Published November 6, 2023
MONROE, LA– The University of Louisiana Monroe will host Troy University for the final home football
game of the 2023 season on Saturday, November 11. Kickoff is at 1:00 p.m. in Malone Stadium.Prior to the game, ULM invites the public to take part in the SGA Family Tailgate and the 38th Annual Don Weems Chili Cook-Off. See below for details of each event.
Family Day Tailgate at The Grove, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
The ULM Student Government Association (SGA) is hosting the Family Tailgate from 11:00
a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in The Grove next to Malone Stadium. SGA will be providing free
food and fun outdoor activities for the whole family. The day will include the pre-game
Hawk Walk and Pep Rally, a photo booth, and tastings from the Chili Cook-Off. Pre-registration
is not required, but please RSVP for the Family Day Tailgate at ulm.edu/familyday.
38th Annual Don Weems Memorial Chili Cook-Off from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
The 38th Annual Don Weems Memorial Chili Cook-Off will be held Saturday, November 11 from
8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Pecan Student Grove on the campus of The University
of Louisiana Monroe, next to Malone Stadium. Cooking begins at 8:00 a.m. and public
tasting begins at 11:30 a.m. Winners will be announced at 12:30 p.m. at the Student
Grove stage.
The cook-off is open to the public, with teams having a maximum of six members. Teams
must supply their own equipment and all chili must be cooked from scratch on site.
Prizes will be awarded in both open and student divisions. There will also be a People’s
Choice Award.
Those wishing to taste and judge can purchase a tasting wristband, which provides
one tasting of all participants’ chilis for $10 and includes one vote for the People’s
Choice Award. Additional votes can be purchased for $1.
For full details about the Chili Cook-Off, including rules and parking instructions, click
here. Anyone with questions can also contact the ULM Alumni Association at (318) 342-5420.
Since 1984, the 31 Ambassadors & Alumni Association have been hosting the Chili Cook
Off. The event was started by Tom Deal, Frank Elkin III and Don Weems. Alumni, community
members, faculty & staff, and student teams compete in the Open and Student divisions
for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place of each division.
Judges for this year's chili cook-off include Mr. ULM Colby Pogue, Miss ULM Leslie
Hobgood, Herb Guillory, Allison Thompson, Greg Thompson, 2023 Homecoming Queen Jordan
Campbell and 2023 Senior Beau Carlos Moses.
