After a one-year stopover in Las Vegas, the Fremont Cannon returned to the University of Nevada, Reno campus Sunday following the Nevada Wolf Pack's 49-27 victory over rival UNLV Saturday night at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas.
The Fremont Cannon, college football's largest and most expensive rivalry trophy at more than 500 pounds and built more than 40 years ago at a cost in excess of $10,000, is now in possession of the University for the 24th time in 40 meetings with UNLV.
Wolf Pack players, Coach Brian Polian, Athletic Director Doug Knuth, University President Marc Johnson, students and fans gathered in front of the Joe Crowley Student Union under pale skies Sunday to begin the process of painting the Cannon blue.
Cody Fajardo, Nevada's senior quarterback who played an instrumental role in Saturday's victory with 143 rushing yards and a touchdown as well as three passing touchdowns, posted a photo on his Twitter account following the game. In it, Fajardo's face seemed to be nothing but one elated smile.
Wrote Fajardo: "That face you make when you just got the cannon back! Greatest win of my career! I love this team!"
Polian, Nevada's second-year coach, expressed similar sentiment on his Twitter: "I am very happy for our seniors, and for the student body, alumni, and fans of the University of Nevada - the cannon is coming back north!"
Saturday's victory over UNLV was Nevada's ninth in the last 10 meetings between the two schools. Following eight consecutive victories by the Wolf Pack, UNLV's Rebels won the Cannon in October 2013 at Mackay Stadium.
That made the re-painting of the Cannon on Sunday all the more exciting for the Wolf Pack players.
"You can just see how much it means to this community, the University," Fajardo told the Reno Gazette-Journal's David Jacobs.
Added Johnson: "It's very exciting for not just the campus. The entire community was pulling to bring this cannon home."
For the next year, the Cannon will again reside in a place of honor in Cashell Fieldhouse, near the Wolf Pack football program's offices.
The Wolf Pack, which finished the regular season at 7-5 overall and 4-4 in the Mountain West, will find out this weekend what matchup they will have during college football's bowl season.
