Thousands of alumni reunite at Liberty for Homecoming 2014

A thrilling Flames Football game on Saturday night capped off an exciting, record-setting Homecoming Weekend at Liberty University. Liberty’s Alumni Relations office welcomed more than 6,000 registrants, a 50 percent increase over last year, making this the most heavily attended Homecoming ever.

It was also a record-setting crowd inside Williams Stadium for the football game, with 20,838 fans in attendance. Though Liberty fought the Richmond Spiders to double-overtime, the home crowd was ultimately disappointed with the 46-39 result. But the crowd got more than it bargained for in terms of heart-stopping action.

Early on, the Spiders seemed to have the upper hand. After falling behind 15-0 early to Richmond and trailing 22-7 at the break, the Flames played an inspired second half, scoring three touchdowns. Quarterback Josh Woodrum led the way for Liberty with a stellar passing and running performance. The game seemed all but over with 1.8 seconds remaining before Liberty kicker John Lunsford nailed a Big South Conference record 60-yard field goal against the wind to tie it up and force overtime. (Visit Liberty’s Athletics website for the full story.)

Students, alumni, and their families had plenty to do throughout the day on Saturday.

Early in the morning runners took on the Deep Hollow Half Marathon on Liberty Mountain.

Beginning at noon, the carnival in the Pavilion parking lot provided plenty of food and family-friendly entertainment, including rides, games, and live music. Hayrides provided tours of campus, highlighting many recent developments in the university’s $500 million campus rebuilding project. Alumni from past decades enjoyed sharing stories of what Liberty was like “back in the day” as they interacted with newer additions to the Liberty family.

Across University Boulevard, fans lined the streets for tailgate parties. The lawn in front of the Hancock Welcome Center bustled with activity as tailgaters and Homecoming guests played lawn games and enjoyed photo opportunities of the scenic backdrop.

At 4 p.m. the annual Homecoming parade marched down the boulevard, led by the Spirit of the Mountain Marching Band. Those in attendance got the opportunity to catch candy thrown by President Jerry Falwell and his wife, Becki, and see a number of floats from various student groups. Alumna Courtney Garrett (’14), who is the reigning Miss Virginia and recent Miss America first runner-up, also joined in the parade.

Homecoming 2014: Friday highlights

Oct. 4, 2014

Alumni from all over the U.S. gathered on Liberty University’s campus in record numbers on Friday to celebrate Homecoming Weekend 2014, hosted by Liberty’s Alumni Relations office.

“It’s exciting to see what God is doing and how the campus is growing,” alumnus Jeff Lancaster (’86) said. “All the resources available to our kids are so much more than what we had.”

He and his wife, Jill (’88), visited the university after serving as missionaries in Brazil and South Korea for 22 years. They have two children who are also Liberty alumni and two more currently enrolled.

Liberty’s online family, including current students, was invited to join in the festivities and Discover Liberty. Students and their families traveled from across the U.S. to tour Liberty’s expansive 7,000-acre campus, receive gifts, meet faculty, and enjoy the long lineup of Homecoming festivities with their fellow members of the university community.

“The whole area is beautiful. Everything around here is great and the people are great,” alumnus Jacob Bradd (’14) said.

Bradd completed his degree online while serving in the military and has only visited Liberty’s campus once before to receive his diploma in May.

Throughout the weekend, guests are encouraged to explore Liberty’s grounds and take advantage of free hayride tours of main campus. Attendees from last year’s Homecoming will see — for the first time — newly constructed facilities included in the $500 million campus rebuilding including the Jerry Falwell Library, the expanded LaHaye Student Union, and the Residential Commons I.

Fall-themed pumpkin and hay bale displays at various campus locations provide scenic backdrops for family photographs, while the carnival in the Pavilion parking lot offers entertainment for the entire family 6-9 p.m. on Friday and noon-6.pm. on Saturday.

Alumni were invited to attend Friday’s Convocation, which featured humanitarian and best-selling author, Shelene Bryan. The former Hollywood producer shared how she took a life-changing trip to Uganda to visit two village children she sponsored monthly. Upon returning in 2009, she founded Skip1.org to encourage people to skip one meal or trip to the spa and donate the money saved to provide food and water to those in poverty around the world.

Bryan encouraged students to live a life with purpose and reminded them of the short duration of life, challenging students to use every resource to help those in need.

After her message, Bryan distributed 500 free copies of her book, “Love, Skip, Jump.”

Homecoming events continued at noon with a football luncheon hosted by the Flames Club.

Alumni also gathered at the Reber-Thomas Dining Hall from 5-7 p.m. for food and a chance to fellowship with other alumni at the Varsity Club reception.

Homecoming events continued at Friday night’s carnival set up behind the LaHaye Ice Center. Families gathered to enjoy an extreme obstacle course, face painting, a merry-go-round, carnival games, and an unforgettable view of campus from a giant Ferris wheel.

Indoor entertainment included Flames hockey games at the Ice Center and a showing of “The Little Mermaid” at Tower Theater.

Several more events will continue on Saturday, culminating with the Flames football game against the Richmond Spiders. With a 7 p.m. kickoff, this is the first night Homecoming football game at Liberty since 2004.