‘It’ll Be Cool’: Eric Morris ‘Excited’ to Take Part in His First ‘America’s Greatest Homecoming’

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STILLWATER — For the past two decades, the Cowboys’ football coach was well aware of the ongoings of America’s Greatest Homecoming, but Eric Morris will get his first taste of the festivities this week — while trying to prepare for a game.

Oklahoma State hosts Colorado at 6 p.m. Saturday in Boone Pickens Stadium, but there will be things going on all week around campus.

“Excited to see it later in the week,” Morris said Tuesday. “Happy it’s a night game to see Boone at night. They called it America’s Greatest Homecoming, right? At some point this week, I’ll go over and look at the fountain. Last night, on purpose, I got out of here late last night and drove through campus just to look at the buzz on campus and watch everybody make the house decs. So, I’m excited to see that Friday, the Walkaround. It’ll be cool.”

The fountain outside the Edmon Low Library was dyed orange on Sunday, the kickoff to homecoming week.

When Morris and his team make The Walk on Saturday, they’ll do so on a decorated Hester Street, as it will get painted on Wednesday.

Friday is the star of the show when it comes to homecoming festivities outside of the football game. The OSU men’s basketball team will host Tulsa for an exhibition game at 2:30 p.m. Friday before Walkaround in the evening, where thousands will gather around Greek row to look at the house decs.

There’s a lot for Morris, a Texas Tech alum, to learn about America’s Greatest Homecoming, but he has to balance throwing himself in head first with his day job: finding a way to win the football game.

“Got a lot of family coming in to town Friday night to experience it and be able to go out and watch it,” Morris said. “I’ll try to stick to my routine as much as possible, obviously staying in The Atherton and all those things. There’s a lot of commotion going on, and I think it will be important to keep our guys focused on what’s going to make the finale of homecoming and make everybody go home happy that night, is us winning the game against a really good Colorado team. But excited to kinda see it.”

America’s Greatest Homecoming Schedule

Tuesday:
Harvest Carnival & Chili Cook-Off at Payne County Expo Center (6 p.m. to 8 p.m.)

Wednesday:
Hester Street Painting (5 p.m. to 7 p.m.)

Friday:
OSU basketball exhibition vs. Tulsa (2:30 p.m.)
Joe State Homecoming Tailgate feat. Stoney LaRue
Walkaround (5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.)
Family Fun Zone at the McKnight Center (5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.)

Saturday:
Sea of Orange Parade (9 a.m. to 11 a.m.)
OSU vs. Colorado (6 p.m.)

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