The History of Homecoming
Michael Cramton | Active.com
Although the annual Harvard-Yale game has been
inviting alumni to return home for The Game since the
1870s, the origins of the first homecoming celebration
remain largely contested. Baylor, Illinois and Missouri
are three of the frontrunners, all having planned and
held their first "coming home" celebrations around
1910.
Despite the debate, these early homecoming events all
had similar characteristics: a football game served as a
center point; the events included rallies, parades,
speeches and dances; the events intended to unite alumni and students to create a
stronger sense of school pride; and they were wildly successful.
Using these early events as an example, homecoming celebrations quickly became
popular on college and university campuses and by the 1920s homecoming had taken
root across the U.S. as an American tradition.
MU coach Chester Brewer was officially sanctioned by the NCAA as the originator of
homecoming. The University of Missouri is proud of their long-standing homecoming
tradition. It was there in 1911 where Mizzou's Athletic Director Chester Brewer asked
alumni of the school to help inaugurate the new location of their football field by "coming
home" to attend the annual game against the University of Kansas.
Brewer planned a celebration with parades, parties, a pep rally and a football game
against Mizzou's long-time rival, the University of Kansas. More than 10,000 alumni and
fans attended the event, making Mizzou's homecoming an example for homecomings
across the nation.
University of Illinois' Great Rivalry
It began as an experiment.
In 1910 two Illini seniors, Clarence Williams and Elmer Ekblaw, began planning an event
centered around the annual Illinois-Chicago rivalry. For the previous seven years, Illinois
had lost to the Chicago Maroons and their coach, Amos Stagg. Williams and Ekblaw
hoped to reverse this losing streak by planning an event that bolstered school spirit at its
core.
Support for the event took hold among the student body, faculty and local businesses.
The school's Council of Administration set aside October 14 as an official day of
homecoming. This first homecoming would be an experiment, the success of which
would determine the future of the school's homecoming. It turned out to be an event
bigger than anyone had anticipated.
Illinois' campus was blanketed in a sea of orange and blue. Five thousand extra seats
had to be furnished by the athletic association to accommodate the game's large number
of attendees. Twelve thousand alumni, students were on hand to witness a 3-0 victory
for Illinois.
The University of Illinois' homecoming proved to be a great success, with homecomings
held on the Illinois campus ever since--with the exception of 1918 due to the influenza
epidemic.
Baylor University and Good Will Week
In 1909 the University of Baylor invited alumni to return to their alma mater to "renew
former associations and friendships, and catch the Baylor spirit again."
Originally titled "Good Will Week," the event was scheduled for Thanksgiving weekend,
and included a program of class reunions, speeches and concerts, as well as a formal
dance, parade and football game.
Nearly the entire town of Waco, Texas was in attendance at the parade. Elaborately
decorated automobiles and carriages adorned with yellow chrysanthemums made their
way through downtown, led by the Baylor Band and followed by students, professors
and school dignitaries.
The football game followed that afternoon with over 5,000 alumni and fans in attendance
at Carroll Field. Seniors dressed in their caps and gowns, with the majority of the field
awash in green and gold. Baylor won their first homecoming game against Texas
Christian University, due mainly to the overwhelming support from the school and
community.
Baylor's next homecoming didn't take place until 1915, and it wasn't until 1934 that the
celebration became an annual event.
PROMPT:
In a full-page journal response titled “Homecoming,” address the following:
1.) Compare what homecoming was to what it is today. Include specific facts from
several parts of the article to discuss how it is the same and how it has changed.
2.) Speak to your own experience with school spirit. Do you have it? Do you not? What
does school spirit mean to you and how does homecoming affect this.
3.) What are some of your favorite homecoming traditions? Which do you participate in
and which do you just like to watch? Speak briefly about why they are meaningful to
you.
When you are done, chillax. And happy homecoming! .