The Horned Frog football team’s success will not be the only thing to celebrate this weekend.
This year’s Homecoming Celebration commemorates the university’s 100th anniversary in Fort Worth. The university was relocated here in 1910 after a fire in Waco destroyed the campus.
Student Activities Coordinator Brett Phillips said this year’s events will focus on the anniversary by trying to promote it visually with the logo “TCU Homecoming: A Century of Partnership.”
“We’re really just trying to honor and bring the community together with the alumni coming back [and] to just enjoy this centennial year and just celebrate that,” Phillips said.
Groups participating in the Homecoming Parade will also incorporate the university’s anniversary in the float competition, Phillips said. One group will have a Halloween-themed float to commemorate a century of celebrating the occasion in Fort Worth. A lot of the floats will creatively use the university’s history in Fort Worth and its 100th anniversary, he said.
Homecoming events began Oct. 20 with the Homecoming Kickoff party and student voting for this year’s Mr. and Ms. TCU.
On Oct. 21, Frog Follies featured 10 student groups that created skits and variety acts related to the anniversary. Four Day Weekend, an improvisational comedy group from Fort Worth, hosted the event and performed comedic skits between acts. Professional emcees were an attempt to professionalize the event more than previous years, Phillips said.
Today’s events will include Lunch on the Lawn, the Homecoming Parade and Frog Fest. Homecoming events will end with the football game against Air Force Academy Saturday and the crowning of Mr. and Ms. TCU at halftime.
Lunch on the Lawn will feature free barbecue sandwiches and Sweet Sammies cookies for university students, staff and faculty. Frog Fest will include attractions such as a live band, bounce houses, giant slides and carnival games, according to the homecoming website.
This year, prizes will be offered through a giveaway promotion, in which items like cups, sunglasses and scarves will handed out to event participants, Phillips said.
Although university officials hope for full participation at every event, Phillips said, the parade will most likely be the biggest and most popular event because of the variety of groups that will attend. The Mr. and Ms. TCU finalists, the TCU Marching Band, Fort Worth community members, athletes, and alumni plan to be there, he said.
“We’re really happy with participation as long as people are able to get to one event and get the feel of the buzz of homecoming,” Phillips said.
Upcoming Homecoming events
Lunch on the Lawn: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. today, Sadler Lawn
Homecoming Parade: 6:30 p.m. today, Main Campus
FrogFest: 7:30 p.m. today, Campus Commons
Pre-Game Party: 5 p.m. Saturday, Campus Commons
TCU vs. Air Force Football Game: 7 p.m. Saturday, Amon G. Carter Stadium
