Undeterred by a steady rain that would turn heavy at times, alumni and families began filling the Homecoming tents on Edwards Parade at 11 a.m., two hours before kickoff, to eat and drink, reunite with old friends, and celebrate their love of Fordham.

Across the lawn, Maria Shkreli, GABELLI ’03, was attending her third Homecoming as an alumna, but the first in the family tent with her young son. “We really wanted to get the little one here this year,” she said. “We want to start planting roots.”

Doryce Hargett, a 2008 Marymount graduate, also braved the rain with her young son to attend this year’s event. “I was talking to my son about college, and I wanted to show him the Fordham experience,” she said. “I wanted him to see what you can achieve if you work hard.”

Lasting Friendships and Returns to Campus

Many in attendance were celebrating longtime friendships born out of their time at Fordham. Rich Hamm, FCRH ’71, and Ed Lambert, FCRH ’71, LAW ’75, met as undergraduates and have stayed close since, with Ed having served as the best man when Rich and Mary Hamm, GSE ’00, were married 53 years ago. While they frequently come back for athletics events and reunions—including, by their estimate, about 50 Homecomings—these alumni said they continue to be impressed by the changes on campus.

“The McShane Campus Center is beautiful,” Mary said, with Lambert adding that the campus “outclasses” any other he’s seen.

The game itself marked a special kind of Homecoming for broadcaster Connell McShane, FCRH ’99, who called the game for ESPN+. “It’s always fun to be back here,” said McShane, who got his start in broadcasting at WFUV, Fordham’s public media station, when he was an undergraduate at Rose Hill in the 1990s. “I think this is the first Fordham–Lehigh game I’ve called in 25 years,” he said with a laugh.

A Tribute to Joe Moglia, a Thrilling Victory, and ‘Lives of Integrity’

As kickoff approached, the Fordham cheerleaders and pep band amped up an already enthusiastic crowd under the tent and led them to the stadium. And Brian Kenny, GABELLI ’84, settled in with his wife and 1-year-old granddaughter near the front of the bleachers. “Traditions have gotta bear the weather,” he said. “And we’re starting a new tradition bringing her.”

Joe Moglia, a 1967 Fordham Prep and 1971 Fordham College at Rose Hill graduate, award-winning football coach, and transformational business executive, joined the players for the ringing of the Victory Bell. Fordham also honored Moglia during an on-field ceremony between the first and second quarters, when he was presented with a commemorative ball and a framed photo of the football and soccer stadium that now bears his name.

Leading up to Saturday’s gatherings in the tents and the big game, seven former student-athletes and one coach were honored at the 2023 Fordham Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Edwards Parade on Thursday evening, and on Friday night, more than 700 alumni who graduated between 2013 and 2023 participated in the annual Young Alumni Yacht Cruise, sailing in New York Harbor and along the East and Hudson rivers.

On Saturday morning, around 50 people braved the elements to take part in the annual 5K Ram Run at 9 a.m., while others joined campus walking tours.

Before the tents opened, alumni and friends also gathered in the Great Hall of the McShane Campus Center for a “Coffee and Conversation” event featuring Fordham President Tania Tetlow. She reflected on her first year as president and described alumni as “force multipliers” for the University.

“We continue to have an outsized impact on the world because of what our alumni like you achieve with the education that you got—the impact you’ve had on the world, the ways that you live lives of integrity, all of the ways that you touch society,” Tetlow said.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Fordham University (@fordhamuniversity)

As always, football will be the centerpiece. Hot off a stellar 2022 season, the Rams have won three of their first four games and are ranked No. 15 in this week’s FCS Coaches Poll. They’ll take on the Lehigh Mountain Hawks. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m., but the festivities begin bright and early, with the 12th Annual 5K Ram Run at 9 a.m., campus tours, and much more.

Here are five things you won’t want to miss at Homecoming this year.

1. The New McShane Campus Center Arcade

The four-story McShane Campus Center opened in early 2022 and has been at the heart of an ongoing campaign to support students’ wellness and success. Last month, the University unveiled the latest addition—an airy, sun-filled arcade with a sparkling glass entrance that links the campus center to the Lombardi Center and the historic Rose Hill Gym.

See it on the 9:30 a.m. tour, led by a current Fordham student and starting in front of the McShane Center—or stroll through anytime throughout the day.

2. Coffee and Conversation with President Tetlow

At her recent State of the University address, President Tetlow talked about Fordham’s “three sources of power”—research, Jesuit teaching, and opportunity—and explained why the University isn’t chasing status and rankings. Hear more from her on all things Fordham at this event on the third floor of the McShane Center at 10:30 a.m. And grab a cup of joe to fuel up for the day!

3. Moglia Stadium

The University will officially name its football and soccer stadium in honor of Joe Moglia—a 1967 Fordham Prep and 1971 Fordham College at Rose Hill graduate, award-winning football coach, and transformational business executive.

Planned renovations to the stadium include a state-of-the-art video board, seating and press box upgrades, new lighting, and more to enhance the game day experience. Moglia Stadium is part of the Jack Coffey Field complex that also includes Houlihan Park, the University’s baseball venue.

Check out the new signage for Moglia Stadium above the stands, and join us in honoring Joe Moglia at a special ceremony during the game.

4. Jesuit Gems, ‘Hidden in Plain Sight’

Take a campus walking tour with Robert Reilly, FCRH ’72, LAW ’75, former assistant dean of Fordham Law School, as he brings Fordham’s Jesuit history and mission to life—and encourages even the most devoted alumni to see Rose Hill with new eyes.

The tour, “Hidden in Plain Sight: Discover the Jesuit Presence at Rose Hill,” kicks off outside the McShane Campus Center at 11:30 a.m. Reilly will highlight statues and lecture halls, stained-glass windows and architectural details—like those on the stunning wrought-iron doors of Dealy Hall. The 10 panels forming the sidelights of Dealy’s western entrance depict the arts and sciences—philosophy, chemistry, mathematics, rhetoric, and more—that the Jesuits included in their Ratio Studiorum (Latin for plan of studies), originally published in 1599.

“The curriculum that the Jesuits created has become the curriculum of all universities throughout the Earth,” Reilly says. “That is a great tribute to Jesuit education worldwide.”

5. Family Fun

Homecoming has something for everyone—including the kids! Check out the Family Tent, adjacent to the main tent. It features caricature and balloon artists, coloring pages, and a shorter line for food and drink for busy parents.

This year’s celebration under the tents is now a fully ticketed event, and the Office of Alumni Relations is encouraging people to buy their tickets at a discount by Oct. 3. Check out the full Homecoming schedule and ticket options at forever.fordham.edu/homecoming.

—Nicole LaRosa and Ryan Stellabotte