As the fall air turns crisp and the leaves begin to change, thoughts on the Hill turn to the annual Hillcat Homecoming at Rogers State University. This year’s event is part of RSU’s Centennial Celebration and will be held Friday, Nov. 6, and Saturday, Nov. 7.
“The Centennial Hillcat Homecoming is a community celebration and we hope to see many alumni, returning former faculty, and current students, staff and faculty, as well as community members, at the events capping off our wonderful Centennial year,” said RSU President Dr. Larry Rice.
Homecoming will kick off with an Alumni Golf Tournament. The event will be held at Heritage Hills Golf Course in Claremore and is an opportunity for golfers to meet many of the Hillcat athletes while they support RSU athletics and the RSU Foundation. Team and golf course hole sponsorships as well as individual registrations are still available.
A Hillcat Spirit Bonfire will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday followed by a cookout and concert. The finalists for RSU’s first-ever Homecoming King and Queen also will be announced
In addition to the Homecoming festivities on Saturday, RSU will host “Destination RSU: College Day 2009,” a free event for high school junior and seniors and their parents to learn about college life at RSU. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For more information or to register for the event call (918) 343-7548 or visit www.rsu.edu/destinationrsu/
Saturday’s Homecoming excitement will begin with tailgating outside of the Claremore Expo Center at 11:30 a.m. before the basketball games 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 in honor of the Centennial Celebration. 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.
RSU is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and Sooner Athletic Conference.
“We’re really looking forward to this year’s Centennial Homecoming at RSU,” said RSU Athletic Director Wren Baker. “Homecoming has helped to create a great sense of Hillcat pride both on campus and in the community as we establish a new and proud tradition at RSU.”
The third season of Hillcat basketball promises to be a big one, Baker said. 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. and the men begin their game at 4 p.m. at the Claremore Expo Center. 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. The women’s basketball game begins at 2 p.m. and the men’s game begins at 4 p.m. at the Expo Center. Season tickets for Hillcat athletics may be purchased by calling the ticket office at (918) 343-7731 or through a Hillcat Club membership. For information on the Hillcat Club call (918) 343-7782.
More information about Hillcat Homecoming is available by calling (918) 343-7803.