Due to fortuitous timing, I was able to be in the area enroute from Korea to Alabama for an Army career course. Watched with my old UMBC friends that have been acquainted and inseparable since @1974.
My lasting memory (pre-game) is the amazing amount of purple displayed along the roadways, homes and businesses. Hadn't ever seen anything like it except maybe all the yellow ribbons during Desert Storm.
Cheers to you, my fellow Retriever!! Class of 2003 here.