ODU Homecoming Features a Range of Events, and For the First Time, a Football Game

This fall, Old Dominion University is fielding a football team for the first time in nearly 70 years.

So for the first time, the school is able to host a football-themed Homecoming, to celebrate one of the tangible examples of the incredible growth of the campus.

"First & Goal," ODU's Homecoming 2009, will run from Nov. 1-7. Activity will reach a crescendo on Saturday, Nov. 7, for the homecoming football game, when the Monarchs host North Carolina Central.

But activities involving all six of ODU's colleges, plus Athletics, the Office of Student Affairs and Leadership, ODU's fraternities and sororities and many other student groups.

On Sunday, Nov. 1.

• There will be a "powder puff football" game (women play flag football, men cheer) at the Powhatan Football Complex at 1 p.m.;
• A racquetball tournament at the Student Recreation Center, starting at 1 p.m.;
• And a student no-limit Texas Hold 'Em poker tournament in the North Cafe of Webb Center

On Monday, Nov. 2.

• At noon, there is the kickoff for a joint ODU/Habitat for Humanity project to construct and erect a home in Lambert's Point. The ceremony is at the corner of 47th Street and Killam Avenue. Construction at the two sites will continue all week, with different groups and colleges participating each day. For information about how to participate, contact Richard Massey, associate vice president for foundations and campus coordinator for the Habitat project at ODU, at rmassey@odu.edu;
• At 7 p.m., the ODU men's basketball team plays its first exhibition game against Barton College;
• At 8 p.m., the North Café of Webb Center will be the site for a "Hip-Hop Across Cultures" program.

Tuesday, Nov. 3, has been dubbed Monarch Pride Day.

• There will be a celebration on Kaufman Mall from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Students wearing any ODU organization shirt will receive a free Homecoming shirt, while supplies last;
• At 7 p.m., the ODU Lady Monarchs basketball team will host its annual Blue-White scrimmage. Admission is free to ODU students with a valid student ID;
• Also on Tuesday night, comedians Loni Love and Hasan Minhaj will appear in the North Café of Webb Center. The free event starts at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m.

On Wednesday, Nov. 4.

• At 8 p.m. in the North Cafe of Webb Center, the Office of Housing and Residence Life, the National Pan-Hellenic Council and the Multicultural Greek Council will host a competitive step dancing show, followed by a "Unity Step." The winning group will have an opportunity to perform during the Lady Monarchs' exhibition basketball game against Chowan University on Friday, Nov. 6.

On Thursday, Nov. 5.

• at 12:30 p.m., ODU faculty, staff and students are invited to participate in a daffodil planting expedition on campus. For information, contact Tami Park, coordinator of the Center for Service and Engagement, at tpark@odu.edu;
• The Alumni Honors Dinner will take place at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott, starting at 6 p.m;
• That night, a homecoming concert, featuring Lupe Fiasco, will be held at the Ted Constant Convocation Center. Tickets are $17 for ODU students and $27 for the general public. There is a limit of two tickets for purchase with an ODU student ID. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show begins at 7:30.

On Friday, Nov. 6

• The Founder's Day Luncheon will take place in the Constant Center at noon;
• The Class of 1959 50th reunion will run from 2-4 p.m. in the Ted;
• The Black Alumni Chapter Reunion Opening Reception will take place at 5 p.m. in the Baron and Ellin Gordon Art Galleries;
• From 4-6:30 p.m., the Monarch Maniacs student booster group will host the Homecoming Pep Rally behind the Ted. The event is free and open to the public, and includes live music, free food and activities, along with possible appearances by the men's basketball team and head football coach Bobby Wilder;
• At 7 p.m., the Lady Monarchs will host Chowan in their first preseason game. It's free for students with a valid ODU student ID;
• At 9:30 p.m., comedian and former ODU student Ben Bailey, host of the Discovery Channel game show "Cash Cab," will perform in the Big Blue Room at the Constant Center. ODU faculty and staff can pick up free tickets from the Constant Center box office. The limit is two tickets with an ODU ID.

On Saturday, Nov. 7.

The homecoming parade, football pregame party and football game will all take place Saturday, Nov. 7. The parade is scheduled to begin promptly at 10 a.m. along the following route:

• Starting on Elkhorn Avenue and turning right on 49th Street;
• Crossing Hampton Boulevard and turning right on Killam Avenue, continuing to 47th Street;
• Turning right on 47th Street, then left on Monarch Way;
• Following Monarch Way to 43rd Street, then right on 43rd Street;
• 43rd Street to Elkhorn Avenue.

As part of the football pregame party on Kaufman Mall Saturday, fans can watch the team take its final "Monarch March" into the stadium, as the homecoming game is ODU's final home game of the football season. The game kicks off at 2 p.m.

• At 7 p.m., the ODU men's basketball team plays its final exhibition game against Elizabeth City State. The game is free to ODU students with a valid ID;
• At 9 p.m. homecoming wraps up with the third annual F.O.R.E.I.G.N.E.R.S. Homecoming Ball in the North Café of Webb Center. This event is free, but is for ODU students only.

For more information about Homecoming 2009, call 683-3446 or visit http://studentaffairs.odu.edu/homecoming.