University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Remembering the First 50 Years of Homecoming at Southern Miss
10/23/2025 3:00:00 PM | Football
First held in 1925, Southern Miss celebrates its 92nd homecoming this Saturday
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – When the Golden Eagles take the field this Saturday at Carlisle-Faulkner Field at M.M. Roberts Stadium against ULM, fans will not just see 60 minutes of gridiron action but the full spectacle of all that The University of Southern Mississippi has to offer. The 92nd edition of Southern Miss Homecoming has taken full force of the Hattiesburg campus today with, laying another brick in the long road in the institution's storied history.
Homecoming at Southern Miss comes in the form of many faces, functions and festivities, each of which are unique to every campus visitor each year. Now 100 years in the making, Southern Miss rings in its next chapter of homecoming history with 2025's theme "There's No Place Like Homecoming." To keep up with the week's events and festivities around campus, visit usm.edu/homecoming.
What began as an alumni-led reunion in 1925 transformed into the pomp and circumstance we associate with homecoming today. While the 2025 homecoming week wraps up this Saturday at The Rock, let us take a trip back through class annuals of the first 50 years of homecomings at Southern Miss, from 1925 to 1975.
Homecoming at Southern Miss comes in the form of many faces, functions and festivities, each of which are unique to every campus visitor each year. Now 100 years in the making, Southern Miss rings in its next chapter of homecoming history with 2025's theme "There's No Place Like Homecoming." To keep up with the week's events and festivities around campus, visit usm.edu/homecoming.
What began as an alumni-led reunion in 1925 transformed into the pomp and circumstance we associate with homecoming today. While the 2025 homecoming week wraps up this Saturday at The Rock, let us take a trip back through class annuals of the first 50 years of homecomings at Southern Miss, from 1925 to 1975.
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The concept of a homecoming game is as deeply rooted in the cultural fabric of America as the sport of football itself. Today, one would be hard pressed to find a school at any level or student population that does not celebrate homecoming. Even schools without football teams find time to honor their histories by bringing back former students one weekend each year.
While widely debated, the first official homecoming occurred at some point in the early 1900s. Institutions from Illinois to Missouri, Michigan to Texas and many, many more all lay claim to the 'idea' of homecoming, even if theirs was not the first event.
The idea was a simple one. In fact, its simplicity leads to much of the debate as having former students return to campus for football games had been done since the first football game played. For the most part, early homecoming games featured the school's active team taking on an alumni team. The word "homecoming" did not come into popular usage until the 1930s and the incorporation of parades, homecoming courts and other activities were slowly added and adapted by each institution.
While widely debated, the first official homecoming occurred at some point in the early 1900s. Institutions from Illinois to Missouri, Michigan to Texas and many, many more all lay claim to the 'idea' of homecoming, even if theirs was not the first event.
The idea was a simple one. In fact, its simplicity leads to much of the debate as having former students return to campus for football games had been done since the first football game played. For the most part, early homecoming games featured the school's active team taking on an alumni team. The word "homecoming" did not come into popular usage until the 1930s and the incorporation of parades, homecoming courts and other activities were slowly added and adapted by each institution.
"Home Coming of S.T.C. Alumni, November 14, 1925" (Neka Camon, 1926)
Homecoming first made its way to the Mississippi State Teachers College in 1925 in the form of a "Home-Coming for S.T.C. Alumni" weekend over Nov. 14-15, 1925. While coinciding with the Yellow Jackets' football game against Spring Hill College on Nov. 14, the first edition of Homecoming did not feature a parade or a halftime court presentation. Instead, the first Southern Miss Homecoming was a chance for former students of the institution, most of which attended six-week sessions as working adults to fine tune their teaching skills in between classes.
1927 Homecoming Assembly (University Archives)
The event returned in 1927, this time taking place on Nov. 24 and 25 and not overlapping with any football game. Organized by Alumni Association President J.B. George, the reunion celebrated Mississippi State Teachers College's 25th year of operation since opening for classes in September 1912. Dr. George went on to become the school's third president in, overseeing the transition from Mississippi State Teachers College to Mississippi Southern College in 1940.
