Facts: Last week AASAP organized homecoming week. Homecoming week organized school spirit through activities in and around campus and culminated in the N.C . State-Clemson football game Saturday. N.C . State won 37-13

Our Opinion: Start to finish; homecoming was a success this year. Whether its free food, shirts, or that dropping of a rival and a top 10, homecoming fired on all cylinders. The student-lead homecoming week was something special, something that should be applauded.

Fresh off the heels of dropping the Heels and dropping one to Boston College we entered homecoming week. We entered into a week of celebration. We entered a week that magnetized the N.C . State family, bringing students, alumni, faculty and the community together all through a football game.

Often unrecognized, but possibly one of the most impressive aspects of homecoming week is the student leadership involved. Homecoming week is organized by the Alumni Association Student Ambassador Program and assisted by other student organizations on campus. Through partnerships with local companies and other groups ASSAP provides all homecoming activities free of charge to students, all they have to do is show up and show their spirit. AASAP efforts have made homecoming at N.C . State the largest student-led homecoming in the ACC.

AASAP started homecoming week with a “Kick Off that lived up to the theme “tame the tigers.” With inflatables , crafts, caricature artists, the circus theme hit home in a great way. Homecoming shirts and pizzas were available free of charge to any students who showed up and while supplies lasted. The success of the event foreshadowed the success of the rest of the week.

Throughout the week AASAP fed students through their “Wear Red Get Fed” campaign, an event easy on the eyes and the stomach. Every day in the brickyard, AASAP partnered with local restaurants to bring food to students wearing at least a handful of red. Food was provided by student favorites such as: Moes , Dominos, and Marcos. Food flew out of as soon as it was delivered. Generally, within an hour supplies were exhausted, leaving nothing but a sea of red in the brickyard.

As school sprit approached its peak, we took to the streets. The parade on Hillsborough street Friday displayed the creativity and the vigor found at N.C . State. The parade was a sight to behold. Paper-mache tigers were juxtaposed against wolves. Students dressed themselves in tiger costumes and caged themselves. And as the band marched down the street and the Chancellor cruised by a tangible sense of community was solidified for all those spectating.

The only thing that stood in the way of a perfect homecoming week were the #7 Clemson Tigers. With the electricity of the week coursing through the veins of everyone in Carter-Finely Stadium on Saturday we all knew we were about to see something special; however, what we saw exceeded all expectations. Glennon’s arial assault and our lock-down defense yielded a score that still requires a double take. It was the perfect cap to the most iconic week of the college experience.