The Sea of Blue was a sea of winter coats and giant umbrellas Saturday afternoon as fierce winds and freezing rain crashed the end of Homecoming Week at the Bulls football game.
Bundled up from head to toe, both fans and participants stuck it out through the rocky weather for not only the game, but also a series of Homecoming events during halftime.
The ceremonies started with a parade around the stadium track by students from UB's clubs and varsity sports teams. Representatives held their signs high and proud, trying to pump up the frostbitten crowd with their energy and support for UB.
Sean Seege, a junior engineering major, said he was impressed with how many people showed up for the game.
"I love how no matter what Buffalo weather throws at you, fans will come out and support their team," Seege said. "It was great to see so many people battle the wind and rain and be a part of the parade. That is the kind of devotion any college should encompass."
As the parade wound down, students in hefty sumo wrestling costumes wobbled onto the field in a one-on-one battle for a football, and with the weather as it was, students said they were happy to see the little Homecoming distractions.
"Who would of thought sumo wrestling for a football would be entertaining enough to make you forget about how cold it really is?" said Lauren Monaghan, senior engineering major.
The main halftime event, however, was the crowning of the Homecoming king and queen. Dressed to the nines, the 10 candidates crossed onto the field standing in pairs, arm in arm. The winners were picked based on a series of questions asked in front of a panel of judges Thursday in the Student Union.
"They asked what was our largest impact as a freshman, what was your fondest memory of UB, and why you feel you should be homecoming king or queen," said Eser Yildirim, a senior and homecoming king nominee. "But my favorite question was, if you were any kind of animal, what would you be?"
The second runner-up, Yildirim said he believed he had the qualities necessary to be homecoming king because of his club involvement and high-octane school spirit.
But in the end, Mario Tlatenchi and Laura Falkowski walked away as the winners. For their victory, both the king and queen headed to the stadium's presidential suite to watch the rest of the game.
By the end of the game, no one could say they had withstood the elements to see the Bulls win, but after a week of colorful Homecoming festivities, fans did get to see one last bit of color as the sun broke through and a rainbow spanned the stadium.
"It's no wonder that one of the most amazing rainbows I have ever seen is in plain view for all of UB to enjoy," said Eddie Asbie, student relations coordinator and UB graduate student. "It is a gift for all those who will battle the wind and rain just to catch a glimpse of our courageous football team battle till the end."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
