News 2023: Rain or shine: UMassD pride prevails during Blue & Gold Weekend festivities

As the UMass Dartmouth community united on campus for a weekend to remember, fun events like the Corsair Tailgate put their university pride on display.

As autumn leaves fell on Ring Road, UMass Dartmouth’s campus buzzed with laughter, familiar greetings, and the unmistakable sense of Corsair camaraderie on October 5-7, Blue and Gold Weekend. This annual celebration of university pride brought students, alumni, faculty, staff, family, and others together for events that transcended the boundaries of time and united every member of our UMass Dartmouth community together.

On Thursday, October 5, hundreds supported our scholars’ academic aspirations and future career successes by generously partaking in the Corsair Challenge, UMass Dartmouth’s annual day of giving. Live all weekend long, this philanthropic endeavor fosters a culture of generosity and directly impacts UMassD’s mission to provide an accessible, high-quality education to a diverse and dynamic student body. The Corsair Challenge is a testament to our community’s unyielding commitment in shaping a brighter future for many generations to come.

On Friday, October 6, the Alumni-Student Leadership Luncheon was held in the Marketplace for current students to convene with UMassD community leaders. Seated at a series of roundtables, guests spoke with students about their past college and career experiences that brought both failure and success, and what fundamental lessons they took away from it all.

“I’m happy to see distinguished community leaders, alumni, and staff mingling with the next wave of future graduates,” said John Cordasco, P.E. ’13, a proud alum and top civil engineer at Kimley-Horn & Associates. “I know the talent that comes out of UMassD, and we need more of it in our workforce. I hope to leave these students with helpful information that will lead them to endless success.”

Later in the evening, Corsair Athletics hosted their biannual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony for the legendary Class of 2023. Inductees included Jim Filippo (head coach, men and women’s swimming & diving), Seana Golden ’13 (field hockey), Kim Serrecchia DalBon ’95 (women’s soccer), Brandon Stephens ’11 (men’s basketball), Robert Yarbough ’12 (men’s track & field, football), and the 1983 SMU Women’s Track & Field team. Guests mingled over desserts before a lively celebration honored the winning legacies the inductees left behind at UMass Dartmouth.  

On Saturday, October 7, the UMassD community braved through rainy weather to celebrate their university pride at the Corsair Tailgate on the practice field by Tripp Athletic Center. With food and beverages available for purchase, the air was charged with infectious energy as many reflected on the years past and reminisced about the memories made on a timeless campus. Live music was played by the local Get Lucky Band, and plenty of activities (cornhole, inflatables, giant Jenga, and more) were scattered by billowing white tents, setting the tone for an exuberant evening of fun.

Beginning at 4 p.m., UMassD football faced off with Massachusetts Maritime Academy in an epic showdown that had all on the edges of their seats. Led by Head Coach Josh Sylvester, the Corsairs were victorious over the Buccaneers, 26-0. Out on Cressy Field and in the stands were seas of blue and gold as players and fans alike rooted for UMass Dartmouth, an alma mater for most and a home for all.

See more photos from the Tailgate and football game here!

Day turned to night as the UMass Dartmouth community departed. Our Corsairs’ spirited laughter and cheerful conversation echoed throughout campus, bound to one another by the enduring UMassD legacy in the SouthCoast. From professional networking luncheons to an exhilarating football showdown, this weekend serves as a reminder of the glue that keeps our community stuck together: university pride.