Homecoming History

Homecoming 2010: September 26 - October 2

Photos, Interviews, Programs

Past Homecoming Websites

Past Homecoming Themes

1910-1930

1914
Theme: Back to Campus Homecoming at the University of Minnesota officially kicked-off with an alumni dinner, concert and dance.
1919
Theme: Roman
1918-1920
Homecoming events were put on hold due to WWI.
1921
The halftime show at the football game consisted of gymnastics, tumbling acts and melodrama of the Ozarks titled "The Moonshiner's Last Stand".
1923
Noise bombs were set off to call people to assemble for the parade.
1924
The homecoming football game was the first game to be played at Memorial Stadium, located where McNamara Alumni Center now stands.
1926
Theme: Pioneer Homecoming
1927
Theme: Crusader Homecoming
1929
Theme: Viking

1930-1950

1931
Theme: "Rope Wisconsin" Wild West Roundup For the 'Rope Wisconsin' theme, expert cowboys were brought in to perform a wild west rough-riding show.
1932
Theme: Back to the Farm
1935
Theme: Paul Bunyan Logging Camp
1936
Theme: Hog-Tie Iowa
1942
The Homecoming Parade was billed as the world's largest parade at 2 miles long and 170 cars and floats.
1943
War shortages meant there was no bonfire, pepfest, house decorations or parade.
1944
Theme: Go-Pher Northwestern
1949
Theme: Blast the Boilers

1950-1970

1951
Theme: Husk the Huskers Mallard ducks were released during the halftime show to celebrate Minnesota Conservation and Sportsmanship.
1953
Theme: End-iana
1958
Theme: Spillinois
1960
Residence Halls sponsored the Homecoming coronation ball for the first time.
1961
Theme: Den the Wolverines
1964
Theme: Silence Illi-Noise Dayton's 8th Floor promoted Homecoming with a fashion show.

1970-1990

1970
Prizes were awarded to Greek Houses who won the house front decorating contest.
1973
Theme: This is Gold Country
1970-1975
The Vietnam War and the mood of the era significantly impacted Homecoming.
  • Gopher Fans did not celebrate homecoming except for four Greek houses in 1971.
  • When Homecoming was revived in 1973, the bonfire was not allowed for environmental issues.
  • They stopped having a Homecoming Queen from 1970 to 1975 on the premise that it was not an appropriate expectation of women due to the feminist movement.
1976
Theme: Annihilate State
1983
Theme: The Bucky Stops Here
1986
A circus was hosted on the front plaza of Coffman Memorial Union.
1988
Theme: There's Just One U

1990-Present

1996
Homecoming goes back to Minnesota's roots: one event is the Farmer's Share Breakfast where diners eat a full breakfast and pay the share a farmer would receive.
1997
Theme: Go Nuts, Beat the Bucks
1998
Theme: Let's Get Medieval
2002
Theme: A Legacy of Heroes
2003
Theme: Once Upon a Homecoming
2004
Theme: It's Reality
2005
Theme: Center Stage
2006
Theme: Wild Wild Midwest
2007
Theme: Golden Oldies
2008
Theme: Marching Into The Future