Jon Pardi
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Mercer Football
From the first notes of the marching band to the final whistle at Five Star Stadium, Homecoming is a celebration of the people, memories and traditions that make Mercer more than a university. It’s a place that becomes part of your story — and a community that welcomes you back, no matter how much time has passed.
Come back to the people who know your stories, make new memories with the next generation of Bears and remember what it feels like to be part of something bigger than yourself.
Make it a full weekend
There's nothing like a Mercer football Saturday in Macon.
Welcome Back to the Huddle
Ready to cheer on the Bears? Find this season's opponents, kickoff times and everything you need to plan your game day. Because sometimes, all you need is an excuse to get the whole family together again.
Don't miss a minute of the action. Secure your seats and experience Mercer football from the stands at Five Star Stadium. Single-game and season ticket options are available through Mercer Athletics.
Because some traditions never get old. Some cheers never leave you. And no matter how far you’ve gone since your days on campus, there’s something about seeing the Bears take the field that brings it all rushing back.
Park your car at the Mercer baseball lots by the sand volleyball courts as you roll in.
Take your time. Walk the paths that once carried you to class, pass the places where friendships began and revisit the corners of campus that hold a little piece of your story. Mercer has been recognized among the nation’s most beautiful college campuses by U.S. News & World Report, but the memories made here are what make it beautiful to the people who know it best.
Where Old Friends Meet New Traditions
Outside Five Star Stadium, Black Field transforms into a sea of tents, grills, music and — obviously — black and orange.
It’s the kind of afternoon that makes you forget how quickly the years have gone.
Alumni reunite, families fire up the grill, students send footballs and beanbags soaring through the air and visiting fans are welcomed into one of the Southern Conference's most inviting tailgate scenes.
Homecoming has a way of bringing generations together. The alumni sharing stories of their college days. The students making memories they’ll tell years from now. The families cheering on their favorite Bears. Everyone has a reason to be here, and everyone becomes part of the story.
Come early. Bring your team colors. Hold onto the Moment.
The day will move quickly. It always does. So linger a little longer, take the picture, share one more story and enjoy the simple gift of being together in a place that means something to you.
You won't want to miss the Bear Walk
See Toby and Tot draped in Bears merch as they rile up the crowd. Hear whispers spread among the students body as they try to guess which of their classmates is beneath the orange and black costumes.
Track the cheer and dance teams as they throw pom poms into the air to the beat of the band's soundtrack and, best of all, watch dozens of Mercer Bears lock in for battle — about to lay it all out on the field.
Maybe you’ll recognize a familiar face. Maybe you’ll find yourself telling someone how things used to be. Or maybe you’ll simply feel that unmistakable rush of pride that comes from being part of the Mercer family.
Walk the same steps as your Bears. Follow the sidewalk leading away from Black Field and head toward the stadium. Find the ticketing booth out front, your favorite seat in the house and lay your eyes on the best team in the Southern Conference.
Feel the Roar at Five Star Stadium
From the moment the Bears charge out of the tunnel onto the field, Five Star Stadium comes alive.
The Mercer University Marching Band sets the tune for game day with spirited performances, the cheerleaders and dance team keep the crowd energized from kickoff through the fourth quarter and the Mercer Maniacs student section brings relentless energy that echoes throughout the stadium.
Every touchdown is louder. Every defensive stop is bigger. Every fourth-quarter drive feels like you're part of the action.
You're never far from the field, making every touchdown, interception and goal-line stand feel even bigger. And when the crowd rises to cheer, you’ll remember: once a Bear, always a Bear.
The game may be over, but the celebration is just getting started.
Macon Beyond
When you’ve traveled to see your lifelong friends, you shouldn’t have to rush home. Enjoy dinner at one of Macon's late-night spots, grab a craft beer with lifelong friends and get ready for Macon after dark.
Halloween is your chance to run it back like the college days. Hit downtown’s Halloween pub crawl, watch the streets come alive during the iconic Thriller Parade, show off your costumes, grab a drink with your old crew and keep the night going at a downtown after-party.
Revisit your favorite spots, tell the stories you’ve told a hundred times and make a few new memories while you’re all in the same place again. You may have graduated, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have one more night like the good old days.
Hear your friends' stories. Stay up a little too late. Laugh about old memories and make a few new ones. Then wake up and do it all over again.
Homecoming isn’t just about returning to campus. It’s about the people who make you want to come back. The friendships that pick up where they left off. The traditions that carry on. The feeling of belonging to a place that will always have a little piece of your heart.
