This year marks the hundredth anniversary of the University of Missouri Columbia’s homecoming tradition. Mizzou Alumni Association Director Todd McCubbin says though it’s a landmark year, tradition is what has made this event what it is, so not much will be different.
McCubbin says this year the association will hold a tailgate for alumni, called the Romp, Stomp and Chomp tailgate. Alumni have to buy a ticket for the event, held on Carnahan Quadrangle at 10:30 Saturday morning.
He says the Parade Grand Marshall will be Chester Brewer, who started Homecoming in 1911, and though he is dead, he’ll be honored this year. Brewer began Homecoming as a way to raise money for the athletic department when the MU-KU game had to be held in Columbia instead of a bigger city. The parade, pep rally and game have happened every year since.
McCubbin says there’s no way to know how many people will be in the area this weekend, but the game is nearly sold out, and the stadium holds 70 thousand people. He says there will also be tens of thousands who will celebrate and not go to the game.