Kansas State University - Royal Purple Yearbook (Manhattan, KS)

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by Mindy Stubenhofer and Jenee Urbanek In 1915, football coach John Jawn Bender started a movement to invite alumni back to K-State to honor the Old — former athletes. by this movement, the First Homecoming Day was Oct. 23, 1915. The tradition of homecoming is still alive at K-State. The purpose of homecoming is to provide spirit for the football team and bring in alumni, said Kelly Welch, senior in agricultural economics and president of Blue Key. Blue Key first sponsored homecoming activities in 1935, Angie Boeve completes the top of the pyramid by standing on the stomach of Kris Tulp during the Pi Kappa Alpha and the Alpha Delta Pi section of the Body building competition. (Photo by Andy Nelson) 26

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Just as the football team warms up so do the fans by Lynette Lindholm Fo od, drink, fellowship and fun — that was the ticket for many K-Staters before home football games. These pregame sports were known as tailgate parties. Tailgate parties have become increasingly popular in the past few years due to the prohibition of alcoholic beverages in the KSU football stadium. In the past, jugs of cheer were not screened as closely as in recent years. K-State students and alumni were allowed to bring beverage containers into the stadium. It used to be a K-State tradition to go watch the football games with a jug of cheer. After the 1984 KU-K-State game, the fans were extremely rowdy and due to this, the privilege of bringing alcohol into K-State ' s stadium was taken away by the University, said Richard K-State campus police Now K-Staters are required to leave their jugs at home. I enjoy tailgate parties, because I meet so many new people I didn ' t know before. I have made many new friends through these events, said Rod Taylor, sophomore in electrical engineering. Tailgate parties usually began about three hours before the game. The people who held the parties were families, alumni or just A group of friends. We enjoy visiting with friends and relaxing before the game, Taylor said. The most popular food brought to these parties was sandwiches. Six foot submarine sandwiches were among the most popular. Other preferred options included pizza, chili dogs and brownies. The drinks brought by tailgaters included beer, wine and punch for those wanting alcoholic beverages. Not everyone goes to tailgate parties to drink. A thermos of coffee, hot chocolate or iced tea satisfied many people ' s thurst. Tailgaters were popular at the KU-K-State game. Many students and alumni enjoyed the pre-game festivities in the back of their vans, pick-ups or Broncos. My husband and I have made it a point to plan a tailgate party every time we come back to see the Wildcats play. We usually only can make it up twice, for the game and for Homecoming. But when we come, we are ready to have some fun and tailgating is just the answer, said Cindy Cast, a 1982 graduate who attended the KU-K-State game. What is the reason for these The answer is plain and Not only are they another K-State tradition, but they are also loads of fun. At the football stadium before the KU-K-State game Ralph Currie, K-State alumni, and his son Cameron take a refreshment break in the parking lot. (Photo by John LaBarge) Tailgate Parties Parties 25

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homecoming and has sponsored them since, said Chet Peters, former Blue Key adviser. After brainstorming for a theme for Homecoming ' 86, Blue Key chose Purple Pride, a K-State Tradition. We felt that it reflected the spirit of the college, said Carey Avery, senior in bakery science and member of Blue Key. The Homecoming activities included Body Building and Yell Like Hell contests. The Pant the Chant competition was staged during the annual bonfire. The parade through downtown Manhattan and Aggieville was cancelled due to bad weather. As a result, the floats were displayed and judged outside KSU stadium. Homecoming festivities were completed when the winners of spirit competitions and the two new University ambassadors were announced at halftime of the football game. The 1986 Ambassadors were Jada Allerheiligan, junior in jour- nalism and mass and Mark Buyle, junior in marketing. After totaling the points from the contests, the overall winning team of Delta Delta Delta Alpha Tau Omega was awarded the Donna Rosenhagen, right, cheers with Lee Ann Wells during homecoming activities in the Union Courtyard. (Photo by Andy Nelson) Doug Stone, Chris Bowman and Mark Gros slap the floor during the Body building competition segment of Homecoming. These men are members of the Sigma Nu fraternity and were participating in the competition with the Kappa Alpha Thetas. (Photo by Andy Nelson) All-University Spirit Award. The winners of the greek float competition tied, Pi Beta Phi Phi Delta Theta and Delta Delta Delta Alpha Tau Omega. Marlatt Boyd earned first place for the residence halls. K-State still has the tradition of homecoming and it is still a big part of the University, said Joleen Hill, 1962 K-State graduate. The tradition may continue but some things have changed since 1915. In the fall of 1932, 10 women were nominated by the sororities as candidates for the first homecoming queen. Dissatisfaction with the traditional queen surfaced in 1972 when a male homecoming queen candidate was nominated by a residence hall. In 1973, Blue Key and Mortar Board chose couples to represent each of three major eras of K-State history.. No royalty or couples were chosen in 1975 or 1976. In 1977, a new tradition began when the student body elected two K-State Ambassadors for the first time. The ambassadors have had the responsibility of representing the students to alumni and friends of the university. Blue Key adviser David Mugler, associate dean and director of resident instruction, said, A lot of students still get fired up for homecoming. There is great enthusiam, and the level of enthusiasm may be correlated to the extent of involvement. 27