Just prior to George assuming the presidency, the first true Homecoming game was played on Oct. 29, 1932, against Spring Hill. The game also marked the first time Homecoming took place at Faulkner Field, which opened as MSTC's first on-campus football home earlier that year.
Just prior to George assuming the presidency, the first true Homecoming game was played on Oct. 29, 1932, against Spring Hill. The game also marked the first time Homecoming took place at Faulkner Field, which opened as MSTC's first on-campus football home earlier that year.
1937 Homecoming parade celebrating the Silver Jubilee (25 years) of MSC (University Archives)
Unfortunately, the school's yearbook, Neka Camon, was not produced from 1932-37 due to the Great Depression, missing the 1931 through 1936 football seasons. A total of five homecoming games are lost to history with the first written mention of a homecoming football game at Southern Miss coming in the 1938 Neka Camon, which briefly mentioned the 1937 game against Louisiana State Normal School, now Northwestern State:
"Before a Homecoming crowd of five thousand, STC lost to Louisiana Normal, 3-0, in a thrilling and exciting game which had the spectators on their feet cheering as long as the ball was in play. Outweighed, the Yellow Jackets played well but a long completed pass put the ball in scoring distance, and the three points scored via a field goal cost STC the game. No matter the final score the Homecoming crowd voiced their approval of STC's fine playing with loud and long cheers."
The 1939 game was the last played by State Teachers College as the institution became Mississippi Southern College on Feb. 2, 1940. On Nov. 4, 1939, the Yellow Jackets defeated Louisiana College 7-0 and Mary White, a sophomore from Hattiesburg, became the first Homecoming Queen on record at halftime. She was joined by senior maid Sara Joe Kelly (Union, Miss.) and freshman maid Beverly Sikes (Hattiesburg, Miss.) as the first true homecoming court at Southern Miss.
On the eve of war, the 1940 homecoming game was a 38-6 romp over Spring Hill though the contest did not include a court, according to the 1941 Southerner. Instead, the college's efforts were focused on the football team's first postseason game against the Army's 37th Division from Camp Shelby. Festivities included a visit from U.S. Senator Theodore G. Bilbo, the 37th Division Marching Band and various Army and Camp Shelby officials.
Nineteen forty-one's contest against Louisiana College was the Southerners' last true homecoming game for the next five years. As the student population as World War II called more and more students overseas, the institution cut back on many celebrations, including homecoming. The closest thing to a homecoming held during the war was the 1945 Winter Prom, held on Feb. 9 at the MSC Gym, now the Math Zone. Mr. M.S.C. Harvey Craft, Jr., and Miss. M.S.C. Dot Skellie were crowned campus king and queen as Mississippi Southern College's student life began to develop ahead of the war's end later that year.
1947 Homecoming King and Football All-American Mike Katrishen and Homecoming Queen Annie Laurie Roberts (Southerner, 1948)
The Southerners fielded a football team again for the first time in 1946 and with it came the first homecoming game since 1941. Interestingly enough, the first recorded Homecoming King was football player Bill "Mike" Katrishen, a 1946 Second Team Little All-American under Coach Reed Green.
1952 Homecoming Parade through downtown Hattiesburg (University Archives)
As the 1940s turned into the 50s, homecoming began to resemble its modern form. Each iteration continued the traditions of homecoming courts, parades, homecoming competitions, halftime presentations of the queen and her court and many other traditions we see at a modern homecoming game.
The Pride of Mississippi's halftime tribute to MSC Alumni, 1952 (University Archives)
By the time Mississippi Southern defeated Southwestern Louisiana 6-0 in 1950, Homecoming was a staple in Hattiesburg. Former and current students circled the date on their calendars as a chance to return to campus and celebrate the college that united them all.
1952 Homecoming Court (Southerner, 1953)
Through the early iterations of homecoming, football players were often the representatives of their class as homecoming king. Mike Katrishen (1947), Bobby Posey (1953), Hamp Cook (1954), George Herring (1955), Lawrence Meeks (1957), Bob Yencho (1958) and Jimmy Havard (1962) all were named as homecoming king during their time on the gridiron. Heading into the 60s, the homecoming courts dropped the king but added the positions we know today: freshman maid, sophomore maid, junior maid, senior maid, graduate maid, student body maid.
