There was a full slate of athletics games Friday afternoon followed by the induction of five of Merrimack’s star former student-athletes into the Hall of Fame Class of 2019.
Saturday started with a 5K campus run before the MACK Talks Breakfast in Cascia Hall where faculty touched on recent work and Merrimack President Christopher E. Hopey spoke of Merrimack’s journey to becoming an NCAA Division I college.
Homecoming heated up with the tailgate party before the afternoon football game with Bryant University. A village of blue and gold – or more than a thousand students, parents, alumni, faculty, staff and trustees – gathered to fire up the grills and rekindle old friendships.
“I like to reconnect with people I haven’t seen in a long time but it seems like no time has passed,” said Jenna Coviello ’17. “Campus has changed an insane amount,” she added.
Then a record 10,172 fans filled Duane Stadium to cheer on the football team.
The game remained close into halftime when Merrimack honored the men’s lacrosse team with a raising of its second NCAA championship banner. Midway through the third quarter, the game was tied 17-17 before Bryant eked out the win.
“We are One is not just about Division I,” Athletics Director Jeremy Gibson said during the Hall of Fame ceremony. “It is about community.”
