Baylor Homecoming: Historic Traditions, Lifelong Friends

Show Notes

For more than a century, Baylor Homecoming has brought generations of Bears back to Waco. The bonfire, the parade, Pigskin, the football game, and countless other traditions are all part of the nation's oldest and best Homecoming celebration. If you ask Baylor alumni what keeps them coming back, however, the answer is usually much simpler: the people. 

View Homecoming through the eyes of Jordan Hannah from Baylor Alumni and Dannielle Perez, a member of the Class of 2016 celebrating her 10-year reunion. Through stories of lifelong friendships, late-night float building, reunion weekends, family traditions, and favorite Baylor memories, they explore why Homecoming is more than an event. It's a chance to reconnect with people who helped shape who you are and to pass those memories on to the next generation of Baylor Bears.

THE CONVERSATION INCLUDES:

• what makes Baylor Homecoming distinct from similar celebrations at other universities
• why generations of Baylor alumni plan months in advance to return to Waco each fall 
• favorite Homecoming traditions, including the parade, bonfire, Pigskin, and Sing 
• how Baylor friendships formed at Baylor continue to shape lives years and even decades lateR
• memories of float-building, late nights, and the teamwork behind Homecoming preparations
• what it's like to experience Homecoming as alumni, parents, and members of multi-generational Baylor families 
• stories from Baylor's transition from Floyd Casey Stadium to McLane Stadium and a growing campus landscape 
• how Baylor Homecoming balances cherished traditions with new opportunities for alumni and families to gather 
• why so many alumni find that no matter how much time has passed, Homecoming feels like picking up right where they left off

Transcript

Derek Smith:
It is almost here, Baylor family. We are just about two weeks away from homecoming as we visit today with Jordan Hannah and Dannielle Perez. Everything we associate with homecoming friends, the Baylor family, the parade, the bonfire, the football game, Baylor has the nation's oldest and best homecoming and we're going to talk about that today on Baylor Connections. I'm Derek Smith, we appreciate you being with us. Our guests today are Jordan Hannah from Baylor alumni, and a Baylor alum, Dannielle Perez, class of 2016. One of this year's reunion year classes, 10 years since graduation. Those years hit different the further they get out, but we're glad to talk about that and really glad to have you both with us. Dannielle, Jordan, thanks for joining us.

Dannielle Perez:
Yes, thank you.

Jordan Hannah:
Thank you.

Derek Smith:
Well, excited to talk homecoming and excited to talk about what that means with the Baylor family here. So, let's just start off with a broad question. We're all proud as Baylor alums of Baylor's Homecoming. If you were talking to someone from another school and they said, "Well, our school has a homecoming too and we love it," what would you tell them about why Baylor's is special? Dannielle, I'll start with you.

Dannielle Perez:
Okay. Wow. Big question, but amazing question. I think you said it was the longest and some of the oldest traditions that have been passed down. And I think more than that, for me, it's felt like legacy. It's like, wow, there's so much legacy and tradition here. And I always say, "Come and be a part and create your own legacy here at Baylor." And so, it's always fun to walk around and see things that provoke really amazing memories, and to invite friends, and friends who might not be aware of that like this is what happened here at this bench, or at the pickleball courts, or things like that. It's just fun to bring people into the longstanding stories and traditions.

Derek Smith:
What about you, Jordan?

Jordan Hannah:
When I think of how distinct Baylor Homecoming is from other institutions, it's that one, it's so student led and student driven. The Baylor Chamber of Commerce does an incredible job putting together all of these activities and involving the students in this tradition that at most places is just kind of an alumni tradition. And then, I would even just say the second being how just assumed it is that we are going to come back for homecoming. It's a spot that we're looking forward to until 12 months down the line, six months down the line. We're always trying to make our plans for homecoming. And I've been at schools before where you're going about your day and your week and then you look up and say, "Oh, this weekend is homecoming?" So, that certainly doesn't have the fanfare that Baylor Homecoming does.

Derek Smith:
Not like that here at Baylor at all, whether behind the scenes or certainly for Baylor family members coming together. We could talk about all the traditions, I could run down a laundry list and did a little bit at the top of the show, but really I think it's best captured in people's stories. And we're going to talk about that on the show today, but I want to ask you each, what are you most looking forward to for this year's Homecoming 2026? Dannielle, what are you most ... It doesn't have to be just one thing.

