Uncovering the Origins of Homecoming
Deep in the heart of the University of Missouri’s campus, six ionic-style columns stand tall, remnants of the school’s first building constructed in 1840. This picturesque setting has long been a staple of campus tours, where prospective students are regaled with tales of university lore. For many Missouri alums, the idea that their school is the birthplace of modern homecoming is a badge of honor.
The Birth of a Tradition
The year was 1911, and football coach and athletic director Chester Brewer called upon alumni to “come home” to watch the Tigers take on Kansas in Columbia. This marked the beginning of a homecoming tradition that would spread like wildfire across the country. But as the years went by, competing claims emerged, with other schools like Illinois, Michigan, and Texas staking their own claims to the tradition’s origins.
Unraveling the Mystery
In an effort to settle the debate once and for all, ESPN embarked on a fact-finding mission. Our investigation led us to the University of Illinois, where two students sat on the steps of the YMCA in 1910, brainstorming ideas for an event to bring alumni back to campus. Their vision was to center the event around a football game, accompanied by other activities to entice alumni to return. This early experiment in homecoming was a resounding success, with over 12,000 attendees flocking to the campus.
Rival Claims Emerge
As we dug deeper, we discovered that Michigan had been hosting “Alumni Games” since 1897, featuring a current team playing against an alumni team. Meanwhile, Northern Illinois State Normal School (now Northern Illinois University) traces its homecoming roots back to 1906. But it was Baylor University that hosted the first official homecoming game in 1909, featuring all the elements that remain essential to the tradition today.
The Truth Revealed
While Missouri’s claim to have originated homecoming remains strong, the evidence suggests that Baylor deserves credit for hosting the first official homecoming game. Illinois, however, has maintained the longest continuous homecoming celebration, with the intention of making it an annual event. As for Missouri, its homecoming celebration remains one of the best in the country, with a parade, talent competition, spirit rally, and other alumni events drawing in thousands of attendees.
A Tradition Born of Nostalgia
At its core, homecoming is about nostalgia, a chance for alumni to reconnect with old friends and relive fond memories. As Dr. Elizabeth Rivera, university archivist and associate librarian at Baylor, notes, “Human nature doesn’t change over time, and they were doing the same things that we still do today for meaning-making and traditions that mean so much to people.” Whether or not Missouri was the first to host a homecoming celebration, one thing is certain – the tradition has become an integral part of American college life.
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