20 for 20: Homecoming

The 2020-21 athletic year is the 20th year that I (Paul Welker) have served as Alfred State's Sports Information Director. During this school year I plan on writing a 20-part series on my time covering the Pioneers.

This would have been Homecoming week at Alfred State. The Homecoming committee had started plans during the spring semester for the event that would have been held Oct. 15 - 17th. The committee started the process of planning the event for 2020 even with the knowledge that the current health crisis might keep the event from ever happening. Unfortunately college athletic events and large gatherings have been shut down to COVID this semester and Homecoming 2020 was cancelled. 

As one of a handful of people that has been on the Homecoming committee since the beginning of the committee in 2008, I thought it would be appropriate to highlight the first and last Homecomings held on the hill. 

The First Homecoming - 2008

Pioneer Stadium opened in the spring of 2008 and shortly after it opened planning for having a true Homecoming/Family Weekend the next fall started. The excitement of having on campus football games led naturally to hosting a major event centered around bringing back alumni and current students families back to campus.

The first Homecoming committee was probably the largest as we scheduled a Rusted Root concert and the Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony on Friday night and followed that with a full day of activities on Saturday. Saturday featured a doubleheader of soccer, the Gold Rush Gathering (a large carnival in the gymnasium), a tailgate in the parking lot, and the Homecoming football game under the lights. The night concluded with a firework display shot off above Pioneer Stadium.

The first homecoming event was a huge success. The committee was ecstatic to bring big crowds to campus to show off the new facility and grow Pioneer Pride. 

Special Note - Homecoming was the first game that the press box was functional. It was delivered during the week of Homecoming and sound system was finalized on Friday afternoon at 4 p.m.

Homecoming - 2019

Last year's homecoming was different as it was the first that Pioneer Stadium featured the video scoreboard. The preparation for the day was demanding but the results were very gratifying. The video scoreboard at Pioneer Stadium was installed on the Monday and Tuesday before Homecoming. Myself and members of my event staff were trained on Thursday and we put together over 20 videos and graphics that debuted on the screen during Homecoming. A hype video welcomed the Pioneer football team to the field, advertisements for other Homecoming events, graphics to prompt the crowd, and even graphics to help one our football players propose postgame were all developed.

Friday night's events went perfectly with great weather for the Pep Rally, the Pioneer Challenge events, and fireworks. As usual the Alfred's Got Talent event was packed. 

Saturday featured a successful Cross Country alumni race, a tight football game that featured pre and halftime entertainment, and concluded with a concert by Nik and the Nice Guys just outside the stadium.

Homecoming Events

Throughout the years the schedule of events has changed for Homecoming weekend. The first few years featured Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremonies, Walking Tours, the Gold Rush Gathering, and night football games. The transition to NCAA DIII and the emergence of the super popular Alfred's Got Talent show led to changes in the scheduling of Homecoming. Friday night evolved into a Pep Rally with a bonfire, carnival type foods, and fireworks before the action moved inside for Alfred's Got Talent. Homecoming football games moved to the afternoon on Saturday with soccer doubleheaders following when possible. Alumni events for cross country, swimming & diving, and lacrosse were scheduled during the weekend as well.

Some of the most memorable Homecoming events over the years include the Alfred Rodeo held in 2007 after the football game, the re-opening of the Pub in the Pioneer Center, and the live Oxen outside the stadium gate last year.

Final Homecoming Thoughts

Events like hall of fame ceremonies, 5k charity races, talent shows, carnivals, rodeos, chicken barbecue tailgates, or midnight madness are just some of the events that have made homecoming a must attend event - almost as popular as Hot Dog Day! The committee has evolved over the years but the goal of bringing excitement to campus remains the same. Hoping that Homecoming 2021 comes back stronger than ever.

Previous 20 for 20's:

Story 1: The First Fall

Story 2: Gina and Juice

Story 3: Nose, Ear, Knee

Story 4: Football Tales

Story 5: Sand Storm

Story 6: The Voice of the Pioneers