At the University of Montevallo, there is no football team. But that doesn’t mean that we don’t have a homecoming tradition, because trust me, we do. College Night is the longest running homecoming traditions in the nation. But don’t let the name fool you, its not just one night. The College Night season (yes, it is a season) runs from the beginning of the second semester to about the middle of February.

"From the outside looking in you can't understand it, and from the inside looking out you can't explain it." That’s exactly what College Night is. It’s a Montevallo thing and only a Montevallo thing.

So how does the only public liberal arts school in the state of Alabama celebrate homecoming and why is this so-called “season” so long? Our school colors are purple and gold and the two colors are their own individual sides that compete against each other to earn points while also bringing the campus together. Students get to choose which side they want to be on based on specific aspects and qualities that make them unique.

Purple side is all about family with smaller families within it. New students who decide to be a purple are referred to as “baby purples” and then get adopted into their own smaller family. Once you’re adopted, you find another single purple who you want to marry, but you can’t get married until you have experienced your first College Night.

Purple side’s mascot is a cow and they love to give (and get) stuffed cows or anything cow print as a gift for any occasion. When purple side circles up, their circle is unbroken because a united circle is a united side.

Gold side is all about family as well but doesn't have smaller, individual families like Purple side. Their mascot is a lion, but they don't exchange stuffed lions like purple side exchanges cows. When gold side circles up, they leave a hole in the circle because there is always room for one more gold.

College Night is a completely voluntary event that students participate in, as well as being completely student driven. Both sides are led by two students, a male and a female. The side leaders are nominated by the cabinet members of the sides and then those who participated in the previous College Night get to vote on the leaders. The leaders appoint cabinet members who oversee different aspects of the sides.

So finally, what happens during the College Night? Well… a lot. Points are earned through various ways. These points are known as “pre-production points.” Throughout the season, there are four sporting events that the winning side of the event gets points for: male ultimate frisbee, female volleyball, male basketball and female basketball. Students on their respective sides tryout to make the team for these events and they are coached by students. There is also a cheerleading competition that the sides earn points from.

The major component of College Night that a large chunk of the points comes from is the musicals. Wait, musicals? Yes, musicals. Each side chooses an original script that is written by a student from their respective sides and perform the musical for four nights at the end of the season. A cast is chosen by the leaders from auditions to perform in these musicals and from the start of second semester until the end of the season, the cast rehearses everyday. There is also an orchestra that plays the music for the musicals, which is also originally written by students.

At the end of the College Night season, the productions are performed to the public on Wednesday through Saturday night, with Saturday night being the big night. On Saturday night, anonymous judges, chosen by the College Night committee (the only aspect that isn’t student driven), judge the productions and award points. Overall, College Night is a very creative process.

But wait? How do we know who wins? On Saturday night, after both sides have performed their show for the last time, they get on stage separated with the current Student Government Association president standing in the middle. Each side chooses a phrase from their script and the SGA president gives a speech of sorts and they end the speech with the winning side’s phrase. It’s pretty intense.

And this all occurs within a month and a half worth of time while also juggling classes. I know I probably sound crazy right now. There is a lot more that I could talk about, like the cheers or the production book or green side (neutral) or other aspects of College Night that allow students from any interest or field of study to participate. But if I did that, you would think I am even crazier.

So yeah, that is College Night. You’ve never heard of anything like it, at least until now. But that is because it’s only a Montevallo thing.