10/10/01

David Granger, 334/844-9999/Charles Martin, 334/844-3698

AU HOMECOMING TO FEATURE EAGLE PARTY; BEACH BOYS

AUBURN -- Auburn University will celebrate its 89th Homecoming with a variety of activities, including a special homecoming pep rally and benefit concert on Oct. 19 in honor of its golden eagle, War Eagle VI.

A concert by The Beach Boys and others will highlight the evening, with proceeds going to AU's Southeastern Raptor Rehabilitation Center, where the 23-year-old eagle, named Tiger, is housed by permission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Other homecoming activities will include the annual ODK Cake Race, the election of Miss Homecoming and Tigermania. The Auburn Tigers will host Louisiana Tech on Oct. 20 at Jordan-Hare Stadium at 1 p.m.

The eagle birthday party/pep rally will begin at 4 p.m. in stadium and will be hosted by longtime Auburn radio announcer Jim Fyffe.

The program will feature Tiger soaring above the crowd, followed by an environmental message from Joe Shelnutt, director of the raptor center.

"It will help raise funds for the raptor center which treats hundreds of birds of prey each year," said Dr. Gary Beard, assistant dean at the AU College of Veterinary Medicine. "Tiger is a magnificent golden eagle and has helped increase awareness of these special birds and wildlife conservation over the past year. The center's mission is education, conservation and rehabilitation.

"Coach Tommy Tuberville will also introduce the football team on this special evening. It will be the first time they will get to see Tiger fly, because they are still in the dressing room on game days."

At 7 p.m., a benefit concert will feature The Beach Boys followed by the groups Tonic and Pat McGee. Ticket prices are $24 general admission; $12 for AU students; and ages 6 and under are admitted free. Tickets can be purchased through the University Program Council at 334/844-5292, or through ticketmaster.com.

"Tiger's appearances at Auburn football games are provided free and require the time and resources of the raptor center, so this is a great way to show our appreciation," Beard added.

Other events set for homecoming week include: ** Tigermania --The UPC's annual Tigermania will feature comedy, a drive-in movie and hot-air balloons. On Monday, comedian Jim Breuer will perform at 7 p.m. in the Student Activities Building.

On Tuesday, The Have-Nots, a comedy improvisational group, will appear at 7 p.m., in the ballroom of James E. Foy Student Union.

Wednesday will feature hot-air balloons at the Eagle's Cage from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and a drive-in movie double feature "Top Gun" and "The Fast and the Furious" at the Old Drill Field across from the Sigma Nu fraternity house at 8 p.m.

** Omicron Delta Kappa Cake Race -- AU's ODK chapter will sponsor the 73rd annual Cake Race on Oct. 17, at 3 p.m at AU's Wilbur Hutsell Track. Participants will run a 3.2 mile course, starting and finishing at the track. The first place winners in the male and female divisions both receive complimentary cakes and a kiss, the male winner from the homecoming queen and the female winner from the Student Government Association president. Each runner will receive a free T-shirt and top finishers will receive homemade cakes as long as supplies last.

An Auburn homecoming tradition, the Cake Race was an attempt by the late AU track coach Wilbur Hutsell to attract more athletes to the track program. ODK is a national honor society for juniors, seniors, graduate students and faculty. ** Miss Homecoming Election -- On Oct. 18-19, Auburn students will vote for the 2001 Miss Homecoming. Candidates are Amelia Blackwood of Montgomery, a senior in political science; Christy Burgess of Birmingham, a senior in public relations; Courtney Bru of Brewton, a senior political science; Amanda Keeter of Spartanburg, S.C., a senior in art; and Kelly Jo Kopnicky of Hokes Bluff, a senior in communications disorders. The winner will be crowned at halftime of the Auburn-Louisiana Tech football game.

** Ag Roundup and Taste of Alabama -- The College of Agriculture's annual event will take place on Oct. 20, and feature exhibits from academic departments and commodity groups and a variety of foods processed or grown in Alabama. The food will be served beginning at 9 a.m.

** Media Day -- The annual event co-sponsored by the Office of University Relations and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System will be Oct. 20. CBS Radio News' Peter King will speak to broadcasters during an hour-long session that begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Foy Student Union, Room 213. Two newspapermen, including the longtime publisher of The Tallassee Tribune, Herve Charest Jr., and the founder of The Shelby County Reporter, Luther J. Fowler, will be inducted into the Alabama Newspaper Hall of Honor during a 10 a.m., in the Alabama Newspaper Hall of Honor Room in the Ralph Brown Draughon Library.

oct01:AU-homecoming

CONTACT: Charles Martin, 334/844-3698, concerning the eagle birthday party/pep rally; and David Granger, 334/844-9999, for information on other homecoming activities.