Howard County Turns Purple

Two municipal buildings in Howard County will glow purple in honor of the Baltimore Ravens, who secured a spot in the NFL playoffs for the third consecutive year.

In a nod to the football team's signature color, the county has arranged to have Ellicott City's George Howard Building and Columbia's Gateway Building illuminated with purple lighting. The lights will remain purple "as long as the Ravens are in the running for Super Bowl XLV," said Howard County spokesman Kevin Enright.

Howard County officials weren't the only ones spreading the Ravens cheer around government buildings. On Tuesday morning, members of the Ravens grounds crew painted the team's logo in front of City Hall in Baltimore City, according to Ravens Marketing and Advertising Coordinator Heather Blocher.

In a statement Tuesday afternoon, Howard County Executive Ken Ulman explained his purple-light proclamation: "We want to make sure the Ravens and all of their fans know that purple passion cannot be contained at the Baltimore border; it's all over the state. I have said it for a long time–Howard County is where Maryland comes together, and nothing brings us together like the Ravens."

Last January, Ulman designated a day to honor Ravens running back Willis McGahee, who lives in Howard County. And illuminating government buildings with team colors has become a tradition. "As long as the Ravens or the Redskins were in the playoffs, County Executive Ulman has been lighting the county buildings in purple or burgundy and gold," said Alexandra King of the Public Information Office. "I do believe it was also done before Ulman took office back when [Senator James] Robey was county executive."

This is the third consecutive year the Ravens have made it to the playoffs and in turn, Howard County buildings have shone purple. As Ravens play their way to the Super Bowl, the buildings will continue to radiate the team's color.

In their first game of the postseason, the Ravens (12-4) will head to Kansas City to face off against the Chiefs (10-6). The game will air at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 9, on CBS.