Update: Students and alumni who attend homecoming volleyball and soccer events this weekend can enter a drawing for a chance to win a two-year-lease on a Jeep Cherokee. More details at www.ougrizzlies.com.

This year will mark the beginning of something new: Oakland University’s homecoming festivities will now be on the weekend of a football game instead of a basketball game.

OU will be taking on the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers on Saturday, Sept. 20 at noon. The game will be held at the Auburn Hills Civic Center Park in Auburn Hills and will be the team’s second game of the season after playing Concordia University on Sept. 7.

OU used to have a slightly different schedule than other major universities, with the homecoming weekend originally being in January. The homecoming game was traditionally a basketball game, but this year OU is starting what it hopes to be a new tradition as the football club will host the homecoming game.

President of the football club, Nicholas Bongers, hopes that the football game being the school’s homecoming game will continue that growth.  

“The club considers this a historic game, and the first homecoming game in OU history. It will be one to remember,” Bongers said.

There will be tailgating at the football field before the game as well. The OU Bachelor of Integrated Studies program will be hosting an Intergrative Studies Alumni tailgate from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. that will feature free food, beverages and raffles.

The football game is not the only event happening on homecoming weekend, however. There are plenty of events for students to attend throughout the weekend.

Athletic events start Friday night as a four-team volleyball tournament starts with Oakland facing Bowling Green State University.

Other events include a men’s soccer alumni game and the Alumni Reunion at the Russi Board Room.

Events happening all day Saturday start with the Elliot Cup, which features the OU men’s golf team taking on the alumni. Other events include the continuation of the volleyball tournament, men and women’s swimming and diving alumni meet, and men’s soccer game versus Incarnate Word.

More information can be found on the OU football club’s Facebook page and at ougrizzlies.com.