MSU’s weekend-long alumni extravaganza will kick off today at 5:30 p.m. with the annual Homecoming parade.
The Alumni Delegates are sponsoring the Homecoming parade with almost 30 units participating. “A Bulldog State of Mind” will be the parade’s theme. The parade will include clowns, horses, the pep band, floats, MSU cheerleaders, vintage Coca-Cola cars and the Homecoming Court.
The parade, which will begin at the cornerof Nash Street and University Drive, will travel east on Barr Ave., go south onto B.S. Hood Road and east again onto Creelman Street ending at the amphitheatre, where a pep rally will follow.
It will not travel Lee Boulevard as in years past. Students will tailgate behind the amphitheatre following the pep rally from 5 to 7 p.m.
This kicks off a lengthy list of parties, breakfasts and brunches for alumni.
Saturday morning, alumni can make an early start with a “Run with the Big Dawgs” sponsored by the Student Association.
Beginning at 8 a.m. at the North Farm off of Miss. Highway 182, the 26th annual event will run for four miles.
Registration begins at 7 a.m. with a $10 fee for students and a $15 fee for alumni.
Several colleges also have events planned for alumni.
“Colleges plan either breakfast, brunch or tailgate activities for our alumni,” said alumni associate director Libba Andrews.
For Agricultural alums a Homecoming breakfast will be served at the Bost Extension Center from 7:45 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday.
The University Honors Program is sponsoring a tailgate for alumni who have graduated with honors. The Hull Hall front lawn will host the tailgate starting at 10:30 a.m.
The College of Education will host an alumni brunch in front of Allen Hall from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
The college’s new dean Robert Blackbourn will be introduced at the brunch.
Alumni who graduated with engineering degrees, are invited to the McCain Hall foyer, for a brunch at 9:30 a.m.
The Pegasus Cafeteria the Wise Center will host the College of Business and Industry alumni for a brunch from 8:30 to 10 a.m.
Similar cross-collegiate activities will also take place. Alumni can watch the Homecoming Court procession at the Hunter Henry Center, where alumni activities are stationed. The procession will begin at 11:30 a.m. and end at 12:30 p.m.
Alumni can see the changes in the resdience halls they once lived in during residence hall open house for alumni from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. Snacks and beverages will be served.
“We have the goal of these activities in mind to build on traditions and show off the university.” Andrews said. “All the planning and costs are borne by each unit.”
Andrews said that alumni relations are important because alumni are the university’s best advocates.
“They raised the most money. They help get money from the legislature, and they are our most influential recruiters,” she said.
“Homecoming for alumni is a time for them to experience the old and the new, fond memories and familiar faces combined with exciting changes and new ideas.”
“Our university is deeply rooted in its alumni relationship,” said Michael Richardson, coordinator of chapter programs. “Homecoming is great PR for alumni. I just talked to an alum that wants to take her young daughter around campus before the game. We’ll have a lot of buildings open.”
“We expect a huge crowd,” Andrews said. “Thousands,” she added. “We want to fill up the stadium.”
Although some alumni get more scholarly and media recognition than others, Andrews said that this is to honor all the alumni. “All of the MSU alumni are notable,” she said.