Dannielle Perez:
Okay, I was going to say, "There's too many."

Derek Smith:
What are you most looking forward to?

Dannielle Perez:
Oh man, I love the parade. I think that's one of my favorite things. I think having a part to play during my Baylor career in the parade, so knowing some of the behind the scenes, just to be able to partake and see it. I mean, I love when the bear comes, I love it when I think it's the Student Foundation, they ride their bicycles. It just evokes so much joy and fun with the Baylor parade.

Derek Smith:
And Jordan, you were a part of that parade, right, as a student?

Jordan Hannah:
In a few different ways, yes. It was a lot of fun.

Derek Smith:
Yeah. What about you? What are you most looking forward to?

Jordan Hannah:
I think this year specifically, every year I think kind of has its own spin on what I think makes that year special. I think for us this year, my youngest child is old enough to where we may actually be able to get through all of the activities throughout the day without a meltdown or a nap needed. And so, I think a full family homecoming experience is what I'm looking forward to the most this year.

Derek Smith:
How old are your kids?

Jordan Hannah:
10, 8, 5, and almost 2.

Derek Smith:
Almost two.

Jordan Hannah:
So, the youngest one's more mobile now and just has a lot more stamina than he did last year.

Derek Smith:
Yeah. Well, it's a feast for the senses, for sure, for anyone. I imagine especially for a kid right around that age. Yeah.

Jordan Hannah:
Might have to bring some of those noise-canceling headphones with us when the firetruck comes through, but other than that, they're going to have a blast.

Derek Smith:
Well, so that's neat. You get to be on both sides as a Baylor family member and alum, and now with your own children. How would you each describe what the perfect homecoming weekend looks like for you? Jordan, I'll start with you this time. What's the perfect homecoming weekend?

Dannielle Perez:
Bring us in. Yes.

Jordan Hannah:
Man, I think my perfect homecoming would partially have to be, have to have the ability to freeze time so that every person I see ... I mean, it's like walking on campus as a student between classes. You're going to run into 5 or 10 friends of yours and you want to sit and chat for a minute, "But hey, we got to get to class." And I could just freeze time and have a full conversation with everybody that I saw, I would love that. But outside of being able to stop time, certainly a Baylor football win on Saturday would be great, but really just being able to connect with so many people. We're here in Waco and so we see a lot of folks that come in for just normal football games and things like that, but for the people that come from far away who are coming here and making it that special occasion, like we said, it's that moment that everybody wants to be back to campus at least once a year. So, it's exciting to see those folks.

Dannielle Perez:
Yeah. Similarly, I agree. I think some of my college best friends have moved back to Baylor, or back to Waco area. And so for us, I think when I think about a perfect homecoming, it's going around and visiting some of the different iconic places in our friend history, whether it's the houses that we lived in or just the moments where we played some pranks on Baylor's campus, or I think going through memory lane in that way is just a very perfect Baylor Homecoming experience. And I think for all of us, I think where we all bonded at Baylor was the bonfire. So I think for us, that's a key piece of always going every year for that.

Derek Smith:
I want to get to know you both a little better. We just sort of dove into the conversation here, but we appreciate y'all really kind of standing in for the Baylor family as a whole and sharing your homecoming memories. Going to ask you a little about your Baylor journeys, and Dannielle, start with you. So class of 2016, as we said, you're part of a reunion year class, your 10th anniversary. What was your major? What was your major and what was your experience like at Baylor?

Dannielle Perez:
Yeah, my major was journalism with an emphasis in public relations. And I would say this four years, I didn't enter into Baylor with that degree. I think my freshman year I changed my major just as I discovered, wow, I do have a thing for writing. I love connecting with people, I love the thought of being able to communicate broadly amongst an organization, and that being evoking values and culture. And so, I think for me it was a really big discovery season, my four years of what am I good at? What am I not good at? And what makes me come alive? And so, I feel like having faith-based community, having some established friends as well as going on that journey with me, I mean, that's why I'm so excited that my friends are coming back and we get to talk about those memories of what did we discover about ourselves and who we are, what we're passionate about?
So, I love my Baylor experience. I look at it fondly because those foundations truly have set me up for what I'm doing today.

