Over the course of the last century, the University’s homecoming football game has taken on a variety of unique meanings for participating members. 

For Walter Ekblaw and Clarence Williams, the creators of the University’s homecoming tradition, a football game could be used to attract the Illinois family back to Champaign-Urbana and hold a celebration for alumni.

Thus in 1910, when Ekblaw and Williams were University seniors, they began what has become the nation’s longest-running homecoming tradition. 

Ekblaw was one of The Daily Illini’s chief reporters at the time and was able to use the publication to get the word out about the start of homecoming to the masses.

“Nothing could do more to attract the alumni and alumnae back to their Alma Mater than such a home-coming,” The Daily Illini wrote in a homecoming editorial featured that first year.

For their first homecoming game, the Illini played against their rival, the University of Chicago Maroons. The Illini won 3-0 against Chicago, a team they had not beaten in seven years. 

For many alumni returning to their old stomping grounds, the homecoming football game serves as the ultimate reminder of the school spirit still upheld by those who attend and have graduated from the University. Going to the homecoming game has become a ritual for many alumni; it provides the opportunity for alumni to participate in a long-running college tradition and express their love toward the University.

As the All-American guard selection for the Illini in 1991, Tim Simpson makes an effort to return for the homecoming game each year.

“It is especially important to me to come back and experience the nostalgia of the homecoming game first-hand,” Simpson said. “It puts a smile on my face to look back at all those memories now.”

Simpson played offensive guard for the Illini from 1988 to 1991 and experienced four homecoming games from the perspective of a player. While on the team, Simpson played against Wisconsin two out of the four homecoming games in which he participated. In addition to the increased intensity of homecoming’s pageantries, playing against the Badgers was always a game that resonated with Simpson.

“Besides playing them for homecoming twice, playing Wisconsin was always an especially important game to me,” he said. “They were one of the teams that didn’t recruit me in high school because they thought I was too small to play offensive lineman in the Big Ten. I always used that as motivation in preparation for that game. “

For this year’s homecoming game, the Illini will take on Michigan State on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Athletes must prepare for a game quite different than the norm; one where the crowds will be louder, the stage will be brighter and the win or loss will collectively mean a little more. It can be no easy task for players to enjoy the festivities of the homecoming week while still remaining focused on the task at hand — bringing in a victory for participating students and alumni.

Kameron Fry, wide receiver for the Illini and sophomore in LAS, described his experience of handling the pressure during a time of celebration.

“With all the festivities going around you, you can’t enjoy them as much as you might want. You have to remember that you still have a game to play and all week make sure to maintain that focus,” Fry said.

While maintaining focus is imperative for those playing in the game, the rest of the student population can experience the homecoming game as nothing short of a joyous celebration. For many students, it is a fun-filled day of tailgating with friends and family and passionately cheering on the Orange and Blue. 

Chris Smreczak, junior in LAS, said homecoming is the one game each year he makes sure to attend.

“I usually don’t attend a ton of the football games, but I always make an effort to go to the homecoming game,” Smreczak said. “There’s just something special about that (game) that makes it mean more than all of the others.”

Jed can be reached at [email protected].