Football All-American Hamp Cook, 1954's Homecoming King (Southerner, 1955)
In 1962, Homecoming felt a bit different for most alumni and some students. For the first time "The University of Southern Mississippi" held homecoming festivities in Hattiesburg as the institution had reorganized into a fully-fledged university earlier on Feb. 27. An encapsulation of the spirit that homecoming provided can be found in the 1964 Southerner:
"One of the most stirring and momentous events of the year is Homecoming. It serves as an auxiliary generator which supplies energy for the excitement of study-weary students and work-weary alumni. Float decorations; dormitory and fraternity decorations; alumni registration; meetings and reunions; the big parade: the game; and finally the dance, all are a part of the Homecoming celebration."
The Pride of Mississippi celebrates The University of Southern Mississippi (Southerner, 1963)
History was made once again in 1972 when Juanita Sims of Canton, Miss., became the first African American student at Southern Miss elected to the Homecoming Court. She served as the universities senior maid in 1972 and was elected as graduate maid in 1973 as well. These years also brought changes to all the Black & Gold faithful as the old "Southerners" moniker was officially retired for the newly birthed "Golden Eagles."
Juanita Sims, 1972's Senior Maid (Southerner, 1973)
The 1973-74 year was declared as "The Year of the Golden Eagle" campus-wide, and pride for the Black & Gold swelled. Slowly but surely, the years marched on and Southern Miss continued to grow, as did its student population and alumni base with it. Homecoming contests regularly sold out the aging Faulkner Field and the football team's promising success of the late 1960s led university officials to begin planning a full renovation into what we know today as Carlisle-Faulkner Field at M.M. Roberts Stadium.
Midway through "The Year of the Golden Eagle," construction efforts began at Faulkner Field. While the future was in site, homecoming would look much different for the next two years before the upper decks of M.M. Roberts Stadium rose over its surroundings.
Midway through "The Year of the Golden Eagle," construction efforts began at Faulkner Field. While the future was in site, homecoming would look much different for the next two years before the upper decks of M.M. Roberts Stadium rose over its surroundings.
Crowning of 1974 Homecoming Queen Linda Kennedy at Reed Green Coliseum (Southerner, 1975)
The first homecoming game held without a home came in 1974, as the closest the football team got to Hattiesburg was an Oct. 12 "home" game against UT-Arlington in Jackson. However, homecoming festivities could and would not be paused for the lack of a field to walk on. On Dec. 7, 1974, the homecoming court was, like always, presented at halftime but this time at the center of Reed Green Coliseum. As the Golden Eagles fought to a 99-96 win over Lamar, homecoming took place throughout the coliseum.
The 1975 homecoming game also knew it would be without a home in Hattiesburg. University officials this time decided to do a homecoming away from home. On Nov. 22, 1975, the Golden Eagles rolled to a 70-0 win over Cal State Fullerton in front of 9,300 fans at Biloxi's Yankee Stadium. Homecoming presentations took place at the stadium that day, but the epicenter of student life for the week was Southern Miss' Gulf Park campus.
The 1975 homecoming game also knew it would be without a home in Hattiesburg. University officials this time decided to do a homecoming away from home. On Nov. 22, 1975, the Golden Eagles rolled to a 70-0 win over Cal State Fullerton in front of 9,300 fans at Biloxi's Yankee Stadium. Homecoming presentations took place at the stadium that day, but the epicenter of student life for the week was Southern Miss' Gulf Park campus.
"Welcome Gulf Park Your USM Home Away From Home" (Southerner, 1976)
To emphasize its status as the only dual-campus institution in the state, Gulf Park welcomed Southern Miss faithful and served as the host of various university meetings and reunions leading up to the homecoming game. Fifty years had passed between the first "Home-coming" in 1925 and this "Home" coming in 1975. However, our story would not be complete without turning the page one more year.