Derek Smith:
Away from class, away from the Castellaw Communications building where I spent a lot of time as well, where are some places we would've found you investing your time, student organizations or just ways to have fun?

Dannielle Perez:
Yeah, I was involved in Greek life while I was here at Baylor. So, Alpha Chi Omega is what really was a great opportunity for different service orientation things, investing in young girls, and just again, passing down that experience of, man, this was a building block for me. This was places and spaces where I learned who I was. So, that was really fun for me. I also have just a fun story. You could also find me on this bench outside of the student union building. Before the fountain was there it was just a long road, and there was a metal bench, and I would sit there a lot of times. And there I made friends. I just complimented people's shoes or said, "What class are you going to?" And it started this thing of, "Man, find Dannielle at this bench near the Student Union Building." It became just a really fun hub of friends meeting friends or people who didn't know one another.
It just became this kind of iconic piece of my Baylor history of the bench right outside the Student Union Building. So you could find me there too, as well as Greek life.

Derek Smith:
So, you created a little community-

Dannielle Perez:
Yes.

Derek Smith:
... just there at the bench. So 2016 is when you graduated, so you were really kind of there in the early and middle part of the 2010s. How would you describe Baylor when you were there? I mean, I think you were there when McLane Stadium was open, so you got to see some exciting things.

Dannielle Perez:
Oh yeah. So, I think the first half of my Baylor experience was Floyd Casey and just the nostalgia that that carried, and then also the opening of McLane Stadium. So you kind of had this Baylor, this nostalgia, but then you also had what's the future of Baylor and what's happening? So, it was a really interesting both and to have both. I was there when they did the blackout at Floyd Casey and just that moment when we won against Kansas City and they were the top school at that time. So, that Baylor time and then also, man, running one of the first senior classes to run the line at McLane Stadium was just, I mean, iconic. And so yeah, I just remember those times. I remember just a lot of Common Grounds. Common Grounds I think was at its peak with being a music event place. And so, I remember seeing MuteMath and Colony House, some of these bands who were up and coming, being a part of their journey of success.
So, it felt like a really, I mean, I think we've said this multiple, like a freezing in time moment of, wow, we are in a really special time in Baylor's history, the soundtrack of that era. And it just felt really fun to be a college student during that time.

Derek Smith:
Going back to your experience, Dannielle, Jordan mentioned how important student involvement is at Baylor Homecoming. It's not something that's just the alumni coming back. You mentioned being an Alpha Chi Omega. Were there elements that stand out to you that you remember of preparing for homecoming, the parade, Pigskin being on stage, all these things?

Dannielle Perez:
Oh yeah. I remember just building the parade or building the float itself, and all of us would jump in a car, go, and just start putting paper mache everywhere. I mean, I remember the glue, I remember all of that. It was such a fun time of just doing it night before, let's get everyone involved, getting across the finish line together. I mean, I remember being at Pigskin right before and just getting really excited in our room and just chanting of like, "Okay, let's do this. Let's go out, give it our best," and have just energy like no other. I mean, when I think about just my experience in Greek life and in part to homecoming, we're like, "Let's just rally and celebrate for what we've accomplished together." So, that was really fun for me.

Derek Smith:
It's fun, but I've also learned, is this fair to say, getting the parade ready, getting the float ready, I should say, preparing an act-

Dannielle Perez:
That was a lot.

Derek Smith:
... that's serious business. And by serious business, I mean, it's like espionage and secrecy, right? Is that what you remember?

Dannielle Perez:
Oh yeah. It's like go to this offsite and we're going to build this float in this theme. And so, definitely had to create some espionage in there. I feel like you might have a little bit more experience with that-

Jordan Hannah:
A lot of secrets involved with float themes and the like.

Dannielle Perez:
Yes, yes. Or psyching people out, "This is our theme," just to see if they'll see if it's it. But yeah.

Derek Smith:
Well, I came to Baylor as a grad school, so I didn't have the undergrad experience, but I remember once doing a story on an organization that was building their parade float. And I thought they were going to make me sign an NDA or something. They eventually let me go out to this big shed somewhere way out north of town. But I remember they were very serious about this not getting out, and I gather that's part of the experience.

Dannielle Perez:
Oh, yeah.

