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Come on Home!
Homecoming 2007 features football, festival, fun
BY REBECCA KENDALL
Friends, football and a new festival are all on the roster for Homecoming Sept. 21 and 22.
“Homecoming is a great opportunity to return to campus to see all the new developments, to catch up with old friends and make new ones, and to remember all the great times you experienced here,” says Jason Moreton, director of alumni affairs. “U of G is the No. 1 university in Canada and a place where memories are made. Come back to Homecoming Weekend to create some new memories.”
Homecoming begins Friday night with the Gryphon Club Hall of Fame dinner in Peter Clark Hall. This year's inductees are Cassie Campbell, five-time captain of the Canadian national women's hockey team; wrestler Chris Crooks; three-sport athlete Tony Kosztyo; Toronto Argonauts linebacker Mike O'Shea; and the 1996/97 men's hockey team.
“We are proud to recognize another class of excellent Gryphons,” says Tom Kendall, director of athletics. “These athletes have done much to enhance the positive image and reputation of the Gryphon athletic program, and they have developed a foundation of excellence that future athletes will strive to achieve. We welcome them into the Hall of Fame family.”
The Glory Bowl, featuring alumni Gryphon football players, kicks off Saturday at 10 a.m. at Alumni Stadium. Also at 10 a.m., the Golden Griddle will be serving up free pancakes. Donations will be accepted.
Local musician Tim Tibbitts will perform at 11 a.m. in the Homecoming central tent. A “Kids' Zone” featuring face painting, inflatable bouncers and slides, cotton candy and popcorn begins at 11 a.m. in the stadium.
The Homecoming football game begins Saturday at 1 p.m., with the Gryphons hosting the University of Western Ontario Mustangs. During the game, a number of prizes will be given out, including flight vouchers worth $1,500 and two Eurail passes provided by Travel CUTS, and a car safety kit with a $50 gift certificate from Canadian Tire, courtesy of TD Meloche Monnex. Visit the Homecoming central tent to enter these draws and to buy new alumni merchandise.
Admission to the game is $8 general, $6 for seniors and alumni and $4 for students. A family package of two adult and two student tickets is available for $20. For tickets and information, visit www.gryphons.ca or call 519-824-7974.
In addition to the thousands of football fans who'll be attending Homecoming, the weekend welcomes residence life staff from 1997 to 2007 to a reunion. It starts Friday evening with a get-together at the Bullring and ends Sunday with a noon volleyball tournament and barbecue at the south beach courts.
This year's Homecoming also features SharpCuts, an independent film and music festival that runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday (see story).