Homecoming has changed a lot from a traditional 1910 to a modern 2014. Old fashioned homecomings had different music, different apparel, and they definitely had different dance moves (which did not include twerking). Despite the changes, many things remained the same, such as school spirit, exciting pep rallies, the big football game, and the highly anticipated dance.

Information varies on which university started the tradition first. Baylor University claimed to have come up with Homecoming and even recalled how it came to be. In 1909, Baylor University in Texas, invited alumni to “renew former associations and friendships, and catch the Baylor spirit again.” As a result the whole entire town of Waco, Texas ended up joining in on the “Good Will Week.” They had a parade, a football game and a dance. They didn’t start the celebration again until 1915 and then not until 1934.

According to ACTIVE.com, The University of Illinois also had a homecoming in 1910. Two seniors named Clarence Williams and Elmer Ekblaw wanted to raise the school spirit and cheer for the football game against their rivals: the University of Chicago. The response was overwhelming. It lead to the University of Illinois holding the record for the longest tradition of homecoming. The only time they didn’t have a homecoming was in 1918 due to the influenza epidemic.

Between Baylor University, University of Illinois, and the University of Missouri, the NCAA credited the University of Missouri as the school that started homecoming in 1911. The story goes that the football coach Chester Brewer wanted to raise awareness about the football game between Missouri and Kansas which takes place in Missouri’s new stadium. Coach Brewer invited students to “come home” for the football game. Afterwards, Missouri continued their tradition and called it Homecoming.

York has added onto the events of homecoming over the years. Instead of having a king and queen for homecoming, York has the King and Queen of the Couch.

Ms. Schroeder, 2008 alumni, agrees that the King and Queen of the couch was something special: “I always loved the King and Queen of the Couch competition because I think that it’s just so unique. I’ve never seen another high school do something like that, and it really helps everyone get into that school spirit.”

Besides the football games, pep rallies, and the dance, York also has the after parties before the game known as tailgating. Ms. Schulte, a 1975 York Alumni, also enjoyed tailgating.

Ms. Schulte also recalled the activities that took place during her years of experience at homecoming. “We had Homecoming floats,” Ms. Schulte said, “It was a big competition. All week long between the freshman sophomore, junior and the senior class, there would be a pie-eating contest at lunch, there was a tug-of-war- with a big mud pit out in front of the school, there was a pep rally on Friday night that everybody attended and a sock hop afterwards.”

In the end, homecoming became a tradition that boosts school spirit and opens doors to new creative ways to celebrate.