Homecoming 2011

Tailgaters emerged en masse for MU's centennial Homecoming game. The Tigers would later take on Big 12 Conference rival Iowa State.

Adults clutched cups of coffee. Kids scrambled for candy tossed from passing floats. Loud marching bands fired up the groggy, early-morning parade-watchers at MU's 100th Homecoming Parade.

Tiger spirit takes on different definitions for folks at MU Homecoming activities, but for this group the core of Tiger spirit is supporting the athletics teams, win or lose.

MU's Homecoming weekend festivities began Friday evening in Greektown.

As the festivities for MU's 100th Homecoming continue, we asked students, visiting alumni and their families what spots in Columbia they have to visit when they are in town.

Reynolds Alumni Center transformed into Homecoming Headquarters on Friday afternoon as alumni met up and prepared for the weekend's festivities.

The Homecoming grouping of Chi Omega, Farmhouse and Kappa Sigma has been working on campus decorations since Labor Day, but in a way, you could say they’ve been working on this for decades.

Greek pairings, residence halls and student organizations participated in Decorate The District, an event to decorate the windows and storefronts of downtown businesses for MU Homecoming.

The year was 1968, and that April, on the second floor balcony of Memphis’ Lorraine Motel, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. As the nation grieved, a group of students at MU decided to organize, and the Legion of Black Collegians was formed. A few years later, it held its very first Black Homecoming celebration.

GameDay, GameDay, GameDay. ESPN’s college football program seemed to be the only thing MU fans talked about last year, including the Columbia Missourian, which mentioned “GameDay” on the front page for three consecutive days leading up to the game and once more on Sunday.

When MU’s new and improved Big MO drum is revealed on Nov. 12, the sound of the celebratory touchdown canon blast will pale in comparison to the 9 by 4 1/2-foot bass drum. The drum’s dimensions make it one of the biggest in the world. It is a growth spurt that arose out of necessity. As the original Big MO approached its 40th birthday, it was beginning to show some signs of wear and tear.

Meagan Roth and Jack Watson are getting married on Homecoming weekend next year, and their friend Kevin Clark is upset. “We tell people not to get married on football weekends,” he says. Roth and Watson defend their scheduled nuptials, which will take place during a Friday ceremony in St. Louis, saying Clark can easily make it back in time to cheer on the Tigers.

Although Tiger spirit has been a constant at MU since the first football team was fielded in 1890, Homecoming fashions have come and gone. Two historic costume collection curators offered their expertise to break down Homecoming attire during the 20th century.

The sparkle of the Golden Girls has become what fans expect every game day. For the dance team that holds such a presence on the MU sidelines with their legendary gold uniforms, white boots and perfected dances, the facility just south of the stadium is the first place they can call home.

Homecoming is not just a celebration for MU students and alumni. Families, faculty and Columbia residents can join in to enjoy the parade, football game, tailgating and more.

With Homecoming finally here, Marching Mizzou’s assistant drum major Andrew Monnig must put his organizational skills to the test.

Homecoming at MU has seen many changes since Chester Brewer first invited alumni to "come home" for a game in 1911, but the spirit behind the event has remained the same.

The founding father of homecoming returns in spirit to lead the Tigers once again.  Former MU athletic director and all-around sportsman, passed away in 1953, and 15 members of his extended family will represent him during the annual celebration.

Here in Columbia, we all know how crazy it can be on game days, not to mention on Homecoming weekend. The backed-up traffic, the sea of gold in the stadium and the cheers from a pumped-up crowd are just part of what gives Homecoming its appeal. See our photo gallery of MU fans at their best.