With three rings of the Victory Bell, a few hundred UNT Greek students set out on the 2009 Spirit March to the bonfire and yell contest. As they passed the residence halls on their way up Maple Avenue — Kerr, Maple, Clark, Honors — hundreds more students joined.
Mark Bradford, Plano senior, shouted out cheers and chants as the Talons and the Model A guided the crowd to the brightest part of the annual Homecoming festivities.
"I love to march because it's all about being loud and noisy and supporting UNT," said Carlynn Field, the Kerr Hall resident assistant for the art and design REAL (Residents Engaged in Academic Living) community. She was marching for the third year.
Ashley Clayborn, a freshman, said she joined in because "I love UNT and it just sounded fun."
Dressed in Wild with Pride costumes and plenty of green and white, the group arrived at the bonfire site to join hundreds of community members, alumni and other students.
"We may have been the only parents to march, but it's really fantastic," said Robert Rubin, father of Lindsey Rubin, a sophomore Kappa Kappa Gamma member.
SGA leaders Dakota Carter and Jamaal Sanders greeted the crowd and welcomed head coach Todd Dodge and the football captains to the stage before announcing the Spirit Wall and mini bonfire winners, as well as introducing the Homecoming Court.
At 8:15, the Talons lit their torches and set this year's massive stack of pallets ablaze, creating a warm backdrop for the annual yell contest.
Roy Stanley and his wife, longtime Mean Green fans and Denton community members, brought their 2-year-old son, Alex, and thought this year's activities were great.
"We come every year because the fireworks and bonfire are just really cool," Roy said.
The fire and spirit lasted long into the night as groups of students danced and yelled to show their love for the green and white.
 
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