The University has enjoyed nearly 90 years of homecoming tradition where University alumni and undergraduates congregate at the annual football game to celebrate the past, present and future of the University. But where did the idea of combining collegiate homecoming and football originate? The question that remains a debate among universities and historians concerns who can claim the title of the “Home of Homecoming.”
The University of Missouri declares it founded homecoming in 1911. The university had an ongoing football tradition of playing the University of Kansas in Kansas City, Mo. In 1911, a conference regulation change came about requiring intercollegiate football games to be played on collegiate campuses. Missouri coach Chester L. Brewer feared attendance would be low and made a plea for Missouri alumni to “come on home.” Missouri alumni from all over the country made the trek to Columbia to join students in cheering on the Tigers. Coach Brewer’s cry for support was positively received, with Missouri fans filling 10,000 seats at Rollins Field to see the Tigers tie Kansas, 3-3.
Tood Coleman, the executive director of the University of Missouri’s Alumni Association, said the homecoming phenomenon at Missouri brought a sense of unity to the school.
“Homecoming is in honor of celebrating the past and the future traditions of the university,” Coleman said. “It’s about recalling memories and making new ones.”Keeping the homecoming tradition alive today is a substantial priority for the University of Missouri.
“Homecoming shows a sense of belonging,” Coleman said.
Homecoming for the University of Missouri is a ten-day event where the university participates in community service and volunteers in providing reading programs for local schools. Missouri also features a traditional parade in which attendance can reach 20,000 people.
The University of Missouri is not the only school to lay claim to starting the homecoming tradition. The University of Illinois makes its own assertions. Vanessa Faurie, the University of Illinois’ vice president for corporate communications and editor of the universityÕs alumni publication, said the University of Illinois is “one of the first to start homecoming.”
“Homecoming gave alumni a reason to come back,” said Faurie.
The University of Illinois makes the case that homecoming was started by two of its students, Elmer Ekblaw and C.F. Williams, on Oct. 15, 1910. These two students envisioned creating a “super reunion.”
The pair “conceived of an idea in 1910 to start homecoming in order to bring together alumni at the University of Illinois,” Faurie said.
The football game between the University of Illinois and University of Chicago was the perfect backdrop for alumni and students to congregate. The University of Illinois’ inaugural homecoming was especially memorable because it was the first time Illinois had defeated the University of Chicago in nine years, and the victory was sweetened by the creation of the first “cheering section” composed of Illinois fans. The game ended 3-0 in favor of Illinois.
Homecoming activities at the University of Illinois were not limited to just the football game. The university’s homecoming also included a dinner, a dance and various functions.
Despite the disparity, alumni and students from both universities agree what a meaningful part of history homecoming is.
“Homecoming is an opportunity for alumni to revisit a place that held special memories for them and most likely played a major role in their lives,” Faurie said.
The University of Oregon is keeping its own homecoming tradition alive with its dance and football game and the support of local stores around the campus area. “We’re getting back to homecoming tradition with the dance and window-decorating on stores with spirit,” said Mary Hudzikiewicz, assistant dean of the Office of Student Life and Student Alumni Association adviser. “Homecoming is an opportunity to welcome back alumni to celebrate with current undergraduates.”
Which school rightfully claims responsibility for beginning collegiate homecoming involving football games will forever remain a debate. But school unity, pride and welcoming returning alumni will always be homecomingÕs main theme.