When Ethan Yerks graduated from MSU last spring, he didn’t know how much he would miss the days of being a college kid.
The former media arts and technology major now is a radio disc jockey and production manager at a radio station in Mt. Pleasant, Mich., and is coming back to MSU this weekend to celebrate homecoming.
He said he is excited to rekindle some friendships he might have lost in the time since he graduated.
“A lot of my friends are coming to town, so (I’m excited) to see them and hang out,” Yerks said. “I’m excited to get back to East Lansing and get back to college life a little bit.”
He said his plan is to tailgate with his friends before the game, then head to the Impact student radio alumni tailgate after the game.
Yerks said this will be the only game he attends this season unless one of his friends finds tickets later.
“It’s just for the fun of having a good weekend, and to relive some of those college days,” he said.
Associate Director of Alumni Engagement Kelly Risk says the Student Alumni Foundation, or SAF, is throwing a family tailgate Saturday to welcome graduates back to campus.
“We invite all of the alumni back and give them food and entertainment,” Risk said. “It’s a great environment.”
She added the SAF puts the tailgate on every year and is expecting 600-700 alumni to attend.
In addition to the many tailgates put on by various colleges and organizations, the homecoming parade featuring the Spartan Marching Band and well-known Spartan athletes and coaches will begin at 6 p.m. Friday on Abbot Road.
Music performance senior Brandon Manson is getting together with some buddies whom he met when they all attended MSU and all have graduated since.
“We all worked together; actually, we ran a furniture crew in South (Neighborhood) a couple summers ago, so we all became good friends doing that,” Manson said. “Tomorrow night, we’re going to hit up some old haunts around town, so it should be a good time.”
Although he said the friends will attend the game together, he is keeping his remaining predictions of the day to a minimum and awaiting the fun ahead.
“I’m keeping my expectations low enough to where I’ll be really happy if they look great, I’ll be happy if they win, and if they look good and lose, I won’t be as disappointed as I would have been.”
Yerks was a little more blunt than his fellow Spartan, saying he remembers when Iowa faced off against his hometown Chippewas.
“If Central (Michigan) can beat Iowa, then I think we should be able to,” he said.
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