This year The Big Bone will be played at Independence High School. This is a first for the long running competition between Lincoln High School  San Jose High that dates back 74 Years. Other firsts include the first ever tie between Big Bone Queens, and the first time big bone royalty has been allowed to choose their gender.

The Game

Kick off will take place at 11 a.m. on Thanksgiving day as usual. Due to construction at San Jose City College (SJCC) football stadium the game has been moved to Independence. ¨It’s kinda weird,” said coach Collins, “We have a routine that we do when we go there.¨ When asked how this would affect the players’ performance,  Coach Collins said: ¨I think they’d rather play at city college but once we start the game it isn’t going to matter.¨

The first Big Bone game ever played was at San Jose State in 1942. Most games since then have been played at San Jose Community College. More Big Bone history can be found here.

Royalty

For 74 years Big Bone has stuck to fairly standard homecoming traditions. 2016, however, has seen a shake-up in these traditions, being the first year ever where there was a tie in Big Bone queens. Cecilia Madrigal-Gonzalez and Maya Broadnax will both be the next Big Bone Queens. “When I first found out there was a tie I didn’t really care,” Ms. Broadnax told Lion Tales “The more people the better.” “I was surprised,” said Ms. Madrigal-Gonzalez, ” [I was] not expecting to win, but happy I get to share [the title] with someone who truly deserves it as well.”

Besides the tie, this is also a special year for royalty, as candidates can pick the gender they wish to identify with. More Big Bone royalty history can be found here

Big Bone Ball

This year is also a first for the number of tickets sold for homecoming, with 1,100 tickets having been sold between both Lincoln and San Jose High. Since the Lincoln gym can’t hold that many students, a tent will be set up next to the gym to accommodate the larger numbers.

All in all this year’s Big Bone is a historic one, with both the game and dance marking unique reversals in homecoming conventions. Without a doubt, the 2016 Big Bone will be one to remember.