It was a familiar scene in Philadelphia on Thursday as thousands of sports fans celebrated another championship victory. This time the Villanova Wildcats were honored for sweeping the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, their second win in three years. Students, alumni and loyal supporters gathered along the five-block parade route, chanting “Let’s Go Nova” to the beat of honking fire trucks while also sporting tons of promotional products.

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Nova Nation was all decked out in T-shirts, hats, beads, and blankets, all emblazoned with the university’s logo. Future students sat atop their parents’ shoulders, waving flags, pennants and “V” signs handed out by SEPTA. While riding double-decker buses throughout Center City, the men’s basketball team tossed branded T-shirts into the sea of blue and white.

“For such a small school in the suburb of Philadelphia to be such a basketball power is incredible,” said Rudy Celi, a 2015 Villanova graduate. “It’s really exciting to see the city rally around our university and be able to celebrate with all these like-minded people.”

Fellow grad Marcos Lamberto echoed head coach Jay Wright’s sentiments regarding the players having strong character. “When you’re a student, you see some of these guys on campus and it’s hard not to be super happy for them,” Lamberto said. “Now you’re seeing those guys on this big stage.”

While vendors hawked merchandise on every street corner, some fans were sporting their own unique designs. Nancy Benson from Radnor Township stood out in the crowd, donning a white T-shirt with “Villanova Basketball” in blue lettering. It was on sale from Boston-based LifeIsGood.com, which donates 10% of its net profits to help children in need. “It’s different and so cute,” Benson said. “The boys have just been so exciting to watch and this is a great crowd.”

No stranger to massive crowds, Foxchase native Dave Filak came equipped with his homemade periscope. Built back in 1986 for a golf tournament featuring Arnold Palmer and Sam Snead, Filak decorated his contraption in Villanova blue just for the occasion. “I don’t miss a thing when I have this,” he said.