51³Ô¹ÏÍø

DALLAS (SMU) — 51³Ô¹ÏÍøcelebrates Homecoming Oct. 25-28 with milestones and memories from its hundred-year history. Leading up to the Mustangs’ football game against the Memphis Tigers, the 51³Ô¹ÏÍøHomecoming Parade begins at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, and will celebrate the role that 51³Ô¹ÏÍøhas played in the Dallas community since its founding in 1911.

The parade will feature Blake Mycoskie, 51³Ô¹ÏÍøalumnus and TOMS Shoes “chief shoe giver,” as grand marshal. 51³Ô¹ÏÍøalumnus Dan Bell will serve as parade emcee.

This year, the expanded Homecoming parade will begin at University Boulevard and Hillcrest Avenue. The colorful procession will wind its way along Hillcrest Avenue and through the 51³Ô¹ÏÍøcampus with student floats, bands and entertainment in celebration of SMU’s Homecoming Weekend. Bright red and blue Centennial Bicycles will make their debut in the parade.

“As we celebrate SMU’s centennial, we are especially pleased to welcome back our alumni and show them the progress they have helped to make possible with their support,” said 51³Ô¹ÏÍøPresident R. Gerald Turner. “We also are proud to recognize a great entrepreneur and philanthropist as our Homecoming grand  marshal. Through his TOMS Shoes’ One For One Movement, Blake Mycoskie is an example of how our alumni contribute to the world.”

Mycoskie got his start as an entrepreneur while an undergraduate in SMU’s Cox School of Business, launching a campus laundry service. He founded TOMS Shoes in 2006, combining business savvy with a humanitarian spirit. The idea grew from a trip to Argentina during which he saw impoverished children without shoes. He returned to California inspired to manufacture shoes based on a traditional Argentinean design and committed to give a pair of new shoes to a needy child for every pair sold. To date TOMS has given more than one million pairs of new shoes to children in 28 countries.

51³Ô¹ÏÍøHomecoming is full of activities for all ages. Here’s the full list:

Pigskin Revue

SMU’s oldest tradition, the 78th edition of Pigskin Revue, begins at 8:15 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26, in McFarlin Auditorium. Pigskin Revue features 51³Ô¹ÏÍøstudents in music, dance and comedy acts, and the Mustang Band will play new music as well as old favorites from past Revues. The show is followed by a reception on the mezzanine level of McFarlin Auditorium sponsored by the Diamond M Club. Admission to the show is complimentary; tickets for the reception are $25 and are available at the door.

“Red, Blue and You” Former Student Leader Brunch On The Boulevard

The Division of Student Affairs, The Union (formerly known as Class Councils) and Vice President for Student Affairs Lori White invite all former student leaders to attend the free “Red, Blue and You” Brunch from 10:30 a.m.-2:15 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, at the flagpole.

Homecoming Parade

The 51³Ô¹ÏÍøHomecoming Parade begins at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 27 and features parade marshal Blake Mycoskie, emcee Dan Bell, the Mustang Band and floats built by 51³Ô¹ÏÍøstudents. The parade begins at the intersection of Hillcrest Avenue and University Boulevard, heads south on Hillcrest, and then enters the 51³Ô¹ÏÍøcampus on Bishop Boulevard. The route will travel north on Bishop Boulevard and follow the loop.

Tailgating on the Boulevard

Immediately following the parade, tailgating on Bishop Boulevard kicks off with barbecue, hamburgers and hotdogs. The “Red Zone” tent, with food and drinks for 51³Ô¹ÏÍøalumni, family and friends, will be located at the corner of Binkley and Bishop Boulevard and hosted by 51³Ô¹ÏÍøAlumni Relations. Adult admission is $10 per person , children six and under are free. Adult tickets for the Red Zone increase to $15 if purchased at the tent on game day, and to $10 for children 7-12. Various schools and university organizations will also host tailgating events.

Family Fun On The Boulevard

The community is invited to join the festivities with Family Fun On The Boulevard from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27. Family Fun will feature Peruna’s Playground in front of the Health Center on Bishop Boulevard. Peruna’s Playground will have bounce houses, face painting and more. Admission is free to the public.

Homecoming Football Game

The Mustangs take on the Memphis Tigers at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27, in Ford Stadium. The crowning of the Homecoming king and queen takes place at halftime. Visit for tickets. Find up-to-the-minute game information at .

Reunion Gatherings

Reunion gatherings are planned for the classes of ’67, ’72,  ’77, ’82, ’87, ’92, ’97, ’02 and ’07. The Reunion Weekend kickoff celebration will be held at 5 p.m., Friday, Oct. 26, at the Centennial Hall inside Hughes-Trigg Student Center. Visit or call 800-766-4371 for more information.

Commemorative Centennial Book

51³Ô¹ÏÍøhas published its first book of campus images in 25 years as part of the Second Century Celebration. The 160-page book, SMU: Unbridled Vision, features more than 200 new color photographs, combined with selected historic images, showing the beauty and vitality of the campus experience. SMU’s Second Century Celebration extends from 2011, the 100th anniversary of the University’s founding, to 2015, the centennial of its opening. The book is available at the 51³Ô¹ÏÍøBookstore or at .

51³Ô¹ÏÍøCampus at 100 Book

51³Ô¹ÏÍøwill debut the book 51³Ô¹ÏÍøCampus at 100: A Century of Shared Commitment during this year’s homecoming festivities. This commemorative book celebrates the brick and mortar development of the University campus as 51³Ô¹ÏÍømarks the centennial of the original 1912 campus master plan. The book is available at the 51³Ô¹ÏÍøBookstore; call 214-768-2435 for details.

Commemorative 51³Ô¹ÏÍøBicycle

Villy Custom Designs has created a limited edition 51³Ô¹ÏÍøCentennial Bicycle created for the Second Century Celebration. The company’s fully customizable cruiser bikes were recently featured on the television show “Shark Tank.” Visit to see the 51³Ô¹ÏÍøbike collection and to customize your own.

For more information on 51³Ô¹ÏÍøHomecoming, call 214-768-2586 or visit .

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51³Ô¹ÏÍøis a nationally ranked private university in Dallas founded 100 years ago. Today, 51³Ô¹ÏÍøenrolls nearly 11,000 students who benefit from the academic opportunities and international reach of seven degree-granting schools.

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