The tradition of “homecoming” in the context of colleges and universities seems aimed at the return of alumni to campus. Graduates coming back into the arms of alma mater. Maybe it’s just self-centered memories, but the Homecomings at BC, 1964-67, seemed more oriented to us, the students.
1964
As was common through our time at BC, this Homecoming started with a Friday night concert, a football game that featured the naming of a Homecoming Queen and Favorite Son at halftime, a post-game social, and a “victory” dance in the evening.
Fats Domino
Ian and Sylvia, the Canadian folk-singing duo, performed in Roberts Center on Friday, October 16. “Orchestra” seats on the court cost $2.50, “balcony” $1.75.
BC won the football game, 10-0, over Cincinnati the next day. Jim Lucie and the Heightsmen were featured at the post-game social at Chestnut Hill Country Club ($.99), while Fats Domino headlined the entertainment at the Victory Dance at the Surf Nantasket ($5/couple).
1965
The organizers stuck with folk music this year, as the Friday concert, the “Homecoming Concert,” featured The Highwaymen, a quartet. Also performing were the comedy duet of Ullett and Hendra. (Ullett’s name was misspelled in both the Heights ad and the Sub Turri caption of the two.)
The Highwaymen
The Victory Dance (BC beat Richmond 38-7) was held at the Victory Road Armory in Dorchester. Bill Haley and the Comets (old rock n’ roll even then) were the musical artists.
1966
In a portent of things to come, the original act for the Homecoming Concert backed out. Instead of Chuck Berry, homecomers saw the Isley Brothers Friday night in Roberts.
The Isley Brothers twist and shout
After watching Syracuse pound the Eagles, 30-0, students enjoyed Junior Walker and the All-Stars at the Victory Dance at the Hotel Bradford.
1967
Wilson Pickett
As the Temptations might have described it, Homecoming our senior year was something of a “Ball of Confusion.” Efforts to have The Righteous Brothers appear broke down, as did attempts to sign Woody Allen and Judy Collins. BC “settled” for Otis Redding. But we never saw him, either. Redding backed out and was replaced, if that’s the right word, by Wilson Pickett in Roberts on October 13. (Sadly, Otis Redding died less than two months later in a plane crash.)
Penn State rocked the Eagles, 50-28, and fans found solace listening to the Pandoras at the Sheraton Plaza.
Prices for these events hadn’t changed a lot during our years. All tickets, not just “orchestra,” in Roberts were $2.50 and the price of tickets for the dance Saturday was $5, but it didn’t say if it was apiece or per couple.
Looking back at the Penn State-BC Homecoming game in 1967, the 49th and 50th points of the Nittany Lions’ victory were scored on a two-point conversion pass to a reserve tight end. We would one day hear that receiver’s name again: Frank Spaziani.