Heavy rain and mud didn’t dampen Fightin’ Blue Hen spirit Oct. 8, as approximately 600 UD alumni visited Alumni Row in the Delaware Field House to catch up with old friends, share memories and rally support for the noon football game against Hofstra.

According to Lauren Simione, assistant director of alumni relations, the ranks of UD graduates visiting over the weekend nearly reached the projected 700-900, and activities geared for youngsters meant that many alumni came with families in tow.

“The field house was very busy on Saturday, because it was a warm, dry place where people could gather and enjoy themselves,” Simione said. Refreshments, live music by the Royal Palm Steel Band and the presence of several affinity groups—clusters of alumni formerly involved with spirit activities at UD—also lent a lively mood to the venue.

“This was the first year the alumni relations office invited members of specific affinity groups to Homecoming,” Simione said, “and having so many former ag ambassadors, spirit ambassadors, cheerleaders, band members and mascots in attendance added a nice element to Homecoming.”

Simione said that members of the UD Alumni Marching Band also made a good turnout and that members of the classes of 1960, 1980, 1995 and 2000 provided a good mix of UD grads.

Other well-attended alumni events included a Saturday barbecue, hosted by UD’s Black Alumni Organization at the Center for Black Culture, and the fourth annual Art Loop, which treated Homecoming guests to a Saturday evening tour of exhibits in Old College, Recitation Hall, Mechanical Hall and the Studio Arts Building.

The Mentors’ Circle reception for the Class of 1955 on Friday evening and formal dinner Saturday evening with President and Mrs. Roselle also had good attendance, Simione said, and guests had such a grand time catching up with each other that taking class pictures proved difficult—a sure sign of a successful reunion.

“We had a pretty good turnout at Reunion Row and Spirit Row, but I think the weather had some impact on overall turnout, given the fact that many of the guests were in their 60s and 70s,” Simione said.

“Members of the Class of 1955, which had about 300 graduates, all seemed to know each other and have kept in close touch.” Already in the initial stages of planning Homecoming 2006, alumni office personnel are thinking of creating Homecoming niches for former honors students and resident assistants, and other interest groups are being researched.