Homecoming Week Brings Full Schedule of Activities
LAWRENCE, Kan. – As a number of University of Kansas alumni return to campus to take part in the annual Homecoming activities, KU Athletics is front and center on a number of key events for the spirit-filled week.
On Thursday at 6 p.m., the annual Homecoming Parade will be held in downtown Lawrence along Massachusetts Street. The parade will be followed by a pep rally on Eighth Street between Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
The pep rally will feature head football coach Charlie Weis and head women’s basketball coach Bonnie Henrickson and performances by the Spirit Squad and Marching Jayhawks, along with inflatable games for the kids, a beer garden and live music from popular local band Coversmith.
The following night in Allen Fieldhouse, on Friday, the 29th annual Late Night in the Phog will officially begin the 2013-14 season for the Kansas men’s and women’s basketball teams.
The 2013 Late Night in the Phog, presented by Hy-Vee, will run from 6:30 p.m. to approximately 10 p.m. Admission is free; doors will open at 5:30 p.m. Seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Children, 12 and under, will not be admitted without an adult, and the fieldhouse doors will be closed when the arena reaches capacity.
As is the tradition at Late Night, fans are encouraged to bring nonperishable food items, which Kansas Athletics will donate to “Just Food” of Douglas County. Just Food will also be outside Allen Fieldhouse taking cash donations for those not able to bring a food item.
Due to anticipated interest in this year’s event, the Kansas Athletics department will open Hoglund Ballpark for any potential overflow crowd, weather permitting. The video board at the baseball stadium will be simulcast with the video board inside the fieldhouse, while the concession stands and restroom facilities will also be available to patrons.
With school in session, all university parking lots will be restricted by permit only until 5 p.m., with the exception of Lot 90 located across Naismith Drive to the east, and south, of Allen Fieldhouse which will be available for public parking at 3 p.m.
During the day, public parking is available in the parking garage just north of Allen Fieldhouse with hourly rates. Parking in the garage for Late Night in the Phog after 4 p.m. will be $5 per vehicle. Additionally, for those driving to Allen Fieldhouse from the north or via I-70 (exit 202), Iowa Street remains under construction from Harvard Ave., north of 15th Street (or Bob Billings) to 19th Street.
On Saturday at 11 a.m., the Jayhawk football team will open Big 12 Conference play against Texas Tech. The game will be televised on Fox Sports 1.
Kansas, fresh off its walk off 13-10 win over Louisiana Tech, will be looking to snap a six-game losing streak to the Red Raiders and remain unbeaten at home in 2013 when it hosts TTU in its annual Homecoming game. Texas Tech enters the contest with a perfect 4-0 mark on the season and is 1-0 in Big 12 play after knocking off TCU 20-10 in its conference opener.
The Jayhawk Fun Zone, located on the football practice fields, will be open at 9 a.m., and tickets for the game can be purchased at KUAthletics.com, or by calling 800-34-HAWKS.
KUAthletics.com: The official online source for Kansas Athletics, Williams Education Fund contributions, tickets, merchandise, multimedia, photos and much, much more.
