Homecoming at Maryland

Homecoming is a great time to be a Terp.  Homecoming week is filled with the hustle and bustle of returning alumni, events, and football.  To me, there is nothing better than sharing Maryland moments with past students and getting to know them and their experiences.  I wanted to discuss two events that I am particularly looking forward to this weekend.

1) The homecoming parade.  Sure, it's rainy and dreary, but parades are sheer fun.  It gives our campus an opportunity to showcase the many different things we do well and the spirit that we have for our University.  I was fortunate to be a judge during the parade last year and sat on the steps of the Administration building watching all the floats go by (from what I remember, the rain held off last year).  It was amazing to me how well done everything was and the time and effort that was put into it.  

2) The homecoming game.  Win or lose is irrelevant.  Last year, I got to do something special for the game and this year will be the same.  Last year, I got a pair of excellent tickets to the game and decided to take my father.  My father graduated from Maryland in the 70's after transferring from St. Mary's in Southern Maryland.  The transition for him was a good one and he always tells me about his fond memories of living in Cambridge Hall.  His advisor at Maryland also happened to be former Maryland Governor Paris Glendening and here he began to understand leadership as President of the College Democrats on campus.

But, my father was only here for a couple of years and was working his way through school, putting in long hours all weekend.  In fact, my father never got to see a Maryland football game live.  I have been to plenty of sporting events with him, but this one was special because of the bond we shared coming from the same school.