Students and alumni are celebrating another Homecoming this weekend.

This year’s Homecoming will include a parade through campus, a tailgate and a football game against Kenyon College.

Erin Briggeman, interim assistant director in the Office of Student Involvement, is excited to experience Homecoming at Allegheny for the first time since she was hired in July.

“For a start, [Gator Activities Programming] agreed to put on the late-night Homecoming event this year, and they’ve been working really hard to put together a great program for everyone,” Briggeman said.  “Jayne Piskorik has been spearheading the organization of the Homecoming parade this year, and I have been helping her with that where I can.”

Briggeman will also be helping out with alumni events and homecoming game festivies.

“My feeling about Homecoming is that while it is a historically athletic event, it’s also a great chance for everyone to get out there and show what they love about being students here. So, in terms of hoping to achieve something with this year’s Homecoming, I would hope that we are successful in creating a venue for people to do that,” Briggeman said.

Rosalie Evans, ’16, president of GAP, has been in charge of planning most of the events for students and visitors.

“GAP generally helps out with a lot of the events that the school plans,” said Evans. “For the bigger events like Homecoming, my duty is to oversee everything and make sure everyone is doing their tasks. I am the liaison between the office of student involvement and our club, so I meet with them a lot to understand what they’re planning because they are really involved in Homecoming as well. I just have to be looking at the bigger picture and making sure that all of the different moving parts are being taken care of.”

Evans said that GAP will also being hosting a Late Night Event in the campus center lobby.  She said that all students are welcome to make, decorate and eat caramel apples for free.

On Saturday, Sept. 26, GAP will host the TailGator where there will be free food and t-shirts for students.  Evans said in order to get food, however, students must bring their AllCard.

“I really hope that everyone gets involved, goes to the parade or the football game,” said Evans. “Our theme of Allegheny this year was to encourage school spirit and pride, hopefully get people more excited about the football game and being involved in the school.”

Evans said they are also trying to encourage the Meadville community to come and watch and contribute to Gator spirit.

Mark Matlak, head football coach, said that this weekend should be an exciting one for the football team specifically because they are well prepared for the game, and two former players will be returning to campus to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

“It is great we have two former football players being inducted into the Hall of Fame,” said Matlak. “Both David [LaCarte, ’91] and John [Marzka, ’91] were integral members of the 1990 National Championship Team. Having met both of them before, they were great football players but even better people.”

Matlak said the team has been getting ready for the game both mentally and physically.

“Pressure only occurs when you are not prepared,” said Matlak. “Our team had a good week of preparation.”

The Late Night Event will occur on Friday, Sept. 25 at 9:30 p.m.

Kickoff for the Homecoming football game will be at 1:00 p.m. at Frank B. Fuhrer Field.