Derek Smith:
But it's also fun to see that reveal, to see the floats, to see the Baylor family, and kids like kids who are Jordan's age-

Dannielle Perez:
Like, "Wow."

Derek Smith:
... and all the alums coming back. Yeah, that's fun. You participated in Pigskin as well?

Dannielle Perez:
We did.

Derek Smith:
Pigskin, Sing, all those?

Dannielle Perez:
Oh, yeah.

Derek Smith:
Was that fun?

Dannielle Perez:
Oh, so fun. So much makeup. I mean, just getting ready to get ... I mean, I feel like that's maybe a girl thing, getting ready together and getting excited. I mean, I just remember those moments. And right before they said, "Welcome Alpha Chi to the stage," you just remember those adrenaline moments where we're like, "Okay, you can't turn back now. We're about to do this and run out on stage." And so yeah, I look back on this fondly.

Derek Smith:
That's great. And Jordan, you were part of that as well?

Jordan Hannah:
Yeah, that's right. In fact, you think of some of those moments from building a float. One of my roommates at the time was a sing chair, or sorry, a float chair, and we spent an ungodly number of hours out at the float site. And I remember from that particular year, the theme was Alice in Wonderland related. And for some reason, you're always trying to come up with these novel elements for what's going to make your float stand out, and for judging and things along those lines. For that year they came up with the idea of we literally sewed grass into this very porous brown fabric, and it was this paper thread, and it was tedious. I mean, to put together a block that big, it took probably an hour.

Dannielle Perez:
Oh my gosh. Wow.

Jordan Hannah:
And it was just very tedious. But hey, it won Judges' Choice that year. It was all worth it, I guess. But had great times with homecoming float, and my roommates were usually involved in leading that effort. And then Pigskin was just so much fun. Sing is obviously the more competitive of the two. I was usually one of the kids on the back row or nearly back row in Sing and Pigskin. Those who know me would not be surprised by that. But if you had told my 14-year-old self how much fun that I would have on Waco Hall stage doing a Sing or Pigskin act, I would've been floored. I wouldn't have believed you.

Derek Smith:
Well, as you described that, I think obviously being on the stage, you mentioned the adrenaline rush as you hear your organization's name called. Those experiences of accomplishing something together I think stick with us as alumni. But even as you're describing that, I mean, I think those kids I saw out at that shed getting their float ready, you describing sowing grass for an hour, all the work. I don't know, it's kind of those moments when you're working, everyone's almost a little loopy.

Dannielle Perez:
Yes. Oh yeah.

Derek Smith:
I don't know at some point probably some late nights. I don't know, I find that those are the things I really miss, and those are the moments that probably bind you all when you haven't seen-

Dannielle Perez:
Oh, yeah.

Derek Smith:
... someone in five or seven years and you see them again.

Dannielle Perez:
Yeah. Now I can't stay up past 9:00. So, staying up and doing something that ... Yeah, I remember those times.

Derek Smith:
Yeah, those are a lot of fun.

Jordan Hannah:
And I'm not going to tell you exactly where our float site was because those are super secret, but we were within a pretty close proximity to a Whataburger. So 11:00 came, we all knew to make a Taquito run to get some fuel for the next few hours.

Derek Smith:
Yeah, some late nights, for sure.

Jordan Hannah:
Yeah, that's right.

Derek Smith:
You got to stay ready. Jordan, as we talk about homecoming, you have a different role, a different role at it now as part of Baylor alumni. And you mentioned so many traditions stay, they're constants through the years. We also add new things like Homecoming at the Hurd and different things. We've got the reunion year classes. Dannielle's a part of that class of 2016. As people plan ahead, what would you like people to know about just the ways that we're kind of continuing to add new things, but also I think it seems like we want people to just have easy ways to participate.

Jordan Hannah:
That's right. And you mentioned Homecoming at the Hurd. I think that's probably the place. If you don't know where to go, just go to the Hurd and you'll find something that you want to do or your kids would like to do, and then find the rest from there. I mean, with the food trucks down Third Street, the Kids Fest, and I know there's just an endless number of activities in the Hurd throughout the weekend. So, that's going to be the hub. Whereas before, I think in our experience, it's been pretty disparately stationed. The bonfire's always been where it is on Fountain Mall, but there hasn't been as much of a kind of central point for some of those activities throughout the day. And if you haven't seen the Hurd Welcome Center, it's about three years old now and it's a great, great spot for homecoming activities.

