Pajamas, marching band, Gunrock, spirit squad—sounds like a traditional homecoming, and it is—with everything except the bonfire.

“We decided to try something new and different,” said Athletics Director Greg Warzecka, speaking for Aggie Pack and Intercollegiate Athletics.

The “new” is the rally location: downtown Davis, where town and gown can come together to cheer on the home team. The rally is set to begin at 7 p.m. today (Oct. 16) at the Davis Commons shopping center, First Street and Richards Boulevard. The rally comes after the Pajamarino at the train station a few blocks away.

Traditionally, the rally and bonfire have been held together, on campus. But Warzecka and his staff have called off the bonfire for environmental and budgetary reasons.

One disappointed alum is Garry Pearson, a 1980 graduate in viticulture and enology who works as lead greenhouse manager for the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. “I was frankly very disappointed,” he told Dateline. “It was one of the ways for students to establish what the spirit of the campus is all about.”

Warzecka explained his reasoning: “In a heightened era of trying to be environmentally conscious, I watched last year along with many others a great deal of unneeded pollution being elevated into the sky upwards over 100 feet from the heat of the bonfire.”

He also cited the time and expense that goes into the bonfire: “The bonfire is a large workload when one takes into consideration all of the pre-event coordination planning with various campus entities that goes into burning up a huge amount of lumber while keeping participants and the community safe.”

Warzecka said: “I might be more inclined to continue the bonfire tradition, but under our current constraints and concerns for the environment within which we live, I must pause and say, why?”

From train station to Davis Commons

The Cal Aggie Student Alumni Association is hosting Pajamarino, scheduled to begin at 4:50 p.m. Pajamarino is one of UC Davis’ oldest traditions, dating back to 1912 when pajama-clad students snuck out of their dorms to welcome alumni as they arrived by train for homecoming.

Students are no longer sneaking out of their dorms, but they will be parading in their pajamas and participating in a creative PJs contest, Pajamarino organizers said. A pie-eating contest and crafts also are planned, along with light refreshments on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The program also includes the Cal Aggie Marching Band-uh! and the cheer and dance squads, plus other campus performers, including the Lounge Lizards.

When Pajamarino winds up, about 6:30 p.m., organizers said, the band will lead the crowd on a march from the train station to the rally at Davis Commons.

Rally organizers said the event will feature head coach Bob Biggs and his football team.

Homecoming Saturday

The homecoming game is scheduled for Oct. 17 versus the Rams of Winston-Salem State University (North Carolina). Kickoff is 6 p.m. at Aggie Stadium. Tickets are available through the ticket office at Freeborn Hall: (530) 752-1915.

Campus Recreation is organizing a pregame party, from 4 to 6 p.m., at the Rec Pool. "Come out and listen to live music from the featured electronic-rock band The Dead 12-Year-Olds," organizers said in an e-mail announcement.

"Bring your own picnic (no glass or alcohol) with friends before heading out to the homecoming football game."

Admission is free for UC Davis students and members of the Activities and Recreation Center, $6 for the general public.