Contact: Kay Fike Jones
Midnight basketball, food, music, and an Elvis impersonator will be among the highlights Oct. 16-17 when Mississippi State University celebrates 1998 Homecoming.
Activities will culminate with the MSU-East Tennessee State football game and a free concert featuring country music star Tracy Byrd.
At 11 p.m. on the 16th, varsity men's basketball begins its season with a "Midnight Madness" scrimmage in the Newell-Grissom Building. An autograph and photograph session with the players and Bully conclude the inaugural practice session. (For more information, contact David Rosinski at (601) 325-1540.)
On the 17th, state Sen. Tim Johnson of Madison performs his Elvis tribute as part of the College of Arts and Sciences' second Homecoming Extravaganza. Beginning at 10 a.m. behind Hull Hall, Extravaganza activities will include barbecue, bagels and music, along with the MSU cheerleaders and mascot Bully.
Also performing will be the band "Billy and the Kids," featuring Starkville's Bill Cooke. And for the kids, Extravaganza offers face painting, animal-shaped helium balloons and storyteller Mother Goose. (Lee Williams, 325-8850)
In keeping with tradition, Homecoming weekend will be preceded by a variety of anticipatory events. The major ones include:
Oct. 13
--6 p.m., National Bank of Commerce Pops on the Plaza. The Starkville/MSU Symphony Orchestra and Mississippi Boychoir will perform on the NBC Plaza on University Drive in downtown Starkville. In case of rain, the concert moves to the Greensboro Center. (Elizabeth Hawkins, 325-8507)
--7 p.m., free showing--rain or shine--of the movie "X Files: Fight the Future" on the Scott Field Jumbotron. (Campus Activities Board, 325-2930.)
Oct. 15
--6:30 p.m., kick-off of Alcohol Awareness Week, featuring entertainers T.J. and Joel performing "Living in the Age of AIDS/Alcohol" at the MSU RecPlex, east of the Wise Center. Rain moves it to the Bost Extension Center. (Angel Nosser, 325-3063)
Oct. 16
--10 a.m.-1 p.m., Punt and Pass Contest, Drill Field.
--4 p.m., Pep Rally, Drill Field or, if raining, McCarthy Gym.
Oct. 17
--7 a.m., Registration for the 19th annual four-mile run at the Plant Science Research Center on U.S. Highway 82, across from Mississippi Highway Patrol district headquarters. Entry fees for the 8 a.m. race are $5 for MSU students; $10 for non-students. (Vickie Blakely, 325-3917)
--9:30 a.m., Maroon and White baseball scrimmage, Dudy Noble Field.
--10 a.m., Children's pre-game festivities on the Butler-Williams Alumni Center lawn. "Snapshots with Bully" is scheduled 10-11 a.m.
--10:45 a.m., Dedication of the Joe Frank Sanderson Recreation Center.
--11:30 a.m., Reception for Homecoming Queen and Court, Butler-Williams Alumni Center.
--1:30 p.m., football game between MSU and East Tennessee State, Scott Field. Coronation ceremony is set for halftime.
--6 p.m., Tracy Byrd concert, rain or shine at the Amphitheater.
For a complete list of events, contact the MSU Alumni Association at (601) 325-2434.