Born and Raised Bulldog
Photo by Bruce Grant
Homecoming is a phrase that signifies returning to home. For current students, this week is a time to come together and celebrate school pride, but for some alumni, homecoming week is a time to return to a place that they once called home.
Andrew Fisher, Traditions Chair for Kirby Program Board said, “I think that homecoming means the unity of everyone, past bulldogs and present bulldogs all coming together to celebrate school spirit.”
I see homecoming from a different perspective than most. I grew up in a family where my parents, aunt and three of my cousins were all bulldogs. Needless to say, I have heard my fair share of memories and stories that originated within the halls of UMD.
Most of these stories come from my father, Bruce Grant. He often tells stories of sitting in Bohanan 90 trying to take notes on the small desks, living in a house right off of Woodland Avenue and the favorite experiences he had on the football field.
Photo by Bruce Grant
While at UMD, my father was the quarterback of the football team from 1979-1984 under coach Malosky, whom Malosky stadium is now named after. One of the first stories that my dad told me about his time at UMD was when coach Malosky called a timeout in the middle of the game just to ask him, “Why are you so horseshit?”
Before becoming a student here I visited UMD almost every year. My parents would walk through the halls saying how things have changed or stayed the same and reminisce. UMD was a place that I considered home long before it was mine.
