The Yard That Was Not
So having just returned from DC (A.K.A. Chocolate City) for Howard University’s annual homecoming festivities, I have to admit that for me, at least, this year’s homecoming fell flat. I guess you could blame it on the rain…. It didn’t just rain but it felt like a monsoon outside with the wind and continuous down pours. Just as we were headed to the campus on Saturday for the game, battle of the bands at half-time, and catching up with friends and loved ones on the Yard, the rain picked up again. Yes, a brother did pack an umbrella, but trust it did not help in those conditions. So my boyz and I had to settle on heading to a local bar on U Street to watch other college games and shoot the breeze until heading to Park, the lounge, that night. Now don’t get me wrong…my boyz and I definitely got “it in” with 3 back-to-back nights of pre-gaming and partying. And yes I’m so glad I went to an HBCU…the women were beyond beautiful, drinks were flowing, and everyone was dancing and partaking in good but healthy flirtatious convo. Come on, it was homecoming after all. But wait did we really end up at a 21 & up party where the median age seemed like 23 and I was partying with my little sister’s friends. OMG. I digress…I digress.
Despite the parties, though, things did not seem right this year without seeing the Yard jam packed and the bands during halftime. Not to mention the fraternities and sororities and countless other social groups reuniting on the Yard. And of course we all remember when Jay-Z made a guest appearance that year and rocked the Yard. Not so this year. As the rain continued to come down, I could not help but thinking perhaps with all things this year: even the recession (via the rain) got a hold of Homecoming. It was as if someone had let all the air out of the balloon. I expected to see hundreds of my friends but instead probably only connected with 50. And yes as for those casual encounters…like the girl or boy you had a crush on but never stepped too during college but relished seeing during homecoming so you could at least try to see if something was there…well the rain put the kibosh on those encounters. So in the end I, like many others, were left with trying to salvage the weekend with night time revelry that while fun was devoid of that true HU homecoming experience. And so it was…as I headed to the airport on Sunday it was bright and sunny and I was left thinking as I’m sure many others were: what could have been had the rain only stopped. Well I guess for what it’s worth there is always next year…
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#1 by One and done on October 27, 2009 - 11:38 am
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Perhaps the University should explore changing the weekend if weather looks to be inclement. This may be hard though with the thousands who have to make flight arrangements, etc. Just seems like such a loss if weather dampens game, The Yard, and not too mention all the money the vendors lost.
#2 by Zarathustra on October 28, 2009 - 6:14 am
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Well, I had a great weekend! Perhaps because I planned to catch up with specific people in DC and brought early VIP tickets for the alumni boat cruise (which, I have to say, was off the chain. So few men, so many women!).
I think as we get older, we have to take responsibility for making homecoming a great experience. I saw very few people from my class on the yard and I cared very little for the performers they brought out, but it was a great yardfest and great weekend despite.
#3 by DeniseL on October 28, 2009 - 8:56 am
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I didn’t go this year and it was my 10 year but I enjoyed this post. You really captured the essence of what Howard Homecoming is all about.
I’ll be in full effect next year.
#4 by The Newlywed on October 28, 2009 - 10:09 am
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I agree! Homecoming didn’t really feel like homecoming this year. I still had a good time, but with the yard being out of the equation, it just wasn’t the same.