Liberty calls alumni, students to the mountain for family, football and festivities for this years Homecoming
Liberty Mountain called alumni and current students together again during Homecoming weekendOct. 18-19.
Liberty provided various events for alumni and students, including a bonfire with live music, the School of Music concert and the Homecoming Day parade, as well as the football game against Maine.
The bonfire offered s’mores and live music from alumna Sydni Alexander.
“Sydni is a Liberty (alumna) and we are familiar with her talent, as she performed at multiple Coffeehouse shows,” Erin Cleveland, the assistant director of student activities, said. “She is upbeat and has an amazing voice, so we knew the crowd would love her.”
Sophomore Ivana Quintanilla loved that the bonfire offered a great pre-Homecoming setting for pictures and community.
“It was a lot of fun. It was good to be surrounded with friends and be able to do a bonfire since we don’t really have access to one very often,” Quintanilla said.
DRUM — The Spirt of the Mountain marching band played spirited tunes during the parade.
The School of Music’s annual Homecoming concert also took place Friday night. The concert featured the Liberty University Symphony Orchestra, combined School of Music choirs and other special guests. (see related story page B8)
Sophomore Ariana Satterthwaite attended the Homecoming concert and said that it placed an emphasis on prayer. Videos of the late Jerry Falwell Sr. speaking on the importance of prayer and his vision for Liberty played between the songs.
“I think it was good to think back on why Jerry Falwell Sr. started Liberty in the first place, and (the video) is talking about the importance of prayer through it. Prayer was a really big part of how Liberty got to where it was,”
Satterthwaite said.
Saturday featured a number of Homecoming festivities to engage alumni and current students alike.
The afternoon Homecoming parade sought to excite the students and alumni before the football game at 6 p.m. against Maine. The parade featured the Liberty University Spirit of the Mountain Marching Band, the cheerleading team and the Flamettes. Other student organizations on campus also participated.
The Falwell family, along with David and Jennifer Nasser, rode in convertibles and tossed candy at the crowd gathered along University Boulevard .
Student Government Association and various residence halls hosted tailgates to get everyone into the game day spirit. An alumni tailgate took place on the football practice field with live music and games.
The football team secured a Homecoming victory with a score of 59-44 win against Maine, helping the team reach a 5-2 record for the season.
SPIRIT— The Flamettes dance team raised school spirit during their Homecoming parade debut.
The night ended with the celebration fireworks ringing across campus. Liberty Football Hall of Famer Kelvin Edwards returned for Homecoming and was honored on the field with the retirement of his football jersey. That is the third football jersey retired in Flames history.
The next football game is the last home game on Nov. 30 at 2 p.m. against New Mexico State.
Cleveland said that Student Activities approached Homecoming with the goals of “home” and community in mind.
“We hope that students and alumni come to our events and enjoy mingling with each other and feeling the excitement of being back on the LU mountain,” Cleveland said. “We strive to provide an atmosphere of ‘home’ for them this weekend.”