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1961 Homecoming

Dan Ryan/Senior Writer-Historian

Homecoming Memories: The Greatest Wildcat Homecoming Performances

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – There will be a virtual homecoming event or two this weekend, and this article about the greatest individual homecoming game day performance(s) is another attempt to fill the void of one of the best experiences we all have as members of the Wildcat family.

I'm already missing the breakfast at Dr. Herbert Thompson's house as the parade begins, the vendors on Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd., sneaking a burger from the Omega tailgate and a few other places in the stadium parking lot best kept to those who appreciate the amazing cuisine enjoyed on these weekends. There's the one guy whose ribs …

Oh, yeah, the football game. Sorry.

Here's the list. Yes, you will get a chance to add to it at the bottom of the story … and remember me next year at your tailgate.

1952: Cy McClairen vs. Florida A&M
Did you really think you were going to have a Bethune-Cookman homecoming story and NOT talk about most famous touchdown in Wildcat history? One more time: McClairen's 36-yarder from Mike Ardis put Bethune-Cookman up 8-7 and the Wildcats held on for the victory over Florida A&M. In the stadium that day: Branch Rickey, the former Brooklyn Dodgers General Manager who signed Jackie Robinson, now with the Pittsburgh Pirates. To this day, the belief is that Rickey made a phone call to the Pittsburgh Steelers and they would draft McClairen to be the first Wildcat in the National Football League.

1961: Bobby Frazier and King Davis vs. Lane
Give credit to these two for restoring dignity to Wildcat homecoming after a historic drubbing by Florida A&M the year before (You go look up the score).  Davis caught three touchdowns, while Frazier threw of the six total touchdown passes in a 61-6 victory over Lane. The Wildcats had 575 total yards, but the officials called a combined 338 yards in penalties on both teams.

1972: Randy Walker vs. Kentucky State
The late, great "Sweetback" had many a better a day than this two touchdown effort in a 42-18 victory over Kentucky State, but it was the 69 yards that made for some history as he became the first player in SIAC history to go over the 1,000 yard mark in a season.

1984: Bernard Hawk vs. Morris Brown
Homecoming wasn't until the regular season finale of the first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship year, but Hawk sent it out in a style as Bethune-Cookman downed Morris Brown 42-28. Hawk matched his school record of five touchdown passes with 40 completions and 491 yards, both the second best totals in his career.

1998 Jay Rogers vs. Delaware State
Sometimes overlooked by Pa'Tell Troutman's running of the Wyattbone during these days of the Alvin Wyatt Sr. era, Rogers racked up 221 yards on the ground in a 50-8 romp over Delaware State.

2000 Rashean Mathis vs. Delaware State
The future Jacksonville Jaguar (and Detroit Lion) led the FCS in interceptions in 2000, and this 41-20 victory over Delaware State had a lot to do with it. Mathis finished with four interceptions on the day, 11 on the season.

2015: Quentin Williams and Michael D. Jones vs. Norfolk State
The 59-49 victory saw the Wildcats put up the most points on homecoming since the afore mentioned Lane victory and thus, we also recognize two players from this game: Williams threw for 386 yards and four touchdowns while Jones rushed for 136 yards and had 112 receiving yards.

Is there a homecoming performance YOU would like to include? Post a comment on our B-CU Athletics Facebook page or reply on our official B-CU football twitter (@bcugridiron) and we'll update the story over the weekend.
 
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