UA to Hold Annual Homecoming Week Oct. 5-11

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Entertainment, lawn decorations, a parade and a pep rally are all part of The University of Alabama tradition of celebrating Homecoming Week, scheduled this year for Oct. 5-11.

The theme for Homecoming Week 2003 is “The Changing Tide.”

The kickoff for the celebration begins with the 15th annual Roll Tide Run on Sunday, Oct. 5, at 2 p.m. Friday night’s concert on the Quad will feature the Gin Blossoms and india.arie. Popular Gin Blossoms’ songs are “Hey Jealousy” and “Follow You Down.” The concert’s main headliner, india.arie, is well-known for her R&B-styled music, with such hits as “Talk to Her” and “Beautiful Surprise.”

The week will end with the main event, the UA football game against Southern Mississippi at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 11, at 2 p.m.

On Monday, Oct. 6, student organizations can participate in Paint the Town Red, where local businesses on the Strip are decorated with designs in crimson and white paint.

The Homecoming Queen election will be held Tuesday, Oct. 7, from 9 a.m.-midnight.

The queen will be announced at the pep rally on Friday night. She will be crowned during the halftime show at the football game.

Students can also enjoy Bowl for Bama on Wednesday, Oct. 8, from 8 p.m.-1 a.m. at the Bama Bowl.

On Thursday night, a choreography competition will take place at 7 p.m. at the Riverside Amphitheater. The winners of the competition will perform at Homecoming on the Quad on Saturday. The banner contest judging will take place on Thursday.

Events scheduled for Friday, Oct. 10, include the Quad games, which will be from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. and the Road and River Relay, which begins at 2 p.m. The judging of the lawn decorations and Paint the Town Red competitions will begin at 1 p.m.

The traditional bonfire will follow the pep rally, which begins at 7 p.m. on Friday, on the Quad. The pep rally will include the Crimson Tide football team, cheerleaders, students, alumni and guest speakers.

This year, Jeremiah Castille will serve as the grand marshal for the Homecoming parade, which is set for 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11. The parade route will begin in downtown Tuscaloosa, proceed down University Boulevard and conclude at the Russell Student Health Center.

Castille lettered in football from 1979-1982 and played on the 1979 National Championship team. He was selected for the All-Southeastern Conference team in 1981-1982 and named All-American in 1982. He played in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1983 to 1986 and with the Denver Broncos in 1987 and 1988. Castille currently serves as director of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at UA. He also founded Jeremiah Castille Ministries in 2001 to minister to inner-city youth through sports, mentoring and tutoring.

Fans of all ages can also find entertainment at Homecoming on the Quad, Saturday at 10 a.m. Performances will be given by the UA Jazz Ensemble, the UA Jazz Band, NPHC Step Show winners, the Afro-American Gospel Choir, choreography contest winners, Big Al and the UA cheerleaders.

On Saturday, several colleges and schools at the University will host breakfasts or receptions and will be showcased under individual tents around the “Big Top” on the Quad.

The UA 2003 Homecoming schedule includes:

Sunday, Oct. 5

• 15th Annual Roll Tide Run, 2 p.m., begins at U.S. Bureau of the Mines on Capstone Drive

Monday, Oct. 6

• Paint the Town Red competition, the Strip
• Comedy at the Capstone, 8 p.m., Bama Theatre

Tuesday, Oct. 7

• Homecoming Queen Election, 9 a.m.-midnight, Internet voting
• Basketball Tournament, 7 p.m., UA Recreation Center
• Capstone Idol Finale, 7:30 p.m., Ferguson Center Plaza

Wednesday, Oct. 8

• Bowl for Bama, 8 p.m.-1 a.m., Bama Bowl

Thursday, Oct. 9

• Choreography Contest, 7 p.m., Riverside Amphitheatre
• Banner Contest judging, 5 p.m., Tutwiler Residence Hall
• Residence Hall Decoration judging, 4 p.m., Residence Halls

Friday, Oct. 10

• Lawn Decorations and Paint the Town Red judging, 1 p.m.
• Quad Games 2003, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Road and River Relay, 2 p.m., UA Quad
• Pep Rally and Bonfire, 7 p.m., UA Quad
• Gin Blosssoms and india.arie, free concert on the Quad, after pep rally/bonfire

Saturday, Oct. 11

• Homecoming Parade, 9 a.m., begins in downtown Tuscaloosa, proceeds down University Boulevard and ends at the Russell Student Health Center
• Homecoming on the Quad, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
• The Elephant Stomp on the Quad, approximately one hour before game time
• Alabama-Southern Mississippi football game, 2 p.m., Bryant-Denny Stadium

Saturday receptions include:

African-American Alumni Association

Tailgate party at a tent on the Quad beginning at 9:30 a.m. Reception in Alston Hall following the Homecoming game.

Alabama Alumni Association

Entertainment on the Alumni Quad stage, immediately after parade, Alumni Tent

Alumni Council

Breakfast meeting in the Ferguson Center Ballroom, 7:45 a.m.

Capstone College of Nursing

BBQ on the Quad, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., college tent

Capstone Men and Women

Reception for former members on the Quad, 10-11:30 a.m.

Computer-Based Honors Program

Reception, 2 hours prior to kick-off, Maxwell Hall

College of Arts and Sciences

Breakfast and departmental displays and demonstrations on the Quad, 9 a.m., college tent

College of Communication and Information Sciences

Open house, 9 a.m., Reese Phifer Rotunda

College of Education

Breakfast on the Quad, 9-11 a.m., college tent (call 205/348-6881)

College of Engineering

Pre-game party on the Quad, 2 hours prior to kickoff (call 205/348-7674)

College of Human Environmental Sciences

Friday:

• Coffee, 9:30 a.m., Alumni Room, VIP Tours
• Alumni Recognition Convocation, 10:30 a.m., 104 Doster
• Luncheon, noon, J.J. Doster Café (reservations required)
• Campus tours (reservations required)
• Dean’s Reception, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Doster Hall Alumni Room

Saturday:

• Coffee, 9-11 a.m., Doster Hall Alumni Room

Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration

Pre-game picnic on the Quad, 3 hours prior to kickoff, college tent (RSVP required 205/348-6689)

Law School

Pre-game party, Camille Wright Cook Plaza (Law School front porch), 3 hours prior to kickoff (call 205/348-5752 for ticket information)

Alabama Museum of Natural History

Exhibit discussion, 3 hours prior to kickoff, Smith Hall

Office of Undergraduate Admissions

“Welcome to the Crimson Tide Family” tent on Quad, 3 hours prior to kickoff

School of Social Work

Breakfast at Little Hall and tent activities on the Quad, 9 a.m. (RSVP to 205/348-3942)

Student Alumni Association

Children’s tent, 9 a.m. until kickoff

University Honors Program

Cookout at New Hall, 2 hours prior to kickoff (call 205/348-5500)