Ball State University will welcome former football player Wendell Brown back to campus for Homecoming 2019. His acknowledgement during a ceremony in CharlieTown is one of many events taking place at Ball State this weekend to celebrate Homecoming.
Brown recently returned from China after spending three years in a prison there. Brown has maintained his innocence. Originally from Detroit, Brown played linebacker for Ball State between 2004 and 2008 and went on to play in the Canadian Football League before moving to China to coach.
His event will take place at 1 p.m. at CharlieTown, located on the west side of the Ball State University Alumni Center, 2800 W. Bethel Ave. Brown will be joined by Rick Hall, chair of the Ball State University Board of Trustees, and alumnus Jason Whitlock of Fox Sports.
“This is a special Homecoming for Ball State,” Hall said. “We are pleased Wendell has come home and proud of the role Ball State alumni played in securing his freedom. Cardinals have lifelong relationships and are like family. We take care of our family.”
Ball State has a host of fun activities planned for Friday and Saturday to celebrate Homecoming, including:
Friday, October 18
- The 40th annual Bed Race will begin on Riverside Avenue at noon Friday.
- Ball State University will dedicate the newly constructed, 165,000-square-foot Health Professions Building at 3 p.m. The $62.5 million structure features classrooms, laboratories, offices, a resource hub, simulation labs/suites, and clinical spaces.
Saturday, October 19
- In the Chase Charlie 5K, students and alumni will join the exciting atmosphere as they run through campus along the parade route. The race will begin at 8:45 a.m. at Muncie City Hall.
- The traditional Homecoming Parade will begin at 9 a.m. at Muncie Central High School and will follow the regular route through campus. University organizations and businesses throughout the Muncie community will show off their floats, cars, bands, and even horses.
- At 11 a.m., after the Homecoming Parade, the University will break ground on the new Multicultural Center, east of Bracken Library. The $4 million, approximately 10,500-square-foot facility will open in 2020.
- The tailgate prior to the football game against Toledo at 2 p.m. will feature Reunion Row and CharlieTown for Ball State alumni, beginning at noon.
