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Delta State announces 94th annual Homecoming Oct. 19-24

Cleveland, MS (10/16/2026) — Contact: Nathan Duff FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Phone: (662) 846-4678

Email: nduff@deltastate.edu

Delta State announces 94th annual Homecoming Oct. 19-24

CLEVELAND, Miss. - Delta State University will welcome alumni, students, families and friends to campus Oct. 19-24 for its 94th annual Homecoming, featuring a week of student activities, alumni reunions, tailgating and Statesmen football.

The celebration will include a Homecoming parade and pep rally Friday, Oct. 23, followed by a full day of campus activities Saturday, Oct. 24. The Statesmen will face the University of West Alabama at 4 p.m. at Parker Field at McCool Stadium.

Student activities begin Monday, Oct. 19, with Okra Olympics at 6 p.m. on the Delta State Quadrangle, followed by Okra Fest Tuesday at 6 p.m. on the Quad. Eat the Movie is scheduled for Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the Baioni Conference Center, followed by Pilates at the Planetarium, with two classes Thursday at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. at Wiley Planetarium.

Friday's schedule includes a ribbon cutting for a School of Nursing sculpture, hosted by the Dedicated Statesmen, at 2 p.m. in the Robert E. Smith School of Nursing courtyard. A program titled "Statesmen Football: Committed and Moving Forward" will follow at 3:30 p.m. in the Simmons Room of the Hugh Ellis Walker Alumni-Foundation House. Links to submit questions and watch the livestream are available on the Homecoming website.

The Delta State University Foundation and Alumni Association will host the DSU Under 40 Awards at 5:30 p.m. Friday in the Sylvia and Bob Ferguson State Room of the H.L. Nowell Union. The Homecoming parade and pep rally will begin at 7 p.m. on campus and the Quad.

"We have a full week of activities planned for students and a Homecoming weekend with plenty of opportunities for alumni to reconnect," said Corley Mullins, director of alumni affairs. "I'm especially excited to celebrate our Under 40 award recipients and welcome alumni back for reunions and anniversary celebrations. It's always fun to see friends pick up right where they left off, whether they graduated five years ago or 50."

Alumni will have several opportunities to reconnect throughout the weekend. The Alumni Collective will host a Homecoming Meet & Greet Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. at 122 Hang Suite. Aviation alumni will gather Friday from 6 to 10 p.m. at The Pharm, followed by simulator tours Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon in the Gibson-Gunn Building and a tailgate from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Statesmen Park. The aviation reunion will conclude with a brunch Sunday, Oct. 25, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Delta State University President's House.

Phi Mu will celebrate its 60th anniversary with chapter room tours Friday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in Lawler-Harkins Hall and dinner at 7:30 p.m. at Crawdad's in Merigold. Saturday's anniversary activities include a breakfast tailgate from 9 to 11 a.m. at Mississippi Grounds and a tailgate from 1 to 4 p.m. in Statesmen Park.

The Office of Admissions will host Statesmen Saturday campus tours beginning at 10 a.m. at Kent Wyatt Hall. The Alumni Collective's Blackout Tailgate will also begin at 10 a.m. on the Quad.

Tailgating will be available in Statesmen Park and on the Quad, with no fee for spaces. Statesmen Park spaces are first come, first served and do not require reservations. Groups planning amplified music Saturday must reserve a space on the Quad by 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22. Tailgating may begin Friday at 4 p.m., and tents and equipment may remain overnight, but participants must leave the tailgating areas by midnight.

"We invite the Cleveland community and anyone who loves Delta State to join us for as many Homecoming events as possible," Mullins said. "Come out for the parade and pep rally Friday evening and make plans to spend Saturday on campus before cheering on the Statesmen. You don't have to be an alumnus to be part of the celebration, and we'd love to see you throughout the weekend."

Following Saturday's football game, the National Pan-Hellenic Council will host the annual Homecoming StompFest Step Show at the Bologna Performing Arts Center. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., with the show beginning at 8:30 p.m. The Alumni Collective will host Champagne Life "The Halloween Edition" at 9 p.m. at the Bolivar County Expo.

For the complete schedule, event registration, football tickets, parade route, tailgating reservations and parking information, visit dsuhomecoming.com. Sponsorship opportunities, vendor applications and Homecoming merchandise are also available through the site. For additional information, contact the Delta State University Alumni Association at 662-846-4660 or alumni@deltastate.edu.

Cutline: Delta State University President Dr. Dan Ennis rallies the student section during the 2025 Homecoming football game. The university is preparing to welcome alumni and fans back to campus for this year's Homecoming celebration.

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About Delta State University: Delta State University is a four-year public institution whose nearly 2,800 students come from most U.S. states and more than 45 countries. Acknowledging its beginning as a teacher's college, the University sustains excellence in teacher education while continuing to expand offerings in traditional as well as unique fields of study. Programs such as those available through the Delta Music Institute, the Commercial Aviation Department, and the Center for Interdisciplinary Geospatial Information highlight the University's commitment to meeting the evolving needs of the students it serves with world-leading, industry-acclaimed programs. Situated in the heart of the Mississippi Delta, Delta State offers top-notch academic programs in business, arts, sciences, nursing, education, and more. DSU Athletics has won 15 national championships, 70 conference championships, and 37 regional titles.

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Delta State University President Dr. Dan Ennis rallies the student section during the 2025 Homecoming football game. The university is preparing to welcome alumni and fans back to campus for this year’s Homecoming celebration.

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