JACKSON, Tenn. — Homecoming weekend 2025 was a memorable time for the University of Memphis community. Between joint homecomings with neighboring institutions, ROAR Fest, Parent and Family weekend and an adrenaline-inducing matchup between the Tigers and the University of South Florida, it’s hard to pinpoint a low point. That can also be said for a small group of UofM Lambuth students who were present in the crowd Saturday at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, many for their first Tigers football game. This was the result of hopefully a new tradition in transporting students from Lambuth to Liberty.
“We began planning for Homecoming in early September,” said Madison Woods, Lambuth’s assistant director of Student Services. “Emailing the Blue Line was one of the first things we did because we wanted to make sure it was possible to open up the shuttle to not only students but their families.”
Woods and Lambuth’s five-member Campus Activities Board were able to secure a Blue Line shuttle for the trip — on top of leading other events during the week on campus — and in their first attempt at this trip were able to attract nine students to come on board, some bringing their families.
“This year’s Homecoming week was an exercise of being in tune with what works with our student body,” said Marco Arosa, one of the board members. “This may mean a lot of pivoting and changes, but it ultimately goes well when you think about what students want from people in charge.”
The group waited outside Wilder Union and Carney-Johnston Hall early Saturday morning, where a “decked out,” as Woods put it, Blue Line bus greeted them with SWAG bags and Homecoming energy. Psychology student Meloney Niswonger, a Jackson native, was among the nine students on the bus, bringing both of her parents.
“It was my first football game experience, and I was very happy to be able to have gone with my family, especially since it was their first college game that we all got to experience together,” she said. “It was great to have this option and to be a part of a community that was so generous to extend this offer to not only students, but also their families.”
“Having the shuttle take us to Memphis was a great experience,” echoed senior Rachel Rogers, who came with her two friends and fellow Lambuth students Catera Geanes and Katelyn Upshaw. “We had a blast with our Tiger family!”
Woods noted, “It was interesting overhearing alumni or Memphis fans talking about seeing the Lambuth bus and wondering what it was all about.” She said the positive feedback justifies trying to keep this new shuttle line alive, not only for Homecoming but also for other Memphis Athletics games that they can offer to both students and nearby alumni.
The Blue Line is an extension of UofM’s Parking and Transportation Services and runs routes around Central and Park Avenue Campuses Monday-Friday. There are also on-demand routes that run from 5-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday.
