GMU Homecoming Weekend: All the Details

Homecoming 2011 at George Mason University was a three-day, sold-out event. It began on Friday with the Fifth Annual Beer-Tasting “seminar” at George’s Restaurant in the Johnson Center. For alumni only, the lecture was presented by Dogfish Head Alehouse. It included samples of the brewery’s different ales, a souvenir schooner and food which complemented each beer.

The theme of the homecoming was “The Yellow Brick Road.” While grads tasted the beer upstairs at George’s, undergraduates and families with kids had the opportunity to view "The Wizard of Oz" at the Johnson Center Cinema on Friday and Saturday at 6 and 9 p.m.

Saturday began with the Second Annual Homecoming Parade. Last year’s parade was an unqualified success, as Kevin Loker described in a video produced by the Office of Student Media:  “Lots of festivities going on, a lot of energy, a lot of craziness. Check it out!”

The 2011 parade might have been dampened a bit by the drizzle on Saturday, but a first-time observer would never know it. The participants, obviously, had a great time as they marched around Patriot Circle, following the Yellow Brick Road and heading to the tailgate party. Marchers included a team from Mason Dining, the homecoming court, cheerleaders, the Green Machine, the ROTC program, floats, fraternities, gaudily decorated golf carts, and just about anything else you can imagine. Famous personalities included Dorothy, Glinda the Good Witch of Oz and Tony the Tiger.

Mr. and Mrs. George Mason strolled along, too, at a leisurely pace. In spite of the damp, Mr. Mason’s gout did not seem  painful on Saturday! The university’s namesake was portrayed by Don McAndrews, who has the role down pat after 15 years. Sarah Mason was acted by Janis Harless, a veteran of five years as Mrs. Mason.

The parade ended at the homecoming block and tailgate party in a nearby parking lot. Individuals and different organizations had set up small canopies where alums and undergrads met to share friendship. Heated tents drew visitors like magnets. In one hospitality tent, guests might have their photos taken and made into a key chain, buy Mason paraphernalia such as T-shirts and caps, and enjoy free coffee and dry off.

Talking to the Army ROTC staff at their table in the tent was informative. The Army nurses were represented, as well as the Patriot Battalion. Mariah Doolittle, the Enrollment Operations officer, is proud of the program at Mason, which has 180 cadets. These ROTC students receive scholarships, graduate as 2nd Lieutenants, learn leadership skills and gain muscles. What a deal!

The cheery Mason Dining staff was colorfully clad in exceptionally funny costumes. Imagine, if you will, Sherry Arrington, the executive chef of GMU’s popular restaurant South Side, dressed like a fork. Bernadette Thomas, in a spoon suit, was an ideal companion. As the Comptroller, she was enthusiastic about her program, too. Perhaps she might remind you of Dorothy when she exclaimed with a lilt, “There’s no place like Mason Dining.”

The parking lot was cleared in time for everybody to walk to the 2 p.m. tip-off at the Patriot Center. Classmates who hadn’t seen each other for a few months since their 2010 graduation or a few years continued to greet each other and to marvel at the changes in the campus even after just a few months. Inside the arena, the fervor of the almost 10,000 spectators was intense. When the Patriots were introduced, the applause, cheers, whistles, stomping and yells were deafening.

In the match with the Old Dominion Monarchs, the Patriots got off to a slow start. As the team missed baskets, Gail Papa, wife of GMU Professor Dimitris Papa and a former basketball mom, murmured: “They need to calm down. Breathe!” Her advice, sent telepathically, must have worked. A few seconds later, Ryan Pearson scored the first basket, a two-pointer. The crowd erupted. The Green Machine drummers began their hypnotic beat while the rest of the band and the audience clapped in time. Such a beginning!

The game, of course, was marvelous, as The atmosphere during the afternoon continued to be supercharged by other activities. A Cub Scout pack served as the color guard, and Doc Nix led his Green Machine in “The Star-Spangled Banner,” a rendition so beautiful that the audience spontaneously began singing.

During a time-out, veterans and activity duty members of the armed forces were asked to stand up. They were saluted warmly by the spectators. A representative of the Virginia Lottery, which helped sponsor this game, later introduced the Super Teacher of the Year. Joel Block, a math teacher in Falls Church City’s George Mason High School, was chosen from candidates throughout the Commonwealth. Congratulations to you, Mr. Block.        

Beside winning the game against the Monarchs, the introduction of Mason basketball alums during half-time was a true highlight. Representing the 2000 decade were such stars as Tim Burns, Deion Cooper, Chris Fleming, Jon Larranaga, Jermaine Price, Dre Smith, John Vaughn, and Lamar Butler. In addition to these athletes, eight players from the '90s were  presented; 15 from the '80s, 16 from the '70s, and four from the '60s teams walked onto the court. That was such a show of dedication to GMU.