A Sort of Homecoming: An Autumn Tradition of Americana

(Photo courtesy of Lucio Arellano, LakewoodFootball.com )

5:00 a.m., Tuesday morning. I never really get up this early to do something that happens once in a year. Actually, this would be the first time in eight years that I would do this on my own terms.

After a quick snack of cinnamon raisin bagels and Tang, I race-walked to the bus stop at the corner of 25th St. and Santa Fe Avenue to catch the first bus heading eastbound. I was amazed at how fast my legs went. They knew that I was an alumnus on a mission.

From West Long Beach, it takes about 45 minutes to get to Lakewood High School when you take into consideration traffic and other passengers getting on board. The third bus passing by Centralia Avenue and Briercrest Street is full of students heading down for classes.

I took a gander at some students who had dues to pay. The backup kicker, bless his heart, had over $200.00 to pay to the banker. Yikes. Usually, most students pay less than ten dollars on average, or not at all.

Glancing through the cafeteria window, I saw how the old class shields compared with the newer ones. In the past, it was just red and white only. And now any color could be used.

7:00 a.m. arrives. The banker opens her window. "One adult, please," I said. In exchange for eight gold dollar coins, out comes a fresh red ticket that says, "Lakewood High School, Admit One, $8.00. No Refunds. No Exchanges."

This is a ticket that can come in any color or shape, depending on the type of school it is and the colors it adopted when it was found. But the ticket I carried with me on the way home was no ordinary ticket. It's a stub that gives me admission to the Homecoming Game.

Around the world, every country has its annual sporting tradition shared by high schools, colleges and universities alike. Here in the United States, the concept of Homecoming is to America as sports and culture festivals are to Japan, as the Proms are to the United Kingdom. It's a unique type of thing.

Homecoming is an event that generally spans one week. It welcomes former alumni and residents of a school, and includes activities for everyone who shares the common thread. Occasionally it centers on a basketball or hockey game, but by default it's a football game that is the centerpiece.

The history of Homecoming begins in Columbia, Mo. In 1911, the University of Missouri invited all Tiger alumni to their football game against the Kansas Jayhawks. Now, alumni could attend these games as they please without invitation, but this was the first time a university really went out of its way to say, "We want you to return. Please come home to watch us beat the living snot out of KU!"

A little aside: the game ended in a 3-3 draw. But the wheels were set in motion.

As the old saying goes, "Missouri loves company." All right, that was a played pun. But the University of Illinois held similar events in 1909 and 1910. Baylor University's alumni were the first to combine a concert, pep rally, parade, and bonfire in 1909. Soon enough, Homecoming fever was catching on faster than the Spanish flu.

In the days leading up to the big game, other events take place. A Homecoming Court, comprised of students completing their studies, is determined by secret ballot.

There are a number of themed dress-up days that occur as part of the "Spirit Week" leading up to the game. Here, students can wear clothing that are suitable to the theme. Friday is generally set aside for clothing and makeup with the school's name and colors.

A Homecoming Dance is held by the high schools on or off-campus. In essence, it's a fall promenade but it can also be an informal function. Some attend the dance with dates; others with groups.

Personally, I've yet to hear of someone paying tribute to Carrie White at a Homecoming Dance. Boy, wouldn't that be something. Student organizations hold similar events at the collegiate level, and some major colleges omit the Homecoming Dance altogether.

At a number of high schools across the Southwest, "mums" are exchanged between dates. Corsages (for the girls) and garters (for the boys) of a large flower (generally a white synthetic chrysanthemum, hence the name) are exchanged to wear to the dance and the game. And these mums are decorated with the students' class, date, activities, interests, and so on.

Pep rallies of every shape and size happen the night of, or two nights before, the big game. Clubs and Greek-letter organizations may engage in competitive skits and intramural sports like the tug-of-war and the three-legged race to determine bragging rights.

Yell leaders often direct the student body in working them up into a frenzy into the night before the match. The football team's coaching staff make their fearless predictions of triumph come game day. And the marching band strikes it up with their fight songs and brass favorites to share with the convocation.

In years gone by, bonfires were held en force. Thanks to the train wreck that was Texas A&M's 1999 bonfire, they have been few and far between.

Game day arrives. Here come the most recognized and heavily attended events: the game and the tailgate that precedes it. Alumni gather from the different corners of the world to return to their school and partake in the atmosphere.

Groups of dedicated individuals—from students, to alumni, to business, and community leaders—set up tents near the stadium to throw some meat and vegetables on the grill, play casual pitch-and-catch, converse about past Homecomings gone by, risk losing their inhibition with the keg stands and beer bongs, and hear live music taking place. A few tents even have televisions and radios for those who do not have tickets to the game.

What makes this year's homecoming game between the Lakewood Lancers and Millikan Rams special are a couple of things. First, it's a rivalry game. The winner hoists the Hamilton Trophy, which has been contested since 1957. The Lancers have held this trophy since 2002.

Secondly, it's the first time in a long time that both teams have defeated Long Beach Poly in the same season. Not very often you have a rivalry renewal between two sides that defeat the flagship school of the Harry J. Moore League in football. It's one for the history books.

It's something I came to terms with as I watched the students walk through Lakewood's main gate from a distance, waiting for the next heading westbound toward Long Beach.