

Dead Ball:

The ball is dead when it:

1. Goes out of bounds

2. The ball carrier goes out of bounds

3. When the ball touches the ground upon being pulled, the flag is to be raised in the air immediately at the point pulled; it is then to be handed back to the offensive player. (If this is not done, such action can be termed unsportsmanlike conduct and a 10-yard penalty may be assessed).

Safety:

The team scoring the safety shall receive 2 points and theball on the 40-yard line to start offensive play.

Scoring:

A safety counts 2 points for the defensive team.

A touchdown counts 6 points.

Extra Point is 2 points from 3yrd line, 3 points from 5yrd line.

Length of Game:

The game will consist of 2 20-minute periods with a runningclock. The clock WILL stop during the last two minutes of the game. Halftimewill be 6-8 minutes in length. One time out per team, per half.

Star of Each Game:

The choice of defense or offense is decided by the flip of acoin in the presence of captains and officials before the play starts. Thewinner of the coin flip can also defer until the 2^nd half of thegame.

First Downs:

Because the field is only 40 yards. Possession of the ball is retained as long as the offensive team can obtain a first down. The team must cover 20 yards in four plays. Essentially, you have 8 plays to score a touchdown.

Fourth Down:

The team must go for it on 4^th down. If the team on offense is unable to obtain a 1^st down. The ball will be brought back out to the 40-yard line and declared a turnover on downs.

Clock Stops:

Clock stops will be allowed for injury to a player at any time during the game. During the last 2 minutes of the game, the clock will stop after a touchdown, a safety, or a touchback, or whenever the referee suspends play. Time begins when the ball is put into play.

Time Outs:

A timeout is taken when a captain requests a suspension of play. The timeout is not to exceed 2 minutes.

Players & Substitutions

There shall be 7 players on a team. There shall be 5 on linemen and 2 in the backfield.

Any number of substitutions can be made without reporting when the ball is dead.

Carrying the Ball:

A ball carrier who has fallen to the ground without being legally tackled may not resume the run. At no time may the ball carrier pass the ball to themselves

Forward, Backward, and Lateral Passes:

One forward pass may be thrown from any place behind the line of scrimmage. Any number of lateral passes or backward passes may be attempted from any point on the field. Legal receivers are anyone on the line and the 1 in the backfield. There must be no interference with the receiver of a forward pass.

Interceptions behind the Goal Line:

If a defensive player, while standing behind her own goal, intercepts a forward pass and is tackled in the end zone, a touchback results.

Tackling:

Tackling shall consist of pulling flags without holding the ball carrier with the hand or any part of the body. A tackler who forces the ball carrier to the ground is guilty of aggressive tackling. Flags must be worn on the outside of all types of clothing, and the entire flag must be exposed. Flags must be in place on either side of the runner; failure to do this results in a five-yard penalty from the line of scrimmage. If a player with the ball loses her flag during play, the ball is dead at the point of the flag fall.

Blocking:

Only the screening of the defensive player is allowed. Use of arms, hands, legs, running over, cutting, or pushing a defender is not allowed (all these violations result in a 5 yd. penalty).

Penalties:

5 Yard Penalties:

1. Delay of the game (ball into play within 45 seconds.)

2. Illegal use of flags

3. Offsides

4. Too many players

5. Offense not being set

10 Yard Penalties: Two of these penalties by any one player in any combination will result in suspension from the game:

1. Forcing the runner to the ground.

2. Unsportsmanlike conduct

3. Straight-arming defense

4. Hackling at tacklers (to protect flags)

5. Clipping

6. Running over defenders

7. Blocking by pushing defenders

8. Defensive play that is characterized by pushing over or on offensive lockers.

9. Pushing the ball carrier out of bounds.

10. Swearing or Harassment of Officials

Stressed Rules:

1. Unnecessary violent behavior will result in the players’ ejection from the game and may then be subject to further disciplinary action.

2. Flags must be worn correctly. NO rolling or tucking of the flag in belts or pants.

3. Everything besides flags must be tucked in.

4. All jewelry must be removed.

Prizes

Traveling trophy to winner of the tournament.

Registration Form

Looking for a unique way to fundraise? We're inviting clubs and orgs to set up a table on the sidelines of the game. This is a great chance to sell things like baked goods, warm drinks, or custom apparel. You can also host a simple game or activity to engage with players and spectators. If your club is interested, please fill out this form with your contact info and what you're planning for your table.

