Homecoming

Mercerians attending Homecoming during the last couple of years may be surprised to know the tradition in its current form is new to Mercer. The event has been celebrated sporadically during Mercer’s history and was typically focused on student events with very few, if any, alumni activities. It is rapidly becoming a popular tradition.

“It was not until President Underwood came that we got alumni involved in Homecoming and it became a major event,” said Dr. Barry Jenkins, vice provost for institutional effectiveness and former longtime dean of students. “In the past, we had alumni weekends and they were in the spring and they were not associated with an athletic event.”

But that has changed since 2007. Homecoming is now a significant event with a bonfire and pep rally, fireworks show, a 5K race, student skit competition, and basketball games against the likes of Georgia Tech and Florida State. This year, Homecoming will be held the week of Nov. 15, culminating with a host of activities that weekend, including a women’s basketball game against Furman and a men’s game against Harvard.

The campus comes alive on Friday afternoon with Half Century Club activities and the women’s basketball game against Furman, followed by the skit competition — a light-hearted show featuring student organizations.

“After the skit competition, students march across the campus to Bear Hill, where they are joined by hundreds of alumni, faculty, staff and community members for the pep rally and bonfire,” said Dr. Doug Pearson, vice president and dean of students. “The evening ends with a spectacular fireworks show over the campus.”

Saturday starts early with the 5K run, an orange pancake breakfast, a mid-morning flag football tournament, the Athletic Hall of Fame Luncheon, class reunions, and rolls into the afternoon tailgating and men’s basketball game. More reunion activities and a Homecoming Concert featuring the Kinchafoonee Cowboys at downtown Macon’s Cox Capitol Theatre round out the evening.

“The Homecoming experience is part of President Underwood’s vision of an enlivened Mercer community experience that unites alumni, students, staff, faculty and the Macon community,” said Larry D. Brumley, senior vice president for marketing communications and chief of staff.