Contact: Kay Fike Jones
STARKVILLE, Miss.--As part of Mississippi State's 2006 Homecoming celebration this weekend, the university's alumni association is hosting a tailgate party Friday [Oct. 13] at the new park.
Featuring music and activities for everyone--and free food for as long as supplies last--"Homecoming Tailgate: Functions at The Junction" begins at 10 a.m. In case of rain, the event will move to the ground-level, east-side stands of nearby Davis Wade Stadium.
Campus radio station WMSV-FM (91.1) will broadcast live 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and its streaming audio will make the party available to listeners around the world via www.wmsv.msstate.edu.
Caricaturist Steve Gipson will open the activities and be at his easel until 2 p.m. At 10:30 a.m., volleyball, badminton and disc golf will be offered until 4:30 p.m., and a punt-pass-kick contest is set for 1-3 p.m.
Barbecue sandwiches, chips, soft drinks, and ice cream will be served 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Children's activities 11 a.m.-6 p.m. include face painting and such games as football throw, cookie walk and ducks on the pond.
Musical entertainment gets under way at 11 a.m. with Jimmy Tomlinson, who plays until 1 p.m. The band "Ex-Supermodel" takes the stage 1-3 p.m., followed by "Big Blue Truck," 3:30-5:30 p.m.
At 6:30 p.m., a pep rally will feature the Famous Maroon Band and MSU cheerleaders. The Homecoming queen and court, along with Mr. and Miss MSU, also will be introduced.
Following the pep rally, "Junction Jamz," a series of concerts, begins at 7:30 p.m. Popular local musician Bill Cooke and other performers also will be featured. Free pizza will be available as long as it lasts.
In addition to the MSU Alumni Association and WMSV, the daylong extravaganza is sponsored by Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. and the MSU Campus Activities Board, recreational sports department, Music Maker Productions, Student Association, and Alumni Delegates.
The campus-wide Homecoming celebration--with the theme "When Legends are Made" --will continue Saturday in advance of the 1:30 p.m. football game with Jacksonville (Ala.) State University. Details on other activities may be found at MSU's game-day Web site: www.gameday.msstate.edu.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.