Kim Phillips Kim Phillips: Tradition surrounds UNT next weekend

[Harry]

Tradition. I love this word. Even the sound of it is solid.

One of Broadway’s most famous musicals is also one of my favorites, Fiddler on the Roof. It is the story of people in a time of upheaval. Tevye is the main character, through whom we experience the drama. Change is rocking his world, and he would be completely undone were it not for tradition. “Because of our traditions, we’ve kept our balance for many, many years,” he says.

Tradition is a binding force that holds together. It works even when we who keep it have forgotten why. Cumulatively, we have thousands of them, some shared, others personal. Some are weighty with meaning, and many we keep for the sheer joy of doing so. Football and holidays are two in the latter category that immediately come to mind.

I am a University of North Texas alumna. Over the years I’ve heard murmurs, even among fellow students and alumni, that unlike other universities, UNT lacks tradition.

Not so! UNT’s culture is steeped in original, independent tradition. It may not always be obvious, because it looks a little different from every angle and on every individual.

But that is the manifestation of original, is it not? And the fact that thousands have pursued their passions their own way in the campus’s classrooms and corridors over the years is the tradition for which UNT is perhaps most known. But there are many others.

This week is Mean Green’s 2014-themed “Greatest Homecoming on Earth.” Many traditions combine under the homecoming banner: homecoming court, bonfire, parade, Yell Like Hell pep rally, Spirit March, tailgating, all crowned by the game itself. I wondered if these traditions were really ours. So I did a bit of digging to see if Denton stories were behind these traditions or we decided somewhere down the line to mimic those of others.

Read more: http://www.dentonrc.com/business-tech/denton-business-headlines/20141102-kim-phillips-tradition-surrounds-unt-next-weekend.ece

[Ben Gooding]

Nice article. Bravo Kim.

[CMJ]

Totally struck out on Bonfire though. It dates back to the 30's if i recall. I remember going through an old Yucca where they had pictures of one from that era.

Edited November 2, 2014 by CMJ

[keith]

Did anyone else have a different Kim Phillips in mind or am I showing my age?

[Stix]

Did anyone else have a different Kim Phillips in mind or am I showing my age?

This one?

79 New Orleans Saints Kim Phillips Defensive back North Texas

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1989_NFL_draft

To be honest, I did a google search not knowing what I'd find.

[NT93]

Did anyone else have a different Kim Phillips in mind or am I showing my age?

Yes I did...and yes we are showing our age.

The former New Boston Lion and of course UNT Eagle great.

His high school basketball team won the state championship in '84. Undefeated I believe.

Edited November 3, 2014 by NT93

[FirefightnRick]

Totally struck out on Bonfire though. It dates back to the 30's if i recall. I remember going through an old Yucca where they had pictures of one from that era.

Yup. It's like our only true tradition is changing or forgetting traditions..

Rick

[keith]

This one?

79 New Orleans Saints Kim Phillips Defensive back North Texas

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1989_NFL_draft

To be honest, I did a google search not knowing what I'd find.

That's him. It was really weird starting that article thinking it was written by this Kim Phillips.

[drex]

Truth be told, Kim Phillips never went to a bonfire...just speculating.

[Ibleedgreen]

I thought she was wrong about bonfire, so I checked my '68 Yucca. Sure enough, there is the picture of bonfire.