The 2013 Homecoming Steering Committee released the theme for the upcoming celebration Saturday – “The Black and Gold Standard.”

Homecoming tri-director Katie Ottolin said the steering committee felt the theme embodied MU’s perspective of homecoming. Ottolin said the steering committee hopes more residence halls and student organizations become involved in Homecoming this year.

“Since the University of Missouri invented Homecoming, we felt that with this theme, it states that every year Mizzou sets the standard for what Homecoming should encompass,” she said.

In 1911, Director of Athletics Chester L. Brewer decided to invite alumni to “come home” for a football game to raise morale during a losing season.

Brewer inadvertently invented a model for homecoming celebrations that now exist all over the country.

As a result, Homecoming has become one of MU’s most valued traditions, receiving recognition for offering the best homecoming in the nation, having the largest student-run homecoming, and being named as a model homecoming program by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.

A goal for Homecoming this year is to reach the 100,000th unit of blood collected from the Homecoming Blood Drive, which will take place Oct. 14 to 17 at the Hearnes Center, Homecoming Co-director Jordan Denker said.

“We are looking forward to the Homecoming Blood Drive and continuing to support the American Red Cross,” Homecoming Adviser Aly Friend said.

Donations to The Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri and Tiger Pantry will also be collected during Homecoming through annual service events including Tigers Taming Hunger and Tiger Food Fight.

Students, alumni and members of Columbia community can look forward to other events including Campus Decorations, Decorate the District, the annual talent competition and the selection of the 2013 Homecoming king and queen.

Denker said she is excited to have MU alumni come back and see how the campus has changed.

“We are always growing, and I think alumni are proud of what is being accomplished here at Mizzou,” she said. “It is also an exciting time for students and the Columbia community.”

Carrying on the cornerstone tradition, MU will have its yearly parade and spirit rally that bring in thousands of spectators. The parade showcases MU’s marching band, student-created floats, various school organizations and sports teams.

One of the most broadly recognized and heavily attended events, other than the football game itself, is the preceding tailgate.

Alumni, students and their families, businesses and members of the Columbia community set up tents in parking lots near the stadium to socialize and cookout.

“The atmosphere during October is indescribable and being able to provide that each year through Homecoming is a blessing,” Jenker said.

The Missouri Tigers will play the South Carolina Gamecocks in the Homecoming Game on Saturday, Oct. 26.