The annual Hillcat Homecoming at Rogers State University will be held this Friday and Saturday and is part of RSU’s year-long Centennial Celebration.
After the Friday morning Alumni Golf Tournament, the RSU men’s soccer team will host Oklahoma Christian at 6 p.m. on Soldier Field as part of the Sooner Athletic Conference playoffs. Then Homecoming will heat up with the Hillcat Spirit Bonfire at 7:30 p.m.
The bonfire will be followed by a cookout and concert by the local band Hiphopotamus. Nominated for a 2009 Urban Tulsa Weekly Absolute Best of Tulsa award, Hiphopotamus is a socially conscious, positive band that mixes recorded hip hop with live music. The band has been invited to play various music festivals including D-fest in 2007 and Wakarusa in 2008.
The finalists for RSU’s first-ever Homecoming King and Queen also will be announced at the bonfire.
Saturday’s Homecoming excitement will begin with tailgating outside of the Claremore Expo Center at 11:30 a.m. to help get the fans fueled up before the Hillcats take to the court.
This year, the pre-game fun will include an Alumni Tailgate. There is a special package offer for RSU Alumni and friends. The Alumni Homecoming Package includes a Centennial Homecoming t-shirt, tailgate lunch ticket, alumni section basketball game ticket for both games and a one-year membership to the RSU Alumni Association at the discounted price of $20. Packages will also be sold during the event on Saturday.
The third season of Hillcat basketball promises to be a big one, said Athletic Director Wren Baker. Last year the men’s basketball team finished the season by winning the Sooner Athletic Conference tournament and ranking No. 1 in the NAIA National coaches’ poll. The women’s basketball program made great strides last season and has plans for a national tournament berth this year, he said.
The women’s game starts at 2 p.m. against Central Christian College and the men begin their game against Our Lady of the Lake at 4 p.m. at the Claremore Expo Center. The name of RSU’s mascot the Hillcat will be announced during the women’s half-time and the university’s inaugural Hillcat Homecoming King and Queen will be announced during half-time of the men’s game.
Admission to RSU basketball games is free for children under eight and RSU faculty, staff and students. General admission for games is $7 per person, reserved seating is $12 per person, non-RSU students and seniors are $4 per person.
More information about Hillcat Homecoming is available by calling (918) 343-7803 or visiting http://www.rsu.edu/homecoming.