Contact: University Relations (517) 355-2281, or hodack@msu.edu
10/5/2000
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State University is gearing up for Homecoming 2000 with a variety of fun-filled activities celebrating past, present and future Spartan champions.
The date: Oct. 9-14. The theme: Champions 2000. And who better to serve as grand marshal of the celebration and surrounding activities than NCAA men's basketball coach, Tom Izzo?
"It's always a great time to be a Spartan and Homecoming provides a perfect way for family, friends, students and alumni to show their green and white," said Joanne McPherson, MSU first lady and Homecoming committee co-chairperson. " This year is especially wonderful. We're at the start of a new century, we're home of the reigning Citrus Bowl champions, the CCHA tournament champions and the NCAA men's basketball champions, and we're looking forward to more wonderful times ahead."
Grand River Avenue will come alive on Friday, Oct. 13, when the annual Homecoming Parade begins at 6 p.m. The parade will feature the MSU Homecoming Court, MSU President Peter McPherson, MSU First Lady Joanne McPherson, Grand Marshal Tom Izzo, the Spartan Marching Band, the MSU cheerleaders, floats designed by MSU students and several area high school marching bands.
Parade participants will make their way south on Abbott Road from the intersection of Abbott and Burcham in East Lansing, east on Grand River Avenue and south on Bogue Street before reaching the IM East Field where the parade ends with a bang: fireworks. In addition to the fireworks display, post-parade activities include performances by the Spartan Marching Band and the awards presentation for the best floats.
Following the fireworks, alumni, students and friends can head over to Breslin Center for some late-night basketball fun with the MSU men's and women's basketball teams. "The Main Event" will kick off the 2000-2001 season at midnight on Oct. 14. Doors will open at 10:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 13. Admission is free. Fans can get autographs and enjoy performances by the MSU Marching Band, MSU Cheerleaders, MSU Motion and Sparty. Contests, raffles and prizes will also be part of the festivities. Scrimmages begin at midnight.
Before fans head to Spartan Stadium on Saturday, they can rally at the annual Green and White Pregame Brunch at the Kellogg Center. Special guests include President and First Lady Peter and Joanne McPherson, Homecoming Grand Marshal Coach Tom Izzo, Head Football Coach Bobby Williams, Athletic Director Clarence Underwood, the Homecoming Court, MSU Marching Band, MSU Cheerleaders and Sparty. Preregistration is necessary so call the MSU Alumni Association, (517) 355-8314, for tickets.
Don't forget to show your support for MSU Safe Place, get a sweet treat and maybe win MSU basketball or hockey tickets! For a small donation to benefit MSU Safe Place, the nation's only on-campus domestic violence shelter and program, guests can get a Homecoming Champion Cookie, decorated in a Spartan motif. Three specially marked sticks used as handles for the cookies will award one pair of tickets to either a men's basketball game, a women's basketball game or a Spartan hockey game. Other sticks will feature runner-up prizes. Cookies will be available before, during and after the game on the north side of the stadium or from the golf carts cruising the tailgate parties.
The MSU football team, champions of the 2000 Citrus Bowl, will square off against the Wisconsin Badgers at 12:10 p.m. for the sold-out homecoming football game. Halftime will feature a special appearance by Tom Izzo, the presentation of the 2000 Homecoming Court and a performance by the Spartan Marching Band.
One of MSU's favorite traditions, the Spartan Spectacular, will bring Homecoming 2000 to a close. The Spartan Marching Band, the MSU Jazz Band I and the MSU Wind Symphony will assemble at the Breslin Student Events Center at 8 p.m. for a performance of Spartan classics and more. Tickets are available at the Breslin Student Events Center Box Office.
Other weekend events include the Sounds of Homecoming Concert featuring various MSU bands, a Homecoming Pre-Pep Rally, an MSU Black Alumni Homecoming Dance and a number of college pregame gatherings.
Everyone with access to a computer can keep up-to-date with all of the latest homecoming information by logging onto the official Web site, developed and maintained by University Relations. The site is located at http://www.homecoming.msu.edu.
Visitors to the site will find the latest details about events, parking information, photos and can even listen to the MSU Fight Song. The site offers links to other sites, including the athletics and alumni home pages.