Derek Smith:
Yeah. Great place to bring people together, for sure. And Dannielle, you're part of the 10-year reunion. Are you looking forward to seeing some people you haven't seen before, and how are you going to try to work that in?

Dannielle Perez:
Oh yeah, so excited. I think a lot of us have been texting who we've maintained communication and in touch over these last 10 years of like, "You're making it, right?" And so, I think we're really excited to ... Yeah, I think a big place is going to be the Hurd for us, just to make that the central place, because some people haven't been since it's been established. And so, I think compared to what we remember the Welcome Center, I think it's going to be an awe opening and eye-opening experience for a lot of people who are making their way back here.

Derek Smith:
I think that's neat too. You talk about the reunion years, it's obviously you were part of the 10th anniversary class, but there's the 15th, the 20th, 25th, 50th, all these different groups coming together. And so, basically every year that ends in a five and a zero after you graduated, at least in terms of the math, there's that opportunity to come back and be part of that. And that's fun. And Jordan, you've got to see that a lot. I do think that's neat, especially when you get further out, just people who are 50 years out, even more than that, come back and share those moments.

Jordan Hannah:
I think the 50th reunion class is probably the most excited to be back. And we have a special luncheon just for them called the Golden Grad Luncheon on Friday. I think that's the happiest group of people on campus during homecoming. I would be remiss if I didn't share. The McLane Alumni Center is on the second floor of the Hurd Welcome Center, so all the alumni should pop in for Dr. Pepper and say hello.

Derek Smith:
Oh, that's great. Yeah. That's a cool area, that's a cool spot. Really, the entire Hurd Welcome Center is a cool spot, but that's a nice little hidden area that not everyone knows about up there. So yeah, check that out for sure. And by the way, Dannielle, I think Jordan and I can both attest, after this 10th anniversary, life just keeps on becoming more of a, "I can't believe that was 10 years ago. I can't believe that was 15 years ago. I can't believe that ..." It just keeps piling up-

Dannielle Perez:
Yeah.

Derek Smith:
... doesn't it? Yeah, it keeps doing, but that's fun. Always have those memories to share. Well, as we wind down, I want to do a little lightning round. Some of your favorites, right? So, just go whatever direction you want on this, but a little lightning round. So if you had to pick one, favorite homecoming tradition.

Dannielle Perez:
I'll go bonfire.

Derek Smith:
Bonfire.

Dannielle Perez:
Bonfire.

Jordan Hannah:
It was not as hard for me. Parade, hands down.

Derek Smith:
The parade, easy. All right. Favorite homecoming memory? We've talked about memories. Is there one that particularly stands out for you?

Jordan Hannah:
Gosh, there's so many. There's so many to choose from. I would say one of the most unique memories I had was, I think this was my senior year of college when we brought the torchbearers tradition to homecoming, where we have students that are representative of each class but also representative of the Immortal 10, start at Freshman Mass Meeting and they go help light the bonfire with that. So, I think that is a really cool tradition that started, especially now coming up on the 100 year anniversary of the Immortal 10 tragedy. I mean, what a great way to connect back to those early days of campus.

Derek Smith:
What about you, Dannielle? Is there a memory that stands out?

Dannielle Perez:
Wow. I mean, I think I remember a parade day when it was probably one of the colder times. And so, it was all of us with our kind of chairs and I think blanket.

Jordan Hannah:
At 5:00 AM?

Dannielle Perez:
Yeah, 5:00 AM, blankets, hand warmers. I mean, we looked like that guy from The Christmas Story.

Jordan Hannah:
Yeah, Ralphie?

Dannielle Perez:
Yeah, Ralphie. We looked like it. We were like, "Okay, we're going to just grin and bear it." But of course, once the parade starts you're like, "Oh my gosh, I wouldn't miss it for the world." So, I remember just the hand warmers and just getting all dressed up in a very, very cold 5:00 AM morning.

Derek Smith:
One of my questions was going to be a favorite parade memory, so maybe that's yours being there.

Dannielle Perez:
Yeah, both and.

Derek Smith:
Yeah, both and. That's good. Do you have a favorite parade memory?

