167 MTSU HOMECOMING WILL FEATURE 'A RED, WHITE & BLUE RAIDER SALUTE’ NOV. 10

Release date: Oct. 30, 2007

News & Public Affairs contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-2919
Office of Alumni Relations contact: Michelle Stepp, 615-898-2922
SGA contact: Mark Murphy, homecoming director, 615-898-2464

MTSU HOMECOMING WILL FEATURE 'A RED, WHITE & BLUE RAIDER SALUTE’ NOV. 10


(MURFREESBORO) — Students, alumni and veterans groups continue to work feverishly in preparation for “A Red, White and Blue Raider Salute” – the theme for MTSU’s 2007 homecoming activities.
The theme is a tie-in for the combined homecoming and Salute to Armed Forces, which will be held Saturday, Nov. 10, at various venues on and off campus.
There will be events before and after the 2:30 p.m. Sun Belt Conference football game between the Blue Raiders and visiting Louisiana-Lafayette. All alumni, friends of the university and fans of the Blue Raiders are invited to attend homecoming.
“Rather than having two separate celebrations, we decided to tie everything together and just make it one huge event,” said Mark Murphy, the Student Government Association’s homecoming director. “We will be honoring our nation’s men and women who have or are currently serving in the United States military.
“Each student group has a patriotic or military theme to base their floats on for the parade as well as other events.”
Months of planning will culminate with the homecoming week festivities, which will include the annual parade, Mixer on Middle Parade-Watching Party, veterans and armed forces picnic and memorial service, golf tournament, game-day tailgating, reunions (Golden Raider, Band of Blue, cheerleader, homecoming queen, fraternities and sororities), Chili Cook-Off, Tent City and more.
“We hope all faculty and staff will join us for the most family-friendly homecoming to date,” said Michelle Stepp, Office of Alumni Relations associate director. “Everyone should experience campus on homecoming day! There’s an excitement in the air of friends both old and new coming back to campus to share in the fun.
“Everything is bigger than ever this year. The parade is bigger, the tailgating is more fun and family friendly than ever and our event, the Mixer on Middle Parade-Watching Party, will grow to more than 500 people this year. We encourage everyone to come out and enjoy a great atmosphere and, more importantly, to honor our armed forces.”
Dr. Bob Womack, alumnus (B.S. ’48) and professor of education in the Office of Educational Leadership, will serve as parade grand marshal. A past recipient of the Salute to Armed Forces Joe Nunley Award, Womack is in his 50th year of teaching the philosophy and history of education at MTSU.
Baby Raiders (and their parents) are encouraged to walk in the parade, which will begin on Maney Avenue, turn onto East Main Street, turn again onto Middle Tennessee Boulevard and end at Greenland Drive.
There likely will be strong competition again in both the Chili Cook-Off Nov. 9 and Tailgate Contest starting at noon Nov. 10.
Murfreesboro native Chris Young, a former MTSU student who was the 2006 Nashville Star winner and an RCA recording artist, will sing the national anthem.
MTSU will pay tribute to veterans and current members of the armed forces before and during the game. This will include video board messages from alumni soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan throughout the game.
The alumni relations staff is excited about its second Mixer on Middle Parade-Watching Party, with breakfast and drinks ($10 beverage band) for all ages.
MT athletics will be collecting Toys for Tots. Fans’ new toy donations will be collected at the gate, said Brad Smith, assistant marketing director/group sales.
For more alumni-related information, call 1-800-533-6878 or visit mtalumni.com. For MTSU news and information, go to mtsunews.com.
For more SGA-related information, call Murphy at 615-898-2464 or visit mtsu.edu/~sga/homecoming.
For football game tickets, call 1-888-YES-MTSU (937-6878).
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Student Government Association-related homecoming events

Monday, Nov. 5 – 25-cent -25 cent refill cups in the KUC
Tuesday, Nov. 6 – Swap Day at KUC
Wednesday, Nov. 7 – Horse Shoe Competition, 5:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 9 – Chili Cook-Off, 5:30 p.m., Soccer Complex
NPHC Step Show, 7:30 p.m., Murphy Center
Saturday, Nov. 10
10 a.m. – Homecoming Parade
Noon – Tailgate competition
12:30 p.m. – Raider Walk
2:30 p.m. – MTSU vs. Louisiana-Lafayette, Floyd Stadium homecoming events

MTSU National Alumni Association-related homecoming events

Week of Nov. 5-10 – T-shirt Swap, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Alumni House
Friday, Nov. 9
11 a.m. – Homecoming Golf Tournament, Old Fort Golf Course;
4:30 p.m. – Golden Raider Reunion, Kennon Hall of Fame (salutes Class of ’57);
5:30-7:30 p.m. – Chili Cook-Off, Murphy Center parking lot;
6 p.m. – Phi Chi Alumnae Reunion, Marinas on the Square Italian Restaurant (for information, contact Melissa Bosi (bosi2@gmail.com) or call 404-406-1566;
7:30 p.m. – Alumni Band Concert, T. Earl Hinton Music Hall in Wright Music Building;
7:30 p.m. – NPHC Step Show, Murphy Center;
8-11 p.m. – African American Alumni Council Scholarship Benefit, hosted by Darrell and Gloria Freeman, $25 per person (advance reservations required, call 615-898-2922 to confirm, deadline is Nov. 7), Valerie Avent (vavent@mtsu.edu) or call 615-898-2718 for more information.

Saturday, Nov. 10
8:30 a.m. – Veterans Memorial Service and groundbreaking for a permanent “living memorial” veterans’ plaza, Tom H. Jackson Building (for more information, contact Robyn Kilpatrick at 615-898-5223 or e-mail rkilpatr@mtsu.edu;
9 a.m. – Mixer on Middle Parade-Watching Party, MTSU Alumni House;
10 a.m. – Annual Homecoming Parade, which begins on Maney Avenue, follows East Main Street, turns onto Middle Tennessee Boulevard and ends on Greenland Drive (Baby Raiders encouraged to participate);
11 a.m.-1 p.m. – Salute to Armed Forces Picnic, Kennon Hall of Fame (features presentation of Joe Nunley Award to Brad Miller);
11:30 a.m. – Iota Tau Alumni Reception, Fairview Building (for information, e-mail dlp2r@mtsu.edu or call 615-556-1110;
Noon – Tent City, Walnut Grove (participating colleges include graduate studies, liberal arts, business, honors, basic and applied sciences, education and behavioral science and mass communication);
Noon – Tailgate contest, Walnut Grove and Greenland Drive tailgating areas, with lunch provided by ARAMARK;
12:30 p.m. – Raider Walk, Blue Horseshoe in Walnut Grove;
2:30 p.m. – MTSU vs. Louisiana-Lafayette, Floyd Stadium;
9 p.m. – Al Wilkerson Scholarship Dance, Doubletree Hotel (for information, call 615-898-2718 or e-mail vavent@mtsu.edu;
Other activities include Alumni Band Day, Varsity Club Reception (e-mail Jim Simpson at jsimpson@mtsu.edu) and Alumni Homecoming Queen and Cheerleader reunions.
For more information, visit mtalumni.com or call 1-800-533-6878.
Source: Office of Alumni Relations.

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Media welcomed.

Editor’s note: 2006 Homecoming file photos are available. To get, call 615-898-2919.