The evolution of homecoming

Fall in the U.S. means homecoming season. For colleges and small town high schools, it's a treasured event, activating people's nostalgia and bringing in a lot of money for schools. How did this tradition start? And how has the meaning and value of homecoming changed over the years? We caught up with Bryant Simon, the Laura H. Carnell Professor of History at Temple University, who takes us through the history of homecoming and how it follows the path of American history, from its creation in the early 20th century, to pushback against it in the 60s and 70s, to its heyday in the 80s. We also get into what a modern day homecoming looks like and what it could mean for alumni to reunite after a year separated by a pandemic.