Homecoming scenes from 1976, the first played at M.M. Roberts Stadium (Southerner, 1977)
In 1976 the Golden Eagles' homecoming game was played at home for the first time since 1973. 31,225 fans – the second-largest crowd in stadium history – packed in for the battle against Mississippi State. Even though the Golden Eagles fell 14-6 to the visiting Bulldogs, Southern Miss faithful were proud of their school once again.
Homecoming gave those fans the chance to marvel at how far their institution had come. Graduates of the class of 1925 from MSTC could not have imagined that within their lifetimes, their school would have enrolled over 12,000 and had a stadium able to hold 33,000-plus. Each year, homecoming games give those former alumni the chance to return to their college home. While the paint has changed and some of the buildings are gone and many more are new, the Southern Miss spirit still runs between all alumni, both young and old.
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All-Time Homecoming Results (1925 & 1927 homecomings not included)
Mississippi State Teachers College Yellow Jackets
1932 Oct. 29 Spring Hill College W, 12-0 Pooley Hubert
1933 Nov. 11 Louisiana State Normal School L, 13-0 Pooley Hubert
1934 Nov. 2 Spring Hill College L, 7-0 Pooley Hubert
1935 Nov. 15 Mississippi State College L, 27-0 Pooley Hubert
1936 Nov. 13 Southwestern Louisiana W, 44-14 Pooley Hubert
1937 Nov. 13 Louisiana State Normal School L, 3-0 Reed Green
1938 Oct. 28 Millsaps College W, 47-0 Reed Green
1939 Nov. 4 Louisiana College W, 7-0 Reed Green
Mississippi Southern College Confederates (1940-41) & Southerners (1941-61)
1940 Oct. 26 Spring Hill College W, 38-6 Reed Green
1941 Nov. 1 Louisiana College W, 13-6 Reed Green
1942 -- -- -- --
1943 -- -- -- --
1944 -- -- -- --
1945 -- -- -- --
1946 Oct. 18 Southwestern Louisiana Institute W, 6-0 Reed Green
1947 Nov. 1 Stephen F. Austin W, 20-7 Reed Green
1948 Nov. 13 Louisiana Tech W, 20-6 Reed Green
1949 Oct. 8 McMurray College W, 55-32 Thad Vann
1950 Oct. 14 Southwestern Louisiana Institute W, 6-0 Thad Vann
1951 Nov. 3 Northwestern State W, 76-0 Thad Vann
1952 Nov. 1 Northwestern State W, 39-13 Thad Vann
1953 Nov. 7 Florida State W, 21-0 Thad Vann
1954 Oct. 23 Tennessee-Chattanooga W, 14-7 Thad Vann
1955 Oct. 8 North Texas State W, 26-0 Thad Vann
1956 Nov. 3 Abilene Christian W, 36-6 Thad Vann
1957 Nov. 16 Florida State W, 20-0 Thad Vann
1958 Oct. 25 West Texas A&M W, 15-0 Thad Vann
1959 Oct. 24 West Texas A&M W, 30-10 Thad Vann
1960 Oct. 22 North Carolina State L, 20-13 Thad Vann
1961 Oct. 28 Abilene Christian W, 33-6 Thad Vann
The University of Southern Mississippi Southerners (1962-71) Big Gold (1972) & Golden Eagles
1962 Nov. 17 Louisiana Tech W, 22-14 Thad Vann
1963 Oct. 12 Richmond W, 7-0 Thad Vann
1964 Nov. 7 Tennessee-Chattanooga W, 31-0 Thad Vann
1965 Oct. 16 Virginia Military Institute W, 3-0 Thad Vann
1966 Nov. 5 Virginia Military Institute W, 42-6 Thad Vann
1967 Nov. 4 Richmond W, 19-7 Thad Vann
1968 Nov. 2 Louisiana Tech L, 27-20 Thad Vann
1969 Oct. 25 Richmond W, 31-28 P.W. Underwood
1970 Nov. 14 Louisiana Tech L, 27-6 P.W. Underwood
1971 Nov. 6 Viriginia Military Institute W, 38-0 P.W. Underwood
1972 Nov. 11 Tennessee-Chattanooga L, 10-6 P.W. Underwood
1973 Nov. 3 Weber State W, 28-7 P.W. Underwood
1974 -- -- -- --
No football game; Homecoming held Dec. 7 in a men's basketball game against Lamar
1975 Nov. 22 Cal State Fullerton W, 70-0 Bobby Collins
Game played at Yankee Stadium in Biloxi, Miss.
