University of North Texas students are letting their pride run wild in celebration of homecoming 2009.

Events began Tuesday with a picnic and will culminate Saturday night with the Mean Green football team taking on Florida Atlantic University.

This year’s theme is “Wild with Pride.” Michael Luster, director of student involvement, said the theme carries some inspiration from the newly released film Where the Wild Things Are.

UNT drew on contemporary events for last year’s theme as well, with the election-related theme of “Vote Mean Green Nation.”

While there is no specific “wild” event, Luster said, one of the highlights of the week is the bonfire to take place tonight. A student-led march will proceed from Fraternity Row on Maple Street to the bonfire site adjacent to the Athletic Center. The celebration will continue with a yell contest.

“It’s when all the organizations on campus compete against each other, make up dance routines, make up chants — a competition to see who has the most pride,” Luster said.

In addition to other homecoming events — including a Hall of Fame breakfast, tailgating in Mean Green Village and a pregame performance by Brave Combo — Luster is looking forward to the football game and announcement of homecoming king and queen.

“It’s pretty big,” he said of the election that drew about 3,000 total votes for the candidates. “It’s pretty big compared to some of the other years, and I’m looking forward to the outcome of that.”

UNT has a strong, still-developing sense of school pride, Luster said, and efforts to grow it can come from the students and university staff working together.

“It’s something, collectively, both from the students participating in things on campus, showing school pride, wearing green UNT shirts to games, and the school providing things … good football team, athletics.”

Buddy Price, manager of the UNT news service, said UNT pride is felt by more than just its students.

“A lot of people go to homecoming — people that don’t go to games all year. There is definitely good participation from the staff,” he said.

Luster acknowledged the part athletics plays in school pride but said it does not come from sports alone.

“We need to show pride in our organizations, since the main purpose is to promote and represent the school. That would be showing school pride as well,” he said.

BJ LEWIS can be reached at 940-566-6875. His e-mail address is blewis@dentonrc.com.