Homecoming week at an American school or college ends with a big game, normally football. Before it come a parade and a pep rally, which sometimes ends with a bonfire.
Several universities claim the first homecoming. In 1910 two Illinois seniors organized an event to rally support against the University of Chicago, which had beaten Illinois for seven years. Illinois won 3 to 0. The University of Missouri is most often given the credit. In 1911 its athletic director and coach, Chester Brewer, called alumni to come “home” for the game against Kansas.