1976 Oct. 23 Mississippi State L, 14-6 Bobby Collins
1977 Oct. 8 North Texas State L, 27-14 Bobby Collins
1978 Oct. 28 Florida State L, 38-16 Bobby Collins
1979 Oct. 20 Memphis W, 22-0 Bobby Collins
1980 Nov. 1 Lamar W, 36-10 Bobby Collins
1981 Oct. 3 Texas-Arlington W, 52-9 Bobby Collins
1982 Oct. 23 Louisville W, 48-0 Jim Carmody
1983 Oct. 29 Southwestern Louisiana W, 31-3 Jim Carmody
1984 Nov. 3 Northwestern State L, 22-0 Jim Carmody
1985 Nov. 2 East Carolina W, 27-0 Jim Carmody
1986 Oct. 18 Memphis W, 14-9 Jim Carmody
1987 Oct. 10 Florida State L, 61-10 Jim Carmody
1988 Oct. 29 Memphis W, 34-27 Curley Hallman
1989 Oct. 21 Southwestern Louisiana L, 24-21 Curley Hallman
1990 Oct. 20 Memphis W, 23-7 Curley Hallman
1991 Nov. 9 East Carolina L, 48-20 Jeff Bower
1992 Oct. 3 Tulsa W, 33-24 Jeff Bower
1993 Nov. 6 Tulane L, 17-15 Jeff Bower
1994 Oct. 22 Samford W, 59-16 Jeff Bower
1995 Oct. 28 East Carolina L, 36-34 Jeff Bower
1996 Nov. 2 Cincinnati W, 21-17 Jeff Bower
1997 Oct. 25 Tulane W, 34-13 Jeff Bower
1998 Oct. 24 East Carolina W, 41-7 Jeff Bower
1999 Nov. 13 Louisiana-Lafayette W, 48-0 Jeff Bower
2000 Nov. 4 Louisville L, 49-28 Jeff Bower
2001 Oct. 27 Houston W, 58-14 Jeff Bower
2002 Oct. 19 Cincinnati W, 23-14 Jeff Bower
2003 Nov.1 Louisiana-Lafayette W, 48-3 Jeff Bower
2004 Oct. 23 East Carolina W, 51-10 Jeff Bower
2005 Oct. 15 Central Florida W, 52-31 Jeff Bower
2006 Oct. 14 Houston W, 31-27 Jeff Bower
2007 Oct. 13 SMU W, 28-21 Jeff Bower
2008 Nov. 1 UAB W, 70-14 Larry Fedora
2009 Oct. 24 Tulane W, 43-6 Larry Fedora
2010 Oct. 9 East Carolina L, 44-43 Larry Fedora
2011 Oct. 22 SMU W, 27-3 Larry Fedora
2012 Oct. 20 Marshall L, 59-24 Ellis Johnson
2013 Oct. 26 North Texas L, 55-14 Todd Monken
2014 Nov. 8 Marshall L, 63-17 Todd Monken
2015 Oct. 17 UTSA W, 32-10 Todd Monken
2016 Oct. 29 Marshall W, 24-14 Jay Hopson
2017 Oct. 14 UTEP W, 24-0 Jay Hopson
2018 Oct. 20 UTSA W, 27-17 Jay Hopson
2019 Oct. 12 North Texas W, 45-27 Jay Hopson
2020 Oct. 10 Florida Atlantic Game postponed due to COVID-19
2021 Oct. 9 UTEP L, 26-13 Will Hall
2022 Oct. 15 Arkansas State W, 20-19 Will Hall
2023 Oct. 7 Old Dominion L, 17-13 Will Hall
2024 Oct. 19 Arkansas State L, 44-28 Will Hall
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