The Very First Homecoming
By Liv
Homecoming is full of dress up days, pep fests, dances, and decorations. But, have you ever wondered why we ever started doing these things? Who was the first one to throw on school colors and paint their face with markers? This well known school tradition was actually started at the University of Illinois around 1910. It was the brilliant idea from two seniors, Clarence Williams and Elmer Ekblaw. Illinois had lost to their biggest rivals, the Chicago Maroons, for the past seven years. Williams and Ekblaw thought planning a celebration would give the school back their spirit. Faculty members, student body, local businesses, everyone was giving support. No one could have anticipated this kind of reaction. The entire campus was filled with people wearing orange and blue! Five thousand extra seats had to be furnished to accommodate everyone. Homecoming proved a success with a victory 3-0. Homecoming has been celebrated there since. Several other universities started doing the same. One hundred years later and here we are, enjoying our own little homecoming. Go put on your orange and black and show your Indian Pride!
http://www.active.com/football/articles/the-history-of-homecoming-871285
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