The men of Simpson celebrate the homecoming victory in September 2023. Courtesy | Zach Ponraj

Did Simpson win homecoming? Yes. Does Simpson deserve to have the trophy? Yes. Does Simpson need it? No. The trophy — part of which is still at large — is just a symbol. It ceases to mean victory the moment it leaves Simpson.

There’s a reason we don’t post guards around the trophy. We like to say in Simpson that the telos of the dorm is not a trophy. We put our heart and soul into homecoming, not for a metal cup, but because we believe our men must deepen their ability to love. Devoting one week to homecoming is perfect training for devoting the rest of your life to your wife, your children, and your God. When Simpson men give their all to the silliest events you can imagine, you see crazy people; we see great husbands, fathers, and Christians being made.

As resident assistants, we have seen the courage it takes the freshmen to enter into the Simpson homecoming legacy just two weeks into college. At first, they attend Mock Rock practice because upperclassmen tell them to, but then they show up out of brotherly love. We don’t lose sleep and work like dogs for ourselves; we pour everything into homecoming for the men next to us in Mock Rock. Each Simpson man wants that victory not only for himself, but for his roommate, for his RAs, and for the seniors he sees giving their all to one last campaign for victory. Nothing can take away the friendships we forge in homecoming. Just look at us two: last May we were best man and groom together in a wedding party with seven Simpson men. We will know each other the rest of our lives, and that all began with homecoming.

We don’t need to go on a wild goose chase for the trophy. So you know where the trophy is? In Cormac McCarthy’s “No Country for Old Men,” Chigurh says it best: “I know something better … I know where it’s going to be … It will be brought to me and placed at my feet.” The trophy will be brought to us when the men of Simpson win homecoming next fall.

Ecce Viri. Simpson Forever.

Ezra Phillips is a senior studying English. Jonathan Williams is a senior studying English.