Homecoming Reunion Weekend activities on the Elon campus continued Saturday, Nov. 10 with alumni college classes, the Alumni Association awards brunch, tailgating before the football game and a special visit from the 82nd Airborne. Details…
One of the largest Homecoming gatherings in Elon history got into full swing Saturday under a sparkling blue sky, as alumni enjoyed a morning of activities before the Phoenix football team took on Georgia Southern University at Rhodes Stadium.
Five different alumni college classes were offered Saturday morning. Led by Elon staff members, the sessions covered a wide range of topics, from the history of Elon to a session on financial planning. An alumni volleyball game, the Elon Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony and the Alumni Association awards brunch were also held Saturday morning.
The ideal weather conditions made it a perfect day for tailgating, and Elon alumni took full advantage of the first on-campus tailgate party in Elon history. On The Green, beside Lake Mary Nell and in parking lots around campus, alumni gathered with friends and classmates to enjoy a pre-game meal of chicken, barbecue, burgers and just about every other kind of food imaginable. The festivities were punctuated by the Fire of the Carolinas, Elon’s marching band, as it made a pre-game sweep through campus.
Before the start of the football game, the 82nd Airborne Division All-American Freefall team dazzled fans by parachuting the game ball into Rhodes Stadium. President Leo M. Lambert formally dedicated Rhodes Stadium and McKinnon Field in pre-game ceremonies at the 50-yard line.
Halftime ceremonies included recognition of six new inductees into the Elon Sports Hall of Fame and the presentation of the Homecoming Court. Katie Gosselin, a junior from Cheshire, Conn., was crowned Homecoming queen, while senior Scott Wollaston of Landenburg, Pa., was crowned Homecoming king.
Despite the encouragement of a sellout crowd of 10,600, Elon gave up a touchdown with 30 seconds remaining in a 27-21 loss to Georgia Southern, the second-ranked team in NCAA I-AA.
“The atmosphere on campus today was simply tremendous,” said Garrett McKnight ’94, who traveled almost 1,200 miles from Madison, Wis., for the festivities. “Rhodes Stadium has added so much to the homecoming atmosphere at Elon, and it was great to see the support the alumni gave our team today.”
Homecoming fun was scheduled to continue Saturday evening with a 25th reunion of the Elon Gospel Choir, a reunion of professors and former students and the alumni Extravaganza party in Moseley Center. Activities concluded on Sunday with a coffee at President Lambert’s home, Maynard House, a worship service at the Elon Community Church and a volleyball match against Birmingham Southern University.