Norwich Homecoming Saturday: A Perfect Day for the Cadets

Alumni Weekend is always a gathering of the Norwich University family and community to reconnect. It is special, a time when generations of alumni, families, and friends converge on The Hill to remember and celebrate together. But this year’s Homecoming Saturday brought with it something a little extra, something that captured the imagination of everyone in attendance and reverberated far beyond the campus of Northfield.

It began with a moment that will live long in the collective memory of Norwich. During the football pregame festivities, the roar of engines drew eyes skyward. Cutting across the Vermont sky, a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber thundered into view, executing a low flyover that sent chills down the spine of all who witnessed it. To those on Sabine Field, it was a dramatic and powerful salute, a tribute to Norwich’s proud military heritage, and a symbol of the enduring bond between the University and the nation’s armed forces.

For many alumni, parents, and students, it was the defining image of the weekend, yet thanks to the power of social media, it also reached far beyond campus. Several hundred thousand people have already viewed the video of the flyover, sharing in the pride and spectacle that unfolded above Northfield. It was a stirring reminder that the Norwich story is not confined to campus borders; it resonates across the country and around the globe.

A Resounding Victory on Sabine Field

The excitement of the flyover gave way almost seamlessly to the excitement on the field, where Norwich football welcomed Maine Maritime Academy back to Sabine Field. What followed was nothing short of a statement. The Cadets dominated from start to finish, posting a resounding 63-0 victory that electrified the crowd.

Every play, every celebratory moment, carried with it the energy of the weekend and the joy of playing before alumni who once wore the maroon and gold themselves. 

A Perfect Day for Norwich Athletics

Across campus, Norwich teams showcased the same determination and excellence that has long characterized Cadet athletics. By day’s end, Norwich athletics had compiled a perfect 4-0 record on The Hill, giving alumni and fans even more to cheer.

At the Graveyard Pitch, the women’s rugby team opened the day with a spirited contest against the University of Vermont. With grit and flair, the Cadets prevailed, securing a 41-25 victory. The match embodied the toughness and resilience that Norwich women’s rugby has come to symbolize, and it set the tone for what would be a celebratory day.

Not to be outdone, the men’s rugby team took to the same pitch and delivered a decisive performance of their own. Against the University of New Hampshire, Norwich surged ahead and never looked back, finishing with a 50-12 victory that thrilled the crowd and underscored the program’s enduring strength.

As the afternoon waned, attention shifted to the soccer pitch, where the women’s soccer team capped off the athletic slate with a commanding display. With precision offense and relentless defense, the Cadets blanked Saint Joseph’s College of Maine in a 3-0 shutout, sending fans home with one final celebration to savor.

Alumni Spirit and Community Pride

While the wins were impressive, and the flyover unforgettable, the true essence of the day was found in the people. Alumni from across generations gathered on campus, rekindling friendships forged in classrooms, on athletic fields, in civilian dorms, and in the Corps of Cadets. Families walked the grounds together while seeing the traditions of Norwich come to life. Students met alumni who once stood where they now stand, gaining a deeper sense of belonging to a lineage that stretches back more than two centuries.

Homecoming is not only about looking back; it is about connection and continuity. It is about sharing the Norwich story, in all its dimensions, from academic rigor and military tradition to athletic achievement and community pride. On this Homecoming Saturday, those connections were palpable. The Hill buzzed with energy, alive with conversations, laughter, and the shared pride in Cadet athletics.

A Lasting Legacy

Events like this remind us why Norwich endures as a special place. The B-2 flyover captured headlines and imaginations, but it was more than spectacle. It was a symbol of resilience, of service, and of the shared values that bind the Norwich family together. The victories on the fields and pitches were more than tallies in a record book; they were living expressions of determination, teamwork, and pride. And the gathering of alumni and families was more than tradition; it was the continuation of a legacy that strengthens with every passing year.

For those who came home, and for those who shared in the moment from afar, it was a day to remember.

Norwich Forever.