September 27, 2005 — This year’s Homecoming Week promises to be bigger, louder and entertain more people than in years past. The theme for Utah Homecoming 2005 is “Red Reign” to play off of the Ute football team’s reign as Mountain West Conference champs.
Homecoming kicks off the week of Monday, Oct. 10 with an expanded Student House Decorating Contest and runs through Saturday, Oct. 15, when the University of Utah football team plays San Diego State at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Student royalty will be selected the first week of October and the winners will receive scholarships. This year’s Homecoming marshals are Ray and Yo Uno, longtime University supporters and community activists. Homecoming royalty and marshals participate throughout the week by helping to judge events and they will be honored at a special halftime ceremony during the football game.
One of the most popular Homecoming traditions is changing this year. The annual pep rally on the evening of Thursday, Oct. 13 will feature a “Battle of the Bands” instead of a bonfire. The state fire marshal has prohibited all Utah colleges and universities from lighting fires during their pep rally celebrations. During the band competition, six student rock/pop bands will face-off on two separate stages and a winner will be declared by the end of the night. The pep rally will also feature food and games, as well as appearances by the football team players and coaches, and performances by the Ute Marching Band, Cheerleaders, and Swoop.
Homecoming Events:
- Mon., Oct. 10: Greek House Decorating Contest
- Tues., Oct. 11: Bennion Center Hunger Banquet
- Wed., Oct. 12: Songfest
- Thurs., Oct. 13: Pep Rally
- Fri., Oct. 14: “3 Club” Golf Tournament, Class of 1965 and Emeritus Reunions, Former Utah Athletes Reunion Social, ASUU Student Dance
- Sat., Oct. 15: 5K Scholarship Run/Walk/Stroll, Pre-game BBQ, Utah vs. San Diego State Football Game
The Bennion Center Hunger Banquet will be held Tuesday night from 6 – 7:30 p.m. in the Gould Auditorium of the Marriott Library. With all of the displaced hurricane evacuees, this year’s banquet is more important than ever. General admission is $10 or 10 cans of food. Student admission is $5 or 5 cans of food. All proceeds will be donated to Oxfam America in order to assist with the Hurricane Katrina Relief effort. Food items will be donated to the Utah Food Bank.
Fraternity & Sorority chapters will perform song-and-dance routines while competing for prizes during this year’s Songfest competition. The fun is slated for Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. in the Union Ballroom. Performances are judged for creativity, quality and incorporation of the Homecoming theme.
An extra flight has been added to the popular “3-club” golf tournament on Friday, Oct. 14 at the University of Utah Golf Course. Lots of prizes await all registered teams. Format is a four person scramble with a shotgun start.
As game time approaches the parties begin with two big reunions both slated for Friday evening, Oct. 14. The former Utah Athletes Reunion Social will be held at 7 p.m. on the 6th floor of Rice-Eccles Stadium Tower. Up the street at the same time is the 1965 class Reunion/Emeritus Reunion beginning at 6 p.m. in the Alumni House. Anyone who graduated from the University at least 40 years ago is invited to attend. And closing things down as always are the students with their annual ASUU Homecoming Dance at Trolley Square which gets underway at 8:30 p.m.
The final pre-game events are Saturday before kick-off of the Homecoming football contest between Utah and San Diego State. The Young Alumni 5K Scholarship Run/Walk/Stroll gets underway at 9 a.m. at the Alumni House with registration starting at 8 a.m. And finally, fans can eat and prepare for a Ute victory by attending the Pre-Game Barbecue at the Eccles Tennis Center North Lawn, two hours before game time.