Sept. 27, 2010
Contact:
Elizabeth Klipp, 404-413-1356
University Relations
ATLANTA – Get ready to kickoff another new tradition at Georgia State University!
For the first time in its nearly 100-year history, Georgia State is celebrating Homecoming during the fall semester. Spirited events start Monday, Sept. 27 and run throughout the week until game day.
For the Homecoming Game, the GSU Panthers will take on the Morehead State Eagles and 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2 in the Georgia Dome. Alumni, students, faculty, staff and community members are encouraged to come out for tailgating and to cheer for GSU.
“It’s important to be a part of history,” said Britney Penn, vice president of student life for the Student Government Association. “This is the first fall Homecoming ever and students should come out and start traditions.”
The Alumni Association Tailgate will start at 10:30 a.m. in the Orange Lot, across from the Georgia Dome. Food and beverages will be provided and President Mark P. Becker and the GSU Marching Band will make a special appearance to welcome alumni. The tailgate is free for current Alumni Association members and children 3 years old and under. Guests of an Alumni Association member and children ages 4-12 are $5 per person. All other guests are $10 per person.
“Homecoming is about reuniting with old friends and catching up, and meeting some new friends too,” said Andrew Pace, who graduated in 1987 and whose son, Jonathan, is a freshman at Georgia State and a legacy in the Sigma Nu fraternity. “I’m excited for Homecoming. I love Georgia State.”
For students, the Student Government Association Tailgate will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the Orange Lot, near the Panther Zone, an interactive tailgating area sponsored by GSU Athletics and the Alumni Association. The SGA tailgate is free and will include games, food, beverages, music and a face painter. Students are also welcome to tailgate on their own in the Brown Lot, which is across the street for the Orange Lot. Parking in the Brown Lot is $10.
Remember, game tickets for GSU students are free, just come to Gate A with a Panther ID.
Shuttles will be picking up and dropping off students at both the Panther's Den on Piedmont Street and in front of G-Deck on Collins Street, next to the GSU Sports Arena. Students also are encouraged to ride MARTA.
The halftime show will include a performance by the GSU Marching Band and the unveiling of the 2010 Homecoming Court.
“Students should come out to show how proud they are of our school,” Brittany Brewer, co-chair of the Homecoming Committee, said. “We have 31,000 students. We need to see more faces.”
The week leading up to the Homecoming game will be full of fun events for all GSU fans.
The Homecoming Carnival with free food and music, games and giveaways will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28 in Hurt Park and on Gilmer Street. Also that day, Georgia State students and employees are urged to donate blood at the annual Colonial Athletic Association Blood Drive from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Sports Arena.
On Wednesday, Sept. 29 at 9 p.m., the community is invited to bring a lawn chair and enjoy the movie, “Date Night,” at Cinema Under the Stars at 9 p.m. on Urban Life Plaza.
A unique part of GSU Homecoming has been the Golf Cart Parade, and it’s sticking around for fall. GSU President Mark P. Becker, GSU cheerleaders, Pounce, as well as students, staff and faculty, will be riding and walking in the Golf Cart Parade. It will kick off at 12:15 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 30 at the University Commons and run through campus.
Off campus Thursday evening, Georgia State is throwing a Homecoming Concert at 8 p.m. featuring Big Boi at Tabernacle Atlanta, 152 Luckie St. Tickets are $15 for GSU students, $25 for general admission and $35 at the door. For more information, please call 404-413-1610.
Alumni and students have different reasons to celebrate on Friday, Oct. 1. For alumni, the first annual Distinguished Alumni Association Awards Dinner starts at 6:30 p.m. With cocktails and dinner served at 7:30 p.m. at the Special Events and Conference Center at 200 Peachtree Ave.
For students, the Homecoming Coronation and Ball will start at 8 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom. The event is free and open to students.
Along with it being game day, Georgia State’s Family Weekend starts Saturday, Oct. 2 with a welcome breakfast at 9 a.m. in the Student Center, followed by classes for parents, lectures and a family tailgate from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. sponsored by the Parent Association in the Dome's Orange Lot.
Students can even celebrate the end of a great week at the Homecoming Finale Bash starting at 9 p.m. after the game in the Student Center Ballroom. The event is free for GSU students and $5 for guests.
“We’ve tried to plan events that will appeal to all students, as well as staff, alumni and visitors,” said Carole Golder, associate director of programs and services in the GSU Student-University Center. “I hope fall Homecoming becomes something that people will look forward to every year and that it gets bigger with more activities and more interaction between alumni and the students.”
For more information, please visit www.gsu.edu/homecoming or http://georgiastatesports.com.