I first stepped foot on the Syracuse University campus in the Fall of 1959 when Ike was President.  It was that long ago!

The Orange football team proceeded to run off an undefeated season, culminating in the National Championship with the great Ernie Davis as it’s Elmira Express engine.

I joined the Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity and among the many amazing brothers was Ernie himself (the first African American in the American Greek system).

They were great formative years where I forged lifelong friendships and connections.

Flash forward to last weekend when we (Joanne was a Syracuse coed in my senior year) visited granddaughter Maggie on the Hill.

First some overriding observations:  the campus has sprawled and built up in impressive ways, the students are all festooned in orange gear, there are no food trucks or curfews and tail gating is pervassive.

Highlights for me were sharing a pitcher of beer at the Varsity (great tee shirt) on Marshall Street, walking up all those steps to the Mount and visiting Jo’s Frosh Flint dorm, noticing familiar long ago buildings, visiting Maggie’s studio art class, swimming in the Women’s Building pool, visiting Maggie’s AEPhi sorority house and meeting Emma and Izzy, lunching at the plush Ernie Davis Dorm (see above photo) food service cafeteria (far far superior to our ancient fare) and tail gating with the girls.

All this culminated at the ultra crowded Carrier Dome for a night football game against Number 1 ranked Clemson.

I would like to tell you we won, but one Championship is enough for a lifetime.

Thanks so much to our beautiful, wonderful, kind, caring Maggie who took care of everything, even the Ubers!

Who says you can’t go home again?