For an alumni program administrator, Homecoming is like Christmas, New Year’s and the Fourth of July all rolled into one weekend. If you have any trepidation going in you are not in the right career. In my case, I have the pleasure of planning and executing the homecoming activities for the I Association, the alumni club of former Hoosier letter-winning athletes. This past weekend our activities included a reunion of 50-Year I Men, the presentation of the Honorary I Award to President and Mrs. McRobbie, and a reunion of football players for all teams and eras.
The festivities began on Friday with the Homecoming parade and our group’s trolley ride up Woodlawn Avenue. Riding on the float were reunion attendees who won their first letter in the 1967-68 school year as well as members of the I Association Board of Directors. With help from the on-board sommelier, a great time was had by all! The beautiful day and reunion atmosphere made the wait for the parade to start almost too short.
The trolley led back to the DeVault Center for a reception and special ceremony for IU’s President and First Lady. All alumni athletes should be grateful for the McRobbies’ steadfast support of the Hoosiers and for their acceptance of the I Association’s recognition. Special thanks to Karl Zacker for helping the program flow smoothly.
The Honorary I Award ceremony was followed by a dinner program recognizing the 50-Year I Winners. A long-time favorite event of the I Association, tears and laughter accompany each speech, and it is wonderful to see that time does not diminish their love and affection for team and school.
On game day, the work really begins and the planning and preparation really pays off. The I Association hosted a pregame tailgate for 200, and in the process organized the on-field recognition for the McRobbies, the I Men and the alumni football players. All went according to script, except when the football alumni were roundly booed after their introduction. The reason for this entirely unexpected welcome was a poorly timed replay shown on the big screen that overturned a favorable IU play. Once the players learned why they were booed, they laughed it off.
It is one thing to be an alumnus of a school. It is entirely another thing to be an alumnus of a team. That is what makes the I Association special. We can’t wait for Homecoming 2018 which will be the first year that 50 Year I Women will be welcomed back and recognized. Stay tuned! Go Hoosiers!