CU Boulder’s Wayback Machine
Phil Caragol (Comm’75) has attended Homecoming Weekend annually since 2010. He has no plans to break the streak.
“Homecoming is CU alumni’s wayback machine,” said Caragol, who is known to CU fans as “Buffalo Phil” and is never seen at a Buffs game without his signature buffalo helmet and black-and-gold getup.
The promise of reliving college memories — and making new ones — brings him back to campus year after year. He especially loves catching up with friends and meeting CU Boulder’s newest alumni.
This fall, homecoming festivities kick off on Wednesday, Sept. 30, during Boulder’s sixth-annual Culture Crawl through more than 20 of the campus’s arts centers, heritage collections and cultural hubs. Midweek celebrations continue with live performances on the Norlin Quad by students, ranging from instrumental music to stand-up comedy.
The festivities build into the weekend with Buffs on Tap, where alumni brewers and vintners will showcase their craft beer and wine. From there, the celebration will spill onto the Pearl Street Mall as the Golden Buffalo Marching Band leads the Stampede and Homecoming Parade.
On Saturday, Oct. 3, the CU football team will take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders. Alumni can gather beforehand at the 150th Anniversary Tailgate Celebration, host to several reunions, including a celebration of the School of Pharmacy’s 50th anniversary and cultural community gatherings for Black, Latinx, Indigenous and veteran alumni.
For Julann Andersen (Mktg’85), CU Boulder Alumni Association interim executive director, Homecoming is about more than any single moment.
“Homecoming weekend,” she said, “is where we celebrate the spirit of being a Buff, which is particularly relevant this year as we honor CU Boulder’s sesquicentennial anniversary.”
Photo by Advancement Marketing and Communications
