With all the accolades, grants, and awards our students and faculty win, it’s easy to see how much Richmond rocks. But this week, we’re throwing it back to a noteworthy night of rocking out with The Boss and the determination of three Spiders to bring him to campus.

In the fall of 1971 — two years before a debut album had even hit the shelves — Michael Horwitz, R’72, Glenn Habel, R’72, and Courtenay Crocker III, R’73, were preparing to welcome Bruce Springsteen over Homecoming Weekend.

After a summer pilgrimage to the Jersey Shore to watch him perform at a local club and a visit to an old surfboard factory where he once lived, it’s safe to say the dogged trio of Spiders had done their research to successfully convince the University to book the band.

“He was totally charismatic,” Horwitz said. “He had such stage presence, and he was able to connect with the audience on a level I had never experienced in an artist before … We became fanatics immediately.”

Even if you weren’t there for The Boss’ UR appearance in 1971, Homecoming gives us all a reason to relive our glory days ’mid the pines! This year, Spiders from near and far will be dancing in the dark (see what we did there?) at The National with The All-American Rejects at the Homecoming kickoff concert Oct. 22.

Whether you’re here for the concert, the football game, or everything in between, we hope to see you back on campus! And don’t forget to register for 2017 Homecoming at alumni.richmond.edu.