Big Game, 'Big' Name Part of UC's Homecoming Celebration Oct. 19

Fun, friends and football – plus an appearance by a "big" name in University of Cincinnati history – await Bearcats fans during UC's Homecoming celebration Saturday, Oct. 19. The weekend of festivities will be punctuated by the

noon football game against the University of Connecticut in Nippert Stadium

.

The annual parade at 8:30 a.m., a highlight for alumni, students, employees and their families, will feature fancy floats and marching musicians representing

this year's fairy tale-inspired theme, "Once Upon a Homecoming."

Thousands will gather near Clifton Avenue to catch the action and a glimpse of

grand marshals Oscar Robertson (Bus ’60, HonDoc ’07) and his wife, Yvonne (CECH ’56)

. (Get complete

parade route and street closing details

.)

Oscar, known as "The Big O" during his legendary basketball career, is a tremendous UC ambassador for his accomplishments on and off the court. Robertson is a three-time college basketball player of the year, Olympic gold medalist and member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, to name a few of his sports accolades. He's also a successful entrepreneur, founding Orchem Corporation in 1981 and other business ventures since; book author; generous philanthropist; and national advocate for organ donation.

Yvonne is a longtime volunteer and advocate for youth- and arts-focused initiatives. She has held leadership roles with the UC Foundation Board of Trustees, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Cincinnati Arts Association, Cincinnati Museum Center, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County Foundation and many other local and national groups.

UC Alumni Association Executive Director Myron Hughes, Bus '86, said the association sought someone iconic to be grand marshal and the Robertsons were a perfect fit.

"If you think about the theme 'Once upon a Homecoming,' you look at what happened in yesteryear and we found that one of the greatest icons the university has is Oscar Robertson," Hughes says. "Looking at Oscar and Yvonne, the longevity they've had in their lives, marriage and devotion to UC made them an easy choice."

The

parade will begin at 8:30 a.m.

on Oct. 19 before the game kick off at noon.

New coach Tommy Tuberville

will lead the Bearcats against the UConn Huskies, one of UC's foes in the new American Athletic Conference. The Bearcats have beaten Connecticut the past two seasons. Information on purchasing tickets to the game is available at the

UC Athletics website

. More details are available on Athletics’

gameday website

.

After the parade, fans can head to the Myers Alumni Center for the

Bearcats Blitz pre-game tailgate party

(and other tailgating opportunities) featuring big-screen TVs, refreshments, UC merchandise, prize raffles and plenty of opportunities for family fun. The

football team’s traditional CATWALK

to Nippert begins here about two and a half hours before kickoff.

The UC Alumni Association's

Homecoming Kickoff Party

from 5-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18, at the Myers Alumni Center is among a number of special events on and around campus preceding Saturday's showcase. The free kickoff party features entertainment, “Cincinnati favorites” food and appearances by

Athletic Director Whit Babcock

and Coach Tuberville.

"We're expecting to build upon the excitement of having a true Homecoming weekend at the university, allowing more people to celebrate and come back to campus," Hughes says. "We welcome everyone to come to UC for this particular weekend and celebrate being back home at one of the most beautiful campuses in the world."

Student Alumni Council will host

a week's worth of activities for students

leading up to Homecoming weekend, including Plinko games, inflatable jousting and powderpuff football.

HOMECOMING MAIN EVENTS

Wednesday, Oct. 16

• UC Blue Ash College Homecoming Celebration
  11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., UC Blue Ash, Campus Green
  Featuring music, games and a visit from the UC Bearcat; details

Friday, Oct. 18

• Honors Program Third Annual Homecoming Cookout
  3-6 p.m., Herman Schneider Quad
  
  
• Homecoming Kickoff Party
  5-8 p.m., Myers Alumni Center
  Featuring food, drink, entertainment and appearances by Athletic Director Whit Babcock and Coach Tuberville; register
  
  
• Annual African American Alumni Affiliate Happy Hour & Welcome Reception
  5-8 p.m., Kingsgate Marriott; register
  
  
• Alumni Band Homecoming Reunion
  Mick & Mack's Contemporary Cafe, Tangeman University Center
  6-7 p.m. Cocktail hour, 7 p.m. Upscale Italian Dinner and Dessert, 8:30-10 p.m. Social Hour and Giveaways; tickets cost $30; registration is required by Oct. 13

Saturday, Oct. 19

• McMicken College of Arts and Sciences Homecoming Breakfast
  9-11 a.m., UC Faculty Club; registration is required; for details, email Chris Eden at chris.eden@uc.edu
  
  
• Bearcats Blitz
  8 a.m., inside and outside Myers Alumni Center
  
  
• College of Engineering and Applied Science Tailgate
  8 a.m., GRIDIron Tailgate on Sigma Sigma Commons
  
  
• UC Homecoming Parade
  8:30 a.m., Clifton Avenue
  
  
• Academic Health Center Alumni Tailgates
  2.5 hours before kickoff, Myers Alumni Center Courtyard
  College of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, College of Nursing, James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy; registration is required by Oct. 1
  
  
• Football team CATWALK
  2.5 hours before kickoff, outside Myers Alumni Center and Sigma Sigma Commons
  
  
• UC vs. University of Connecticut
  Noon, Nippert Stadium; buy tickets online
  
  
• Presentation of Homecoming Court, King and Queen crowning
  Halftime, Nippert Stadium

GEICO is the presenting sponsor of Homecoming, and Hampton Inn & Suites Uptown University is a co-sponsor. For more information about all things Homecoming, go to the

UC Alumni Association Homecoming website

.