Jordan Hannah:
One immediately came to mind, and I was in the homecoming parade my senior year, and for whatever reason we were the entry right behind the live mascots at the time, and they were taking their time, let's put it that way. They wanted to take a few breaks along the way. Probably by the time it hit campus there's probably a 25, 30 minute delay between the entry before them and the bears. And that was the last year that the bears walked freely in the parade. But it was so fun to have Joy and Lady in the parade like that.

Derek Smith:
That's great, that is a good memory. Yeah, there are certain things that date you when you say like, "Oh, I saw the bears walk-

Jordan Hannah:
That's right.

Derek Smith:
... in the parade." Different things like that, for sure. So when you're at the bonfire, what's your approach? Do you stay in one place? Do you stroll around? What's your approach?

Dannielle Perez:
I mean, stay in one place and just see it start building. I think that's the fun part. Just see it start really, really small and then it kind of becomes this big, big bonfire in your face. So, we're a stay and watch kind of it emerge.

Derek Smith:
Is that what you do, Jordan? You got kids, they're all there, right?

Dannielle Perez:
I know, I was going to say. Yeah.

Jordan Hannah:
I know. Yeah. So, I think I would've been that way before, but knowing all the activities that we're coming and going from, I think we're naturally going to be a little bit more nomadic during the bonfire. But really they're going to run into friends and we're going to be all over the place, I imagine.

Derek Smith:
Yeah. Do you almost have to air tag everyone or something?

Jordan Hannah:
Great suggestion. We might have to do that.

Derek Smith:
My last question for you is, it's almost unfair because I think there's a lot of answers you could give to this, but let me ask you, I think part of what makes homecoming special, like you said, is the people that you haven't seen in a while. So for each of you, who is someone you're looking forward to seeing this year at homecoming?

Dannielle Perez:
I'm like, "Wow, there's so many."

Derek Smith:
You can make it a group if you want. We can make it a group of people or one person.

Dannielle Perez:
Yes. I mean, I think about my freshman year roommate is still my best friend today, and both of us have traveled a lot. We traveled all over the world, and it's ironic that we both moved back to Waco. And so, I think to have our first kind of homecoming together in Waco, she has kids, so I feel like I'll be helping her navigate that.

Jordan Hannah:
I could use some help too if you're free.

Dannielle Perez:
Yeah, I was going to say I'm happy, I am free. So I think for us, just that first homecoming, and then it's a group of us that we started out as friends our freshman year. And all of us coming together together is going to be really sweet for us. And families, and we're starting to pass on stories that we did during our homecoming and our Baylor career. And so, it's just that fun time of ... It feels like this passing on of something, something really, really sweet and memorable to this group of friends.

Derek Smith:
That's great. That's great. What about you, Jordan?

Jordan Hannah:
Yeah, similar. I think we just have a tradition of two of my old roommates, we just will always find each other. We typically have a spot that we're at, but taking a new picture every year with the kids, and family's growing, kids are getting older, but it's great they have a little competition among themselves of who's going to grab the most candy from the parade route. So, it's a lot of fun. I see them often throughout the year too, but that's kind of a great little spot for us to always come back to.

Derek Smith:
Well, I hope it's a great time for both of you with your friends to get some really good time to visit and reconnect, and of course, enjoy everything that goes along with homecoming, and let the Bears win on Saturday.

Dannielle Perez:
Let it be.

Derek Smith:
Keep it rolling. That sounds like a good plan. Well, Dannielle, Jordan, I really appreciate you both taking the time to share, tell your Baylor stories. And I imagine a lot of people are going to hear elements of their Baylor stories in what you said, so thank you for that.

Dannielle Perez:
It was so sweet. It makes me even more excited for the weeks to come.

Jordan Hannah:
Yeah, thanks for taking us down memory lane a little bit there.

Derek Smith:
Oh, we appreciate it very much. Dannielle Perez and Jordan Hannah, our guest today on Baylor Connections, getting ready for a homecoming just about two weeks away as we all visit together today, and we look forward to seeing y'all back here gathering together for the nation's oldest and grandest homecoming here at Baylor. I'm Derek Smith, appreciate you being with us. Reminder, you can hear this and other Baylor Connections episodes online. You can find the video on the Baylor University YouTube channel. You can download each episode on iTunes, and you can find show notes and more at baylor.edu/connections. Thanks for joining us on Baylor Connections.