100th Homecoming Celebration Underway
October 21, 2010 | Football
Oct. 21, 2010
Homecoming lives at Illinois. Begun in 1910 and the longest-running tradition of its kind, the return of alumni to Alma Mater for a weekend of football, fun and memories has flourished over the decades, embodying the essence of the Illini spirit while remaking itself to suit the changing times.
A CENTURY OF SPIRIT: A LOOK AT ILLINOIS' HOMECOMING HISTORY
The idea of Homecoming was conceived by two University of Illinois students - Walter Elmer "Ek" Ekblaw and Clarence Foss "Dab" Williams. The first Illinois Homecoming took place in 1910. Illinois holds the distinction of hosting one of the first Homecomings nationwide and has been held every year but 1918.
From the start, football has played an integral part of celebrating Homecoming at Illinois. "We figured that alumni would like to come back while school was in session," Williams recalled in 1930, "and we felt that a good football game would act as a magnet."
The very first Homecoming game was played at Illinois Field, drawing thousands of fans, including a "rooters' section" of undergraduates attired in orange and blue in a manner that formed a block "I." In its first Homecoming game, Illinois beat the University of Chicago, 3-0.
In 1913, the university hired Robert Zuppke, the legendary football coach who led Illinois through several decades of football glory until his retirement in 1941. Among his players was the famed Harold "Red" Grange, who thrilled the Homecoming crowd in 1924 by scoring four touchdowns within 12 minutes against a mighty Michigan team. That game also served as the Memorial Stadium dedication to the Illini who perished in World War I. Twenty years later, in 1944, the stadium would be dedicated again at Homecoming to the Gold Star Illini of World War II, honoring those who perished in that conflict.
The 1950s held many memorable Homecoming games, including the 1953 contest against Michigan in which J.C. Caroline smashed Red Grange's Big Ten rushing record. In 1951, another noteworthy event occurred. In the biggest vote thus far in campus history, UI senior Clarice Davis became the campus's first African-American Homecoming queen. Indeed, she may have been the first such queen at a major American university.
Homecoming traditions faded somewhat in the mid-1960s and '70s but flourished again in the 1980s. The revival was partly due to the strong Illini football teams in that era, led by standout quarterbacks such as Dave Wilson, Tony Eason, Jack Trudeau and Jeff George. Homecoming continued to be a fall highlight through the '90s and into the 21st century, with three capacity crowds enjoying the Homecoming football game in the first decade of the 2000s.
For more information on 2010 Illinois Homecoming, including a complete schedule of events, visit University of Illinois Alumni Association's Homecoming Page
 Three-time NCAA champ Angela Bizzarri is serving as the 2010 Homecoming Parade Grand Marshal  |
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FORMER ILLINI BIZZARRI SERVING AS GRAND MARSHAL OF HOMECOMING PARADE
Former Illini Angela Bizzarri, the most decorated runner in Illinois history, will serve as grand marshal of the 2010 Homecoming parade on Friday night, Oct. 22. Bizzarri finished her career as the 2009 Honda Sports Award winner for cross country, a three-time national champion, a nine-time All-American, a five-time Big Ten champion, a six-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, a two-time Academic All-American and a school record-holder in seven events.
Bizzarri, who will finish her bachelor's degree in molecular and cellular biology in December, currently is serving as an assistant coach with the Illini cross country team for the 2010 season. The Mason, Ohio, native won the 2009 NCAA title in the 5,000 meters during the outdoor track and field season, the 2009 NCAA cross country title and the 2010 NCAA title in the 3,000 meters during the indoor season. She earned four All-America honors in cross country, three in indoor track and field, and two in outdoor track and field. Bizzarri also won the Big Ten title in the 2009 outdoor 5,000 meters, the 2010 indoor 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters, and the 2010 outdoor 1,500 meters and 5,000 meters. She was named the 2009 U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association National Cross Country Athlete of the Year and the 2009 Big Ten Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year.
Following her collegiate career, Bizzarri became the first Illini track athlete to sign a professional contract since Perdita Felicien in 2004 when she signed a deal with Brooks Sports, Inc., the leading running company in the United States.
The parade runs Friday, October 22, 6-7 p.m., starting at Sixth Street and Taft Drive in Champaign, traveling through Campustown and turning south on Mathews Avenue in Urbana to end at the Quad. 2010 Homecoming Parade Route and Information
 The Marching Illini and the Alumni Band will perform together at this year's Homecoming halftime show. |
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MARCHING ILLINI HAVE SPECIAL PERFORMANCE PLANNED
The Marching Illini have something special planned for the historic 100th anniversary Illinois Homecoming. The Alumni band will have over 400 participants, the most ever, and will perform at halftime with the Marching Illini for the first time. In all, there will be over 700 performers playing together for the 100th Homecoming halftime show.
"Director of Bands, Dr. Robert Rumbelow, is composing a special fanfare to commemorate the 100th Homecoming at Illinois," assistant director of bands Dr. Peter Griffin said. "The world premiere will be performed by the Marching Illini and Alumni Band at Homecoming with the composer conducting. It will mark the first time ever that the alumni band and the Marching Illini will do a complete combined show for halftime. From start to finish, both bands will be on the field during halftime of the Homecoming show."
2010 HOMECOMING COMEBACK GUESTS
Illini Comeback, a program that began in 1980, honors prominent and accomplished alumni. The guests are invited to return to campus and interact with students, staff and faculty through formal programs, classroom visits and social activities held at Homecoming. The program is coordinated by the Student Alumni Ambassadors and sponsored by the UI Alumni Association. This year's Comeback Guests are Bob Epstein ('74 Media), G. Robert Hillman ('72 Media), Jon Khachaturian ('78 Eng) and Laura Rowley ('87 Media).
