Saturday marks the 99th Homecoming in NIU’s history.

And according to everybody outside Champaign-Urbana, it’s the longest running tradition in the state.

It all started Oct. 10, 1903. On that glorious day in NIU history, the Northern Illinois State Normal School shut out the alumni in a 6-0 nail-biter.

Three years later, in 1906, the Alumni Association decided to call it “Homecoming.” Alumni of the school were invited to come back to DeKalb and attend a social event after the Homecoming game – makes sense.

And thus it began. Almost a century later, the tradition lives on.

I have just one question: What exactly is Homecoming?

I know I explained it above, but I’m a bit hazy on the concept in today’s setting.

Where did a king and queen come from? Or women playing tug of war? Or a parade? Where does all that fit in with the alumni losing 6-0 102 years ago? If you know, please clue me in.

Before actually looking up the history of NIU’s Homecoming tradition I was told it was just a game welcoming back the football team after a road game. Hence the whole coming home thing. Obviously, I was misinformed.

And even if I wasn’t, last I checked, the Huskies played Oct. 5 at home. Shouldn’t Homecoming have been that day, then?

Maybe the coordinators wanted it to be on a weekend. How about the Ball State game Oct. 29? You could tie the tradition in with Halloween. The king and queen could dress up like vampires. Just a thought.

How about the parade? Does it have anything to do with the game itself? Are the alumni sitting on the main float?

All I’m saying is I’m confused. This weekend’s game is supposed to be a celebration of tradition. But honestly, what are we celebrating? The fact that we have a longer tradition than the University of Illinois?

If you want to celebrate something this Saturday, celebrate the offense, the coaches or even the mascot if you have to. Go up to your favorite alumnus and give him a pat on the back. At least then you know what you’re actually celebrating.

Until the alumni start lining up against the football team for some backyard fun, Homecoming will never be what was intended.

So c’mon, alumni. It’s time to bring back the true tradition of NIU’s Homecoming. In the all-time series you have a record of 3-8. It’s time to start evening up your record. So suit up in your cleats, favorite sweatshirt and knee braces. Put on some eye black, warm up the old throwing arm and show the current football players what real school pride is all about.

And celebrate Homecoming with a trip to your chiropractor the next day.