The Traditions of Homecoming: Fun, Football and Reunions

Comedian and impressionist Dave Coulier performs Thursday at 9 p.m. in the Edmunds Center.

Stetson’s Homecoming 2019 kicks off a busy weekend with a comedy show on Thursday night with Dave Coulier, the Airwaves talent show Friday night and a big football game Saturday against rival San Diego.

Also this weekend, Stetson Baseball will take on the University of Central Florida at Melching Field in DeLand at 6 p.m. Friday. And the President’s Breakfast and Awards Presentation will move to a new location this year on the Stetson Green at 9 a.m. Saturday, according to the Homecoming Schedule of Events.

“What really excites us is that we have been able to plan Reunion events for all 10 classes celebrating this year (2014, 2009, 2004, 1999, 1994, 1989, 1984, 1979, 1974, 1969),” said Amy Dedes ’04, associate director of the Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement.

A Food Truck Round-up will take place 5-8 p.m. Friday in the Rinker Field Parking Area, followed by the Airwaves lip-sync battle at 8 p.m. in the Edmunds Center.

A tailgate on Saturday also will be hosted for young alumni — Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD). A Decade of the Fifties gathering will cap off the weekend on Sunday afternoon, celebrating graduates during those 10 years.

“To see so many alumni engaged in coming back for their Reunion at Homecoming has been exciting! It proves that we are building a great tradition around our Homecoming events,” she said.

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Amy Dedes ’04

About 1,200 alumni have pre-registered for the weekend, an increase over last year. Alumni can still pre-register online or register on site-at the Rinker Welcome Center on Friday or Saturday.

Weekend weather calls for temperatures in the mid-70s. There is a 40-percent chance of rain on Friday. That drops to a 20-percent chance of rain Saturday for the President’s Breakfast, followed by the big Homecoming football game at noon.

The Hatters face San Diego on Saturday at noon in Spec Martin Memorial Stadium.

Tickets are available as the Hatters take on rival San Diego, which is on a 34-game conference winning streak. The Hatters are 6-2 for the season and 5-0 at home. Alumni can purchase discounted tickets to the game through gohatters.com/promocode and enter SUALUMHC19.

This year, Stetson’s Homecoming coincides with the Volusia County Veterans Day Parade on Saturday from 10 – 11 a.m. through downtown DeLand. The parade will feature all branches of the service, as well as military vehicles, marching bands and patriotic floats on Woodland Boulevard, including past Stetson University. Alumni should expect traffic delays in reaching campus on Saturday morning.

Alumni who would like to honor our servicemembers can attend a Vietnam Veterans Gathering on Sunday at 9 a.m. at the campus’s Vietnam Remembrance Site. Afterward, there will be a Veterans’ Recognition Breakfast from 9-10:30 a.m. in the Stetson Room in the Carlton Union Building. Registration is requested.

For more information and to register, visit Homecoming 2019.

Go Hatters!