[144] Week of events leads to MTSU homecoming game Oct. 5

SGA, Alumni activities add spirit to campus before MT-East Carolina game

MURFREESBORO — MTSU homecoming week student and alumni activities are well underway as the campus and community spirit rises in anticipation of Homecoming Day Saturday, Oct. 5.

With the theme of “The Deep Blue Sea,” all of this week’s events will build toward Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. CDT nationally televised (Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports National) football game against East Carolina in Floyd Stadium. It will be MTSU’s first home game as a member of Conference USA. The university officially joined C-USA July 1.

To find the respective alumni and Student Government Association activities, go online to www.mtalumni.com (click on the “The Deep Blue Sea” graphic at the top of the page) or http://www.mtsu.edu/sga/hc_activities.php on the SGA site for student events. A printable campus map can be found at http://tinyurl.com/MTSUParkingMap13-14.

“Homecoming 2013 will celebrate alumni and community pride for MTSU,” Alumni Relations assistant director Rhonda King said. “… We welcome alumni from across the nation back to campus during Homecoming Week.”

Brandon Loso, SGA homecoming director, said “homecoming serves as a time for the university and community to come together to celebrate 103 years of True Blue Pride at Middle Tennessee State University.”

Two new events add to this year’s festivities.

Alumni has a new community event: The True Blue Homecoming Pep Rally at The Avenue adjacent to Interstate 24. It will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3.

There will be inflatables, a party fire truck, prizes and giveaways, and loads of MT spirit, King said. She added that the athletic ticket office will be on-site selling tickets, and that the MTSU cheerleaders, pep band and Lightning will attend.

Loso said the SGA “has worked to create new events as well as expand the current traditions that our student body, faculty and staff, community and alumni can all get excited about.”

The SGA will unveil the Freshman Treasure Walk, which will be held starting at 5 p.m. Oct. 2 in the Student Union Commons. Loso said the “event was created along with the Connection Point for our freshman class to place an emphasis on their involvement on campus.” There will be a disc jockey, giveaways from local businesses and “The Deep Blue Sea” homecoming cake prepared by MT Dining.

(To get freshmen more involved and “connected” to campus, the first-year Connection Point program requires they attend six of 16 campus activities. Visit http://www.mtsu.edu/stuaff/connect/VolFair.php to view all of the Connection Points this fall.)

During the week, alumni and students will find food (Tuesday, Oct. 1, Chili Cook-Off at Stones River Mall and plenty to eat Oct. 5 with tailgating), fun and fellowship as Blue Raider Nation prepares to sink the visiting East Carolina Pirates’ ship.

Nashville-based indie-progressive rock band Moon Taxi, which has performed at Bonnaroo, Forecastle, Lalollapalooza and other venues, will play at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2, in the Student Union Ballroom. Visit Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/events/432618513510512/.) for more details.

The Golden Raiders Reunion and Induction Ceremony for the Class of 1963 takes place at 12:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4, in the Student Union.

For the younger crowd, the popular National Pan-Hellenic Council Step Show will be held starting at 7 p.m. Oct. 4 in Murphy Center.

Voice of the Blue Raiders Chip Walters (Class of 1985) and Murfreesboro journalist and sports talk broadcaster Monte Hale Jr. (Class of ’86) will broadcast the 10 a.m. Oct. 5 Homecoming Parade from The Alumni House front lawn, 2259 Middle Tennessee Blvd., which is the location for the 9:30 a.m. Mixer on Middle.

Parade grand marshal will be Darrell Freeman (Class of ’87), founder and executive chairman of Zycron Inc., a Nashville-based company that helps hospitals manage information technology, which began in an MTSU dormitory room. Freeman was the 2002 MTSU Young Alumni Achievement Award recipient. He recently was named by Gov. Bill Haslam to represent the seventh Congressional District on the Tennessee Board of Regents, the governing body for all of Tennessee’s community colleges and most of the public universities.

MTSU 2013-14 Distinguished Alumni recipients Keith Taylor of New York City, Larry Cox of Knoxville, Tenn., and Stephen Smith of Brentwood, Tenn., and 2013-14 Young Alumni Achievement honoree Aaron Carlton of Eagleville, Tenn., and Caracas, Venezuela, will ride in the parade.

The popular fifth annual Baby Raider Ride Contest again will be part of the parade. Children and grandchildren of alumni, fans or friends of the university can participate. Participants’ parents, grandparents or guardians can register online. Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m., with the judging at 9:15. Email questions to Rhonda.King@mtsu.edu.

Find more about homecoming on Facebook (MTSU Homecoming) or Twitter (@MTSUHomecoming).