Treasures from the Archive: Homecoming, Birth of a Tradition

Homecomings are a deep rooted tradition in many schools and Concordia is no different. In fact, this Saturday marks 46 years since the school’s first college homecoming! That’s not to say that this was our first ever homecoming. In fact, the homecoming tradition started in 1949 with Concordia High School and its Meteors.

When football was first introduced on campus it was only a high school sport. The first homecoming was a week of prep rallies and build up as the theme of “Wreck Breck” was taken to heart by the students. Yet on game day, it was the Meteors who were wrecked, 19 to 38. Though the first big game was a loss, the enthusiasm leading up to it helped cement football into our school’s structure.

After a 2 year hiatus during the high school merger, 1969 brought the triumphant return of football to campus under Athletic Director Robert Barnes. Our first college homecoming was on Friday, September 26. Concordia faced Northwestern and history was not repeated as the Comets won 14 to 6!

Enjoy OktoBEARfest this year!

- Michael

The following photos are from 1969 Homecoming celebration and the 1969 football season:

President and Mrs. Poehler at the 1969 Homecoming Banquet. 

1969 Homecoming Queen candidates await coronation. Anne Andrich (far left) was crowned Concordia's first Homecoming Queen. 

1969 Comets. Concordia's first college football team. 

Co-captains Phil Mueller and Mike Bailey present Concordia's first game football to President Poehler. 

Concordia Comettes, the college drill team. 

1969 Pep Band

Michael Hernick recently graduated from Concordia University, Saint Paul with a major in History. He spent his summer buried in the Archive digging up interesting nuggets of Concordia's history. We will be highlighting his work with Throwback Thursday post, Treasures from the Archive, throughout the year!