Kohawk Rock

This is the place to be! Join us on Thursday, October 2, at 8 PM in Cherry Auditorium for performances from our most talented Kohawks, interviews with homecoming royalty candidates, interactive games, and great giveaways. This is also when we'll announce our Homecoming Royalty winners!

Guidelines & Regulations

Kohawk Rock registration is open to all students, faculty, staff, and groups. Registration does not automatically confirm your participation. Registrants will need to audition on Tuesday, September 30th - more details to come.

All Homecoming Royalty candidates are required to register for Kohawk Rock. Performances will not be required this year, but are still STRONGLY encouraged. All Homecoming Royalty candidates will be required to participate in interviews throughout the show.

Judging Criteria

Participants in Kohawk Rock will be evaluated by a panel of judges on a scale of 1 to 10 across five different categories. The combined score will determine the winner.

Creativity: This category assesses how unique and original your act is. Judges will look for new ideas, a fresh approach, and a creative delivery that stands out from the rest.
Appearance & Costume: This evaluates your outfit and overall look. Your appearance should be appropriate for your act and enhance your performance.
Stage Presence: Judges will be looking at your confidence and poise on stage. This includes your ability to communicate with and command the attention of the audience throughout your performance.
Execution: This measures how well you perform your act. For musical performances, judges will consider vocal quality and pitch. For other acts, they will evaluate coordination, choreography, and effective use of any props or instruments.
Audience Response & Engagement: This category judges how well you connect with the crowd. The judges will observe the audience's energy, how they react to your act, and how engaged they are with your performance.

Prizes

1st, 2nd, & 3rd place winners will receive gift cards of varying amounts.

Registration Form

Spirit Swag & Dirty Soda Bar

Fuel up and get ready for game day! Grab tattoos, stickers, sunglasses, and a spirit themed dirty soda on Friday, October 3, to get your spirit soaring. Stop by in the Lower Gage hallway outside the cafeteria from 11:30am-1:00pm to stock up!

Football Game

Come out and cheer on our Kohawks as they take on Buena Vista University at Clark Field (1pm) on Saturday, October 4!

Homecoming Dance

It's time to get dressed up and dance the night away with your friends! The dance is on the evening of Saturday, October 4, at the DoubleTree Hotel and Conference Center.

Bus Transportation

When and Where: Our complimentary buses will be running from the Clark Alumni House to the DoubleTree Hotel starting at 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 4.

Bus Policies (What to Expect):

Before You Go!: No beverages are allowed on the buses. You'll be asked to empty any bottles or cups before you get on.
Quick Bag Check: For everyone's safety, all purses and bags will be checked before you board the bus.
Stay Sober: Students who appear to be under the influence will not be permitted on the buses.
No Extra Stops: The bus will only stop at the Alumni House and the DoubleTree Hotel.

Dance Details

When and Where: The dance is at the DoubleTree Hotel from 9:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.

What to Bring:

Coe Student ID: Don't forget it! You'll need it to get in.
Guest ID: Guests are welcome but must show their personal ID and be with you at all times.
Leave the Big Bags at Home: No large bags or purses will be allowed.
Parking: Paid parking is available at the DoubleTree if you choose to drive.

Dance Perks & Reminders

Free Food & Water: We'll have plenty of snacks and water to keep you fueled up on the dance floor!
Represent Coe: Remember, we are guests of the DoubleTree, so let's show them our best Coe spirit and behavior.
Campus Policies: All Coe policies are in effect. Please make good choices. If you appear intoxicated, you will be asked to leave and may be subject to a campus conduct review.

Homecoming 2025: Your Quick Guide to Key Dates

Mark your calendars with these important dates and deadlines so you don't miss out on any of the fun.

September

September 14: Homecoming Royalty Nominations Open
September 21: Homecoming Royalty Nominations Close
September 22: Banner Contest Banners available for pickup | Chalk Off Registration Opens
September 24: DEADLINE for Door Decorating Contest Registration (5:00 PM)
September 26: Chalk Off Registration Closes
September 29: Homecoming Royalty Candidates Announced via email | Banner Contest Banners Due
September 30: Banner Contest Banners Hung

October

October 1:
- The Great Kohawk Chalk Off (Rain out date: October 2)
- Powder Tuff Football Games (8:00 PM)
October 2:
- Chalk Off Judging (9:00 AM)
- Kohawk Rock (8:00 PM)
- Homecoming Royalty Winners Announced
October 3: Spirit Swag & Dirty Soda
October 4:
- Homecoming Football Game
- Homecoming Dance
October 6: Door Decorating Contest Decorations Must Be Removed