The homecoming game is one of Temple’s biggest events that students, faculty, and alumni look forward to during the whole year. It’s a moment to get together with friends, new and old, introduce yourself to someone new, and support the football team and marching band.
The atmosphere surrounding the entire day is like none other. When asking friends, families, and students what they love about the atmosphere surrounding Temple, almost all described the same way: it’s a community. This feeling of community isn’t something that happened overnight, but was created through new students joining Temple, and alumni coming back to reminisce on good memories.
Christina Morath, a mom of a new Temple student, has just started going to the football games, but is excited for the memories and this new tradition that’s being made.
“Since going to the games at the beginning of the year, I’ve loved the atmosphere that Temple brings,” Morath said. “Everyone comes together like a big family and everyone has fun. It’s a big, nice community event, especially for the students.”
Homecoming gives students the opportunity to learn more about certain organizations and schools at Temple. Many of the organizations are student-run, and Homecoming is their chance to connect with students and alumni who can offer their support.
WHIP Radio, the only student-run radio station at Temple, has been active for 20 years. Ava Mosby, who works with WHIP Radio, expressed how exciting it is to have a table at Tailgate Village during Homecoming.
“We can show people what we are all about, and we have a space to talk about the radio station, not just to current students but to alumni as well,” Mosby said. “The collaboration between students and alumni is unique, and you get to work with talented people in their respective areas.”
Collaboration can be found in any school at Temple. Dionna Campanella, a member of the School of Medicine, loves that no matter where you can go in the health world, you always seem to meet someone who went to Temple.
“As big of a school as it is, there is such a big sense of community,” Campanella said. “Everybody knows and supports everybody, so wherever you go in the world, it seems like you know somebody from the school.”
Homecoming at Temple isn’t just for the clubs and students attending school. Temple alumni play a major role in bringing this positive atmosphere to the community.
Michael, a graduate from the Temple School of Business, has been tailgating at the Homecoming games close to 30 years, which coincides with how long he has been working at Temple. He notes that everyone in Temple, no matter what branch or school they graduated from, Temple alumni always stick together.
“Our connectivity to the community and to each other is amazing,” Michael said. “I just think Temple sticks together.”
Mark O’Donnell, better known as a Temple Temporer, has been going to the Homecoming games for 11 years along with two of his good friends. With their own dedicated spot in Lot K of the Lincoln Financial Field, the Temple Temporers are always welcoming new people and expressing their passion and love for Temple and everything it brings.
“When you come here, it’s family,” O’Donnell said. “We got alumni from all different years and ages, but the alumni always stick together.”
The minute students walk onto Temple’s campus, they become members of a unique and welcoming family. Filled with community and collaboration, there is always a place for students, faculty and alumni to showcase their passions and talents to the world, with a support team behind them all the time, cheering them on.