FULL HOUSE: BATON ROUGE FAMILY TO HOST UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS BAND FOR THANKSGIVING DINNER

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Pass the turkey. Hold the tuba. This Thanksgiving will be anything but ordinary for one family as they welcome the University of Arkansas band to their home in Baton Rouge before the Arkansas/LSU football game.

"It is organized chaos. When our doorbell rings we have an entire band lining up to fill their plates. Most families enjoy a quiet Thanksgiving, but ours evolves into the world’s smallest pep rally," said UA senior John Forrest Ales, a native of Baton Rouge.

Pecan pie and turkey will be in abundance as more than 60 band members head to the table at the home of UA senior John Forrest Ales. Razorback cheerleaders, sportswriters and UA alumni have also been invited to the event.

The Marching Razorbacks depart Fayetteville at 7:00 a.m. Thursday and endure over ten hours on the road before arriving in Baton Rouge. The family has rolled out the Razorback Red carpet for the band for each of their trips to Baton Rouge since Ales has been enrolled at the UA. Ales’ parents are alumni of Louisiana State University but trade their purple and gold for red and white just for the occasion.

"The University of Arkansas has taken care of our son for four years and we do our part to take care of the students when they are in our neighborhood," said Ales’ mother, JoDale Ales. "We know how difficult it is to be away from your family on a holiday, so we want to create a warm, welcoming, family environment for these students who give so much of themselves to the University."

Recognizing the contributions of UA band and spirit squad members, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Pi Kappa Alpha and UATV (Student-Produced Television) raised funds to provide the holiday meal. The "Give Thanks for the Spirit!" project encouraged student organizations and members of the UA community to show appreciation for the band and spirit squads through a variety of means.

The band is scheduled to arrive between 6:30 and 7 p.m., Thursday, November 22, at 9035 Rue Felicity Court in Baton Rouge. Media is invited to attend. Interviews with members of the Ales family, UA band members, or caterer Danny Ragusa of Picadilly Cafaterias can be arranged in advance or on location.