Rogers State University is preparing for it’s first-ever Homecoming to be held Friday, Nov. 9, and Saturday, Nov. 10.
The two-day event will include a golf tournament and a bonfire on Nov. 9 and will culminate with a tailgate party and men’s and women’s basketball games at the Claremore Expo Center on November 10.
“We hope many people from our campus community as well as the Claremore area will help us make history and attend all or part of the Homecoming celebrations,” said RSU President Dr. Joe Wiley. “Homecoming is just one way we can support our exciting new Hillcat athletics program.”
RSU is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and Sooner Athletic Conference. The Hillcats currently compete in baseball, softball, rodeo and men’s and women’s soccer. The Hillcats will begin competing in men’s and women’s basketball later this fall.
“We are very excited to be a part of the inaugural homecoming weekend at RSU,” said Wren Baker, RSU head men’s basketball coach and athletic director. “We hope that RSU alumni along with our students and local community will turn out to support our teams as we debut Hillcat basketball. This is truly a special time to be a part of all that is taking place with the growth of RSU and Hillcat athletics.”
Homecoming will kick off with an alumni golf tournament and lunch on Nov. 9. Registration begins at 10 a.m. and lunch will begin at 11 a.m. The event will be held at Heritage Hills Golf Course and is an opportunity for golfers to meet many of the Hillcat athletes and support RSU Athletics. Team and golf course hole sponsorships are still available. Team sponsorships range from $450 to $5,000 and hole sponsorships are $100.
Friday evening Hillcat pride will be on fire with the first-ever Hillcat Spirit Bonfire to be held on the RSU campus. Alumni, students and friends of RSU will begin to gather for this event at 6 p.m.
“Homecoming creates a central rallying point for RSU students and presents our first real chance to show off our Hillcat pride,” said Josh Compton, president of RSU’s Student Government Association.
Compton said students are excited about the inaugural Homecoming and look forward to a week of events on campus.
On Saturday the excitement will begin at noon at the Claremore Expo Center with a tailgate party before the basketball games. Participants are encouraged to arrange their own tailgate celebration or purchase tailgate fare for $5 from Rib Crib, which will be on-site to serve food for the pre-game festivities.
Admission to RSU basketball games is free for children under eight and RSU faculty, staff and students. General admission for games is $6 per person and reserved seating is $10 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 also are available.
Commemorative Hillcat Homecoming T-shirts will be available so people can wear their Hillcat pride on game day. The $9.99 shirts will be available starting Oct. 29 at the RSU bookstore and will be sold at the tailgate party.
More information about Hillcat Homecoming is available by calling Stephany Foutch, director of alumni and special events for RSU, (918) 343-7803.