Search text:Search text:

Site index - Contact

New event aims to bring the community back to campus

By Brandon Stewart

At first, it just feels like restlessness or an unusual anxiousness. You find yourself distracted in class or at work. Anticipation keeps you from sleeping. Normal food loses its taste while hot dogs and nachos become more appealing.

So begins the season for what Amy Carothers calls Blue Flu — an outbreak of school spirit that precedes the annual homecoming football game.

“It’s the same concept as the flu but more fun than the actual flu,” says Carothers, University alumni relations director.

The only cure, she says, is to wear blue attire and attend some of the many University of Nevada homecoming events: the Blue Flu Barbeque, the Homecoming Parade or the Homecoming football game: Fresno State versus Nevada on Saturday, Oct. 6.

A new homecoming event, the Blue Flu Barbeque (Friday, Oct. 5 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the University Quad) aims to bring together the Reno-Sparks community, especially University alumni.

“More than 50 percent of our alums live in northern Nevada,” Carothers says. “We’ve invited them all up to the Blue Flu Barbeque to get the community back on to campus. We want them to see the energy and excitement of what’s going on.”

More than 70 local businesses have joined the effort, encouraging their employees to wear blue on that day.

Meanwhile, Eli Reilly, ASUN programming director, says Saturday’s Homecoming Parade has doubled in the amount of groups participating.

“It's a good year for programming, people really got into it this year,” he says. “We only had 11 floats in the parade last year. This year we have 24.”

Reilly has one word for what he hopes the campus and community will get out of this year’s homecoming events:

“Tradition … that’s what we want to bring back,” he says.

Carothers says she hopes alums will take the opportunity to reconnect with their alma mater.

“College is a special time in people’s lives — it’s something they don’t forget,” she says. “To get them to come back to campus and relive those memories, it’s fun.”

Brandon Stewart is web editor in University Communications.

View the 2007-2008 Features Archive
Return to the University of Nevada, Reno homepage

Homecoming 2007 Events

• Oct. 2
  • Mackay School Alumnus of the Year Reception
    6-8 p.m.— Hidden Valley Country Club
• Oct. 3
  • COBA Alumni Association ASUN Student Lounge Dedication
    4:30-6:30 p.m. — Ansari Business Building, Room 207
• Oct. 4
  • Nevada Alumni Association Annual Homecoming Gala
    6 p.m. Cocktails, 7 p.m. Dinner — Reno-Sparks Convention Center
• Oct. 5
  • Nevada Alumni Association - ASUN Blue Flu BBQ
    11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. — University Quad
  • College of Engineering Scrugham Medal Recipients Panel with Students
    2 p.m. — Harry Reid Engineering Laboratory, Rooms 109-110
  • Nevada Cheer, Dance and Mascot Alumni Chapter Dinner
    6 p.m. — Wolf Run Golf Course
  • Nevada Alumni Association Old Guys Night
    9 p.m. — Red's Little Waldorf Saloon
  • Delta Delta Delta Pancake Breakfast
    10 p.m. - 4 a.m. — Delta Delta Delta House
• Oct. 6
  • ASUN Homecoming Parade
    9 a.m. — Virginia Street from 9th Street to 16th Street
  • Orvis School of Nursing 50th Anniversary Brunch
    9:30 a.m. — Alumni Room, Jot Travis Student Union
  • School of Medicine Classes of '77, '87 and '97 Reunion
    9:30 a.m. — Pennington Medical Education Building
  • Nevada Alumni Association Pre-Game Party
    11 a.m. — Wolf Pack Alley (North of Mackay Stadium) Joined by: Asian-American / Pacific Islander Alumni Chapter, Honors Program Chapter, Alumni and Friends of the Reynolds School, Mackay Alumni Chapter, Sacramento Chapter and Young Alumni Chapter
  • Phi Delta Theta 3rd Annual Family Weekend and Alumni BBQ
    11 a.m. — Phi Delta Theta House
  • Homecoming Football Game: Fresno State vs. Nevada
    1:05 p.m. — Mackay Stadium
  • Nevada Football Alumni Chapter Game Day BBQ & Beer
    Throughout the game — Northwest Corner of Mackay Stadium
  • Alpha Tau Omega Annual Homecoming Family BBQ and Party
    Immediately following the game — Alpha Tau Omega House
  • Sigma Nu Homecoming at the House
    Immediately following the game — Sigma Nu House
• Oct. 7
  • Pi Beta Phi Alumni "Blueberry Breakfast"
    10:30 a.m. — Red's Little Waldorf Saloon