Coordinators of this year's Homecoming week said they hope to be more focused on the students, with new events such as a free concert planned the night before the big game.
In past years, Homecoming has been geared toward alumni, Sveta Desai of the University Activities Board said. The free concert at IM Sports-West will feature Howie Day and funk band Funkilinium.
This year's theme is "MSU: The Roots of Excellence." Michael Budman, co-founder of the clothing company Roots, is grand marshal of the parade and inspired the theme. Budman is a 1968 MSU graduate.
"Homecoming is about the students, the students who are here now and past students who are coming back to their alma mater," Sharon Radtke of the Alumni Association said.
Some of the events are geared to students and alumni alike.
The Sounds of Homecoming Concert at 5:30 p.m. at Adams Field features the Spartan Dischords, MSU Jazz Band, MSU Pep Band, Ladies First and Capital Green. The rain location for the Oct. 2 concert is the MSU Union Main Lounge.
Not everyone said they think the added events will increase participation.
"Anything they add probably won't change the turnout," graduate student Brian Began said. "It will just give more to do for the people who do attend."
But some students are already paying attention to Homecoming events this year.
Sech Ozol, a packaging junior, said he's usually too busy to attend Homecoming events, but he'd make an exception if more student events took place.
The Homecoming Jam will be the largest free concert the University Activities Board has ever presented, officials said.
The day before the concert, Shaw Hall Government Vice President Heather Carlile will coordinate a decorating battle between the east and west sides of Shaw.
"Last year we just decorated the caf, but before that Shaw apparently used to win a lot," she said.
Other events scheduled for Homecoming week include a craft night from 6-8 p.m. in the MSU Union Food Court and a Green & White Fridays' Homecoming Kick-off from noon to 2 p.m. in Auditorium Field by the rock on Farm Lane.
The deadline to sign up to participate in the Homecoming parade or Homecoming court is Sun. Sept. 28.
Visit homecoming.msu.edu for more information.
