‘Paint the town orange and brown' at Homecoming

BOWLING GREEN, O.—The Bowling Green State University Falcons take on the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers this weekend in their Homecoming game. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 29) at Doyt Perry Stadium. The game caps a spirit-filled weekend of reunions, entertainment and activities for alumni, current students, faculty and staff, and community friends.

Homecoming 2007 events take place on campus all week, but the festivities go into high gear Friday (Sept. 28) with Falcon Fest, BGSU's brand new party. Alumni, friends and community members are invited for an evening of entertainment, food and fun for all ages, including a tour of the new Sebo Athletic Center.

Falcon Fest from 7:30-9:30 p.m. in Parking Lot L on the north side of the stadium will feature live music by Velvet Jones and other entertainment, along with hands-on creative activities. Tickets are $5 per person and free for children under 5, and include food and beverages. Reservations may be made at bgsualumni.com or by calling 1-888-839-2586.

Before Falcon Fest, BGSU “paints the town orange and brown” at 5 p.m. Friday when the Homecoming Parade gets under way, complete with floats, decorated cars and walking units. The parade will travel along Wooster Street by the campus.  

Following the parade, join the pep rally at 6:15 p.m. outside University Hall to see the crowning of the Homecoming king and queen, and show support for the Falcons.

Mileti Alumni Center is the official Homecoming Headquarters. Everyone is invited to stop in from 3-6 p.m. Friday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday for a Homecoming Survival Kit including a schedule of events, community coupons, shuttle information and more.

For students and more

The BGSU Homecoming Student Steering Committee has planned various activities throughout the week, mostly geared for BGSU students, but open to all Falcon fans.

Homecoming kickoff, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday (Sept. 24) in front of the Bowen-Thompson Student Union, will feature interactive activities, food and beverages. On Tuesday (Sept. 25), Bird Bash, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. on the Union Oval, offers a unique obstacle course for participants.

Wednesday's events (Sept. 26) include Cow Chip bingo in front of University Hall from 1-3 p.m. and an All You Can Eat Pizza Dinner from 7-9 p.m. in the union's Lenhart Grand Ballroom. Proceeds from the dinner will benefit Fisher House, a public-private partnership that supports America's military families in their time of need. Following the dinner, students will compete in the annual Shake Yo' Tail Feathers Lip Sync Competition, also in the ballroom.

Saturday events

The day of the big game begins with the annual Freddie and Frieda 5k Run/Walk at the Student Recreation Center. Sponsored by the Student Alumni Connection, the event is open to all. Registration begins at 7 a.m., and the run/walk starts at 9 a.m. Cost is $20 for adults 18 years of age or older, and $10 for BGSU students and those under 18 and those 60 and older.

The Alumni B!G Family Barbecue will be held from 3:30-6 p.m. in Meijer Tailgate Park in the Doyt Perry Stadium parking lot. Class anniversary celebrations, puppet shows and other entertainment, and many hospitality tents will be found at the tailgate park. The cost of the barbecue is $5 for people ages 5 and older. Reservations for this event also may be made at bgsualumni.com or by calling 1-888-839-2586.

This year's University Activities Organization (UAO) concert is the band Third Eye Blind. The group will perform at 9:30 p.m. Saturday in Anderson Arena. Tickets, available at the information desk in the union, are $20 for BGSU students and $25 for general admission. For additional information, contact the UAO office at 2-2486 or by email at myuao@bgsu.edu.

Also Saturday, the admissions office will be giving a campus tour at 10 a.m. and presentation at 11 a.m., with a special welcome to sons and daughters of alumni. Register in advance at http://www.bgsu.edu.

Homecoming Weekend reunions

As always, Homecoming is a time for alumni to reconnect. Several special reunions are planned this year, including the 50th/Pioneer Reunion Brunch, on Saturday, for those who graduated in 1957 or earlier. A special reception for the class of 1957 will be held on Friday. The Class of 1967 will also host a brunch on Saturday and a reception on Friday to celebrate its 40-year reunion.

The BG News Alumni Society will get together from 4-6 p.m. Saturday at the Meijer Tailgate Park. For more information on that event, call 419-372-2607 or email bgnewsalumni.com. Also meeting from 4-6 p.m. at the tailgate park will be the Honors Alumni Society. Call Jodi Devine at
419-372-8504 or email honors@bgsu.edu to sign up.

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(Posted September 25, 2007)