As the Baltimore Ravens get ready to face off against the Houston Texans for their playoff game this Sunday at 1 p.m., County Executive Ken Ulman has announced that, starting Jan. 9, Howard County will again demonstrate its enthusiasm and support of the Ravens by casting a purple glow on the County Government’s George Howard Building in Ellicott City and Gateway Building in Columbia as long as the Ravens are in the running for Super Bowl XLVI.

“Nothing brings the State of Maryland together better than the Ravens, and we here in Howard County are excited to show our purple pride,” said Ulman. “We hope this time-honored Howard County tradition of lighting the county purple gives our Ravens that extra boost as they going into their post-season.” 

• Ulman has designated Fridays as “Purple Friday” in Howard County, encouraging employees, and residents, to wear their Ravens gear, or their “Ed Reed tweed.”
• Ulman has agreed to allow all employees replace their usual workplace appropriate footwear with a pair of (S)Uggs in honor of the sure-to-be Defensive Player of the Year, Ravens outside line backer Terrell Suggs.
• For those who do not own a pair of the furry shoes, Ulman is encouraging them to endure the winter cold with a pair of Matt Birk(enstocks). 
• Ulman has also commissioned a special menu item at the government cafeteria, Howard Café, for Purple Friday. The Friday specials will include items such as the Flacco Taco with a side of (Ray) Rice, Torrey Smith’s Catch of the Day, and a John Harb(oiled) egg salad sandwich on Dennis Pit(t)a bread. 

Last year, Ulman encouraged all county employees to wear Ravens gear and banned the use of the word “chief” as the Ravens first game was against the Kansas City Chiefs. In support of this ban, the County’s two “Chiefs”–Police Chief Bill McMahon and Fire Chief Bill Goddard were referred to as Bill #1 and Bill #2.

Once again, the nightly purple display will continue as long as the Ravens are in the running for the Super Bowl. When it comes to the Ravens, you Ngata believe.

This announcement was provided by the Howard County Government's Office of Public Information.