NORFOLK, Va. — There are plenty of NSU Spartans in Atlanta for the MEAC-SWAC Challenge.
Of course, Norfolk State alumni are ready for kickoff, but the festivities have been going on for days now. Most NSU alumni arrived Friday and immediately hit the ground running, but there have been activities all week long.
Some say this feels like a mini-homecoming.
Three words to describe this week for Norfolk State alumni: fun, family, and football. No matter how far they traveled, former students wasted no time ensuring Atlanta felt the Spartan pride.
"It's that Spartan feeling. It's like homecoming. This is pre-homecoming to us," said Marvin Strong, NSU Class of 1991.
There's been plenty to do this week, including back-to-back HBCU Nights hosted by the Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Dream.
On Friday, the Norfolk State community held a golf outing in the morning, and by night, they rocked their best shoes for a sneaker bash.
"We give them experiences that they would normally have and to do it in a family atmosphere is awesome," said Strong.
Strong is also a member of the Norfolk State Alumni Atlanta chapter. He said they also wanted to make a difference in the city. They hosted a college fair at an area high school, and later they fed the university's band, the Spartan Legion.
Strong said service is deeply connected to the HBCU experience.
"I couldn't imagine my life without going to an HBCU," he said. "I just know I wouldn't have the tight network of friends I do now."
And they prepare to cheer for their Spartans, the weekend is a celebration of a shared experience.
"It's just a part of me," said Strong. "That experience at Norfolk State is like no other."
The Atlanta alumni chapter will host a brunch on Sunday.