Although it has been a large part of the University’stradition for many years, Homecoming is more popular and has manymore participants than it did in the past. The traditionsthemselves have changed over the years.
The 1941 Homecoming was the last official Homecoming until 1946,and also held the first Tiger Parade during Homecoming week.
Homecoming is a week-long pep rally celebrating the many alumniof the University and its history.
Staci Pepitone, coordinator of Financial and AdministrativeServices and then-Homecoming adviser, said 10 years ago,involvement was mainly from the Greek community.
One of the only big events for Homecoming was”pomping” — creating designs from crepe paper andchicken wire, which was mainly a fraternity and sorority practice.Pepitone said although the University appreciates the Greekcommunity’s decorations and spirit, they
 
wanted more student involvement.
Pepitone said the committee began a banner contest so morestudent groups would compete in the Homecoming events. She said”pomping” is expensive and many smaller groups wereunable to participate.
In the past, the Homecoming parade was at 5 p.m. on the Fridaybefore
 
the football game and not many people attended.
Pepitone said when the parade moved to the Saturday of thefootball game, more people were able to participate in the event,such as students, alumni and tailgaters on campus for the game.
Pepitone said last year the parade had a large turn-out. Shesaid the Homecoming committee put a lot of energy into the paradeto improve it and the Alumni Association was highly involved.
The pep rally also has grown over time. In years past, it was onthe Friday afternoon before the Homecoming game and on the ParadeGround. She said once the pep rally was moved to the Pete MaravichCenter, it grew tremendously.
Pepitone said last year the pep rally had more involvement fromstudents, the Tiger Band, coaches, players and the Homecomingcourt. About 4,000 people attended the pep rally last year, shesaid.
Through the years, Homecoming court has had many improvements.Pepitone said the Homecoming court selections have improvedgreatly. Since student voting for the Homecoming King and Queen wasmoved online in 1998, voting has risen. More than 5,000 studentsvoted last year.
Previously, the Homecoming court was women’s territory.Every year, a queen was selected from each college and from theannual rodeo, but the Homecoming Queen still was the mostprestigious honor.
In 1966, the queen was nominated by each school organization,then the football team would decide the court, and Universitystudents voted for the queen.
The first black homecoming queen was crowned in 1991, and shewas the last queen to reign without a king.
Men were not part of the Homecoming court tradition until 1992,when one man to escort every woman, and a king, were added.
This year’s Homecoming week consists of relay games onMonday, a lip-sync competition on Tuesday, a scavenger hunt andbanner competition on Wednesday, pep rally and concert on Thursday,food drive and spirit-award voting on Friday, and the parade andfootball game on Saturday.
Some traditions are newer than others, but put together,Homecoming is a celebration not just of football and Tiger spirit,but of University history.