Homecoming: more than just bells and whistles

Two weeks ago when I went to visit my brother at Southern Methodist University, I met his friend from California. At some point while talking to her, we reached the topic of Homecoming. “What’s a mum?” she asked with confusion. Wanting to show her an important Texas tradition, I pulled up Facebook and showed her pictures from this year’s game. It was not long after she saw the first picture of the white ribbons and fake flowers that she burst into hysterics. This is a pretty normal reaction for someone who is not Texas-born and raised, because, let’s face it, this offbeat tradition we call “homecoming” is only a big deal to us.  Besides the…