At Homecoming, M Is for Moxie
Spirit-Soaked Week Ends With Football’s Feisty Win
Fans in the packed student section donned free white “Fearlessly Forward x Homecoming” tees left on the bleachers to form the shape of the Maryland M and scream their support for the Terps, who defeated the Northwestern Wildcats in a tight 31-24 game.
Photo courtesy of Maryland Athletics
With apologies to the Maryland Dance Team and Cheerleaders, a thundering cartwheel from 330-pound offensive lineman Johari Branch will go down as the most memorable celebratory move from Homecoming 2022.
The Maryland Terrapins capped Homecoming Week on Saturday with a come-from-behind victory over Northwestern, 31-24, to become eligible for a bowl game; it was the earliest for the football team (6-2) to reach that milestone since 2001.
Saturday’s defeat of the Wildcats (1-6), led by backup quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. while Taulia Tagovailoa recovers from a knee injury, featured a huge performance from running back Roman Henby: 24 carries for 179 yards and three touchdowns. His 75-yard TD prompted Branch’s impromptu gymnastics move and an immediate 15-yard penalty—one derided in the Twitterverse in place of applause for Branch.
The Terps head into their bye week while the rest of the campus community also recoups after an action-packed week of Homecoming events.
Student tickets sold out for both of Student Entertainment Events’ annual Homecoming Comedy Show performances by Colin Jost and two fellow “Saturday Night Live” cast members, Molly Kearney and Marcello Hernandez. The crowd laughed loudly at Maryland-specific jokes about squirrels on campus and why UMD’s mascot is a diamondback terrapin instead of a plain turtle.
Monday’s “Beyond the Field” virtual lecture featured Joseph Richardson, Joel and Kim Feller Professor and MPower Professor of African-American Studies and Medical Anthropology,.on the toll of gun violence, “Tuesday Night Lights” drew crowds to SECU Stadium for selfies and dancing on the field, and the Nyumburu Cultural Center hosted its Juke Joint talent show on Wednesday night.
Daily pop-up swag giveaways culminated Friday night at the Terp Carnival, where the line for free Homecoming scarves snaked the length of McKeldin Mall. For the rest of the evening, Terps with the prize wrapped around their necks jumped in moon bounces, played cornhole, enjoyed student performances, and cheered for football Coach Michael Locksley and players who hyped the crowd for the big game. A brilliant fireworks display closed out the event.
Saturday featured no fewer than seven major tailgates, with sponsors including the Robert H. Smith School of Business, the College of Information Studies and the big kahuna: the Alumni Homecoming Tailgate and Beer Garden.
Read on for a look back at a week's worth of fun and Maryland spirit.
Stephanie Barahona (left) ‘24 and Wendy Rodriguez ‘23 show off their homecoming scarves at Friday’s Terp Carnival, which featured bouncy rides, refreshments, swag and a gaggle of jugglers, among other amusements. (Photo by Justin Derato)
Fireworks streaked through the sky to lend an otherworldly glow to buildings on McKeldin Mall, providing a thrilling finish to Terp Carnival. (Photo by Justin Derato)
Saturday Night Live star Colin Jost helped kick off Homecoming Week with a comedy set presented by Student Entertainment Events at Ritchie Coliseum on Oct. 16. (Photo by Stephanie S. Cordle)
Students dance in the end zone at SECU Stadium during Tuesday Night Lights, when anyone who wants to can take the field that’s normally the province of Terp varsity teams and the Mighty Sound of Maryland marching band. (Photo courtesy of Maryland Athletics)
The Department of Resident Life’s second annual Food Truck Festival brought a chance to try out new tastes with friends outside Mowatt Lane Garage on Wednesday. (Photo by Madison Wells-James ‘23)
The Star Strutters dance crew performs at Juke Joint, the annual showcase featuring music, dance and spoken word sponsored by the Nyumburu Cultural Center, held Wednesday at the Adele H. Stamp Student Union. (Photo by Madison Wells-James ‘23)
Students from the Sigma Alpha professional agricultural sorority and the Block and Bridle animal science and livestock group enjoyed the unusually warm late-October weather during a tailgate celebration near the Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex on Saturday. (Photo by Stephanie S. Cordle)
The Mighty Sound of Maryland marching band fills the air with festivity outside the Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center before Saturday’s Homecoming football game. Its halftime show honored the 90th birthday of John Williams, with songs from “E.T.,” “Jurassic Park” and “Superman.” (Photo by John T. Consoli)
Chef Juan A. Blanco, right, of Ay! Jalisco Tex-Mex Restaurant, prepares a plate for Valeria Retana '20 at a combined tailgate for Lambda Upsilon Lambda fraternity and Lambda Theta Alpha Latin sorority. (Photo by Stephanie S. Cordle)
Terp fans filter into SECU Stadium for the showdown against Northwestern on Saturday. For hours before the game, parking lots across campus were packed with tents, mini-grills, cornhole, balloons, flags and lots of red, white, black and gold. (Photo by Stephanie S. Cordle)
Running Back Roman Hemby (24) rushed for a career-high 179 yards and scored three touchdowns in the Terrapins' victory. His 75-yard touchdown run with 3:22 left to play put the Terps ahead for good. (Photo courtesy of Maryland Athletics)
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