No matter where life takes Chad Nuttall, he always makes his way home to the University of Guelph.
“I love coming back for Homecoming,” says Nuttall, who graduated with a bachelor of arts in 2004. “It’s a nice tradition to come back every year.”
Nuttall first attended Homecoming as a student in 2000 and enjoyed the experience so much that he and a group of fellow U of G alumni have made a point of returning to Guelph each year to cheer on the Gryphons.
“As soon as the football season is announced each year, we make plans to meet,” he says. “I buy the tickets as soon as they become available.”
A history of Homecoming at U of G
Nuttall will be back for this weekend’s Homecoming game, and while his own tradition began in 2000, the University’s larger tradition launched far earlier.
U of G’s inaugural Homecoming game was held in 1923, organized by Ontario Agricultural College president George Christie. At the time, it was a competition between alumni players and varsity athletes. Now an intercollegiate game, the event still features the Glory Bowl, a game that pits alumni against current students.
In the 1970s and 1980s, U of G held an annual Homecoming parade through downtown Guelph, helping to attract attention to the University’s academic and athletic programs. Today, the annual alumni celebration brings former graduates to campus to reflect on years past, while building community with new students cheering on the Gryphons.
“We’re really playing into that nostalgia piece because it’s something both demographics have experienced,” says Carly Blyth, associate director of alumni advancement in Alumni Affairs and Development.
Homecoming may be about reconnecting with the past, but it is also an opportunity for alumni to share in U of G’s future. Alumni Stadium, built in 1970, is now a state-of-the-art facility after an addition in 2017 that includes synthetic turf and a track. This year, spectators will be able to view the newly unveiled Guelph Gryphon Football Honour Wall at the Alumni Stadium entrance. The wall pays tribute to the rich history of the Gryphons football team and its achievements over the years, commemorating players, coaches, staff, parents and community members who have made a lasting impact on the program.
Nuttall enjoys coming back to experience the spirit of Guelph. He’ll often take a trip down memory lane ahead of the game, visiting old buildings and shopping at the bookstore before heading over to the stadium.
“Our friends get to talk about the stories and people we knew from our time here, which is really nice,” he says. “People can reconnect with classmates and reminisce on their days here at U of G,” Blyth says. “It’s a great mix of groups all coming together. People who graduated in the 2010s get to talk to people who graduated in the 1970s.”
Honouring U of G community members
Ahead of this year’s game, U of G will honour Dr. John Walsh, director of the School of Languages and Literatures and founder of the Serving Scholars program. The first of its kind in Ontario, the program addresses the unique needs of U of G students who are also engaged in military service. Walsh works to advocate policy changes and initiatives to support military reservists, including securing accommodations for studies and fostering strong community ties. Last year, the Gryphons recognized defensive end Seamus Milligan, a sociology major and member of the Canadian Armed Forces.
The Gryphons will also celebrate the four track athletes who competed in the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics. Hurdler Craig Thorne and runners Jacqueline Madogo and Zoe Sherar represented Canada, as well as Paralympian Jesse Zesseu, who took home a silver medal in discus.
Gryphons host Waterloo Warriors
The 2024 Homecoming game will see the Guelph Gryphons take on the University of Waterloo Warriors on Sept. 28 at 1 p.m.
U of G alumni can watch the game from the 2024 Homecoming End Zone Party, where they’ll enjoy exclusive front-row access, food and swag.
Following a Homecoming tradition, the Gryphons will fire a cannon each time they score a touchdown. The stadium cannon, named Little Jeremiah, is a nod to the Old Jeremiah cannon in Branion Plaza.
Safety is a top priority at Homecoming and all U of G events. Community members are encouraged to download the SafeGryphon App, which sends out emergency notifications and offers an interactive map of campus.