The spirit of tradition is in the air whenever temperatures cool and the university community approaches the final stretch of the week's homecoming events.
Friday marked the first Blue Flue barbecue held in the Jot Travis Student Union Auditorium. The event was originally scheduled to take place on the Quad but was then rescheduled at the last minute due to the weather, which saw high winds and temperatures that dropped into the low 50s. Live music and free food encouraged tons of alumni, students and staff to come together in the name of Nevada tradition.
Brita Muller, chief coordinator for homecoming week, said that this year's events saw more success than any of the years in the past.
"I've only heard good things through other people," Muller said. "Everyone keeps coming up to me and saying, 'Good job, we've never seen homecoming like this before.'"
Muller also said she hopes this year's events will set a standard of quality that students will expect for years to come.
"We knew that if this homecoming was really big and really successful then that's just setting the bar for the years to come and then we can make it a real tradition," Muller said.
Kelly Bland, who sits on the Nevada Alumni Council, was also pleased at the success of this year's events. For some alumni, like Bland, the Blue Flu Barbecue and other events like it helped to rekindle the affections that many alumni have towards the University.
"It's just getting back together with old friends," Bland said while trying to sum up what really sticks out to him about homecoming week. "I already saw some here that I went to college with. It just feels like your coming home.
"I spent a lot of time in this room. I think any of the living groups on campus whether they be the dorms or the fraternities or the sororities or the people who are involved in student government, have a close affinity. The more you put into it here at the University, the more you're going to get out."