By Mekhi Abbott
Special to the AFRO
mabbott@afro.com
The music was loud, the colors bold and the Bulldog pride exuded throughout Prince George’s County as Bowie State University celebrated its 90th annual homecoming from Oct. 26 to Nov. 2.
The weeklong celebration included the annual homecoming parade, student showcases and a high-energy football game. The theme for the homecoming of Maryland’s oldest historically Black university was “It’s Off the Chain!”
“Bowie’s homecoming is a really fun time,” said Chayley Williams, a junior theatre arts major at the university. “I am not even a big football fan but I enjoyed it. [After the game] you have the tailgate and everything. There’s such a familial feeling and community here. I love it.”
The university kicked off the homecoming festivities with the Homecoming Gospel Concert on Oct. 26 from 4-6 p.m. which featured the alumni choir, Bowie State University choir and gospel artists Kierra Sheard and Tim Bowman Jr.
The coronation of Mister and Miss Bowie State took place on Oct. 29 and the annual homecoming concert was on Oct. 30.
The Bowie State Bulldogs hosted their Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) foe, the Elizabeth City State on the gridiron at 1 p.m. on Nov. 1, the university’s official Homecoming Day. The Bulldogs started off firing on all cylinders, jumping out to a 27-7 lead against the Vikings highlighted by a 97-yard interception return touchdown by redshirt senior Tommie McCoy III.
The Vikings would go on to slightly spoil Bowie State’s homecoming after storming back and scoring 21 unanswered points, defeating the Bulldogs 28-27. Bulldog quarterback Savion Witherspoon finished the game with 139 passing yards, 81 rushing yards, three rushing touchdowns and an interception.
The loss marks Bowie’s sixth CIAA conference loss on the season. They hold a record of 2-7 overall with a 1-6 CIAA record. The Bulldogs will travel to Lincoln, Pa., to face off against Lincoln University on Nov. 8 which will be the team’s season finale.
The Homecoming Parade was also held on Homecoming Day. Beginning at the Bowie Walmart and ending at the Bowie Town Center, the parade was led by Bowie alumnus (‘21) and Tony-award winning actor Myles Frost.
Tiani Smith, a senior basketball player at Bowie High School who has attended Bowie’s homecoming for the past six years, said that she most likely will be a Bowie Bulldog next year.
“I really like the fact that a lot of my family members went to the university and I also like the environment,” said Smith. “I love how caring everyone is here.”
Bowie State implemented strict safety measures for this year’s homecoming, including licence plate readers, additional security cameras and increased police presence. The university police partnered with state and county law enforcement to ensure the safety of all students, alumni and community members involved with the homecoming festivities. Registration was also mandatory for all homecoming events for anyone who wasn’t a student living on campus.
“Registration allows us to provide important safety information and updates to attendees before, during and after homecoming,” the school’s website stated. “Knowing who will be on-site makes it easier to account for everyone in case of an emergency and enables quick communication during emergencies.”
In August, Bowie State University was named No. 5 for historically Black colleges and universities with online degrees by Forbes.
“At Bowie State, we are committed to meeting students where they are and providing the tools they need to succeed in a rapidly changing world,” said Dr. Aminta H. Breaux, president of Bowie State University. “This recognition affirms our dedication to academic excellence and student achievement.”
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