Tigers who gathered in Columbia for Mizzou's 104th Homecoming eagerly took part in established traditions: the world's largest student-run blood drive, house decorations, a talent show, a fanfare-filled parade and festive tailgates. But we also stepped it up this year with special events and expressions of cultural pride, peace and campus-wide unity.
The 2015 Homecoming celebration marked the launch of the university's new funding campaign, Mizzou: Our Time to Lead, which brought celebrity alumnae such as singer/songwriter Sheryl Crow, BS Ed ’84, and 1990 Miss America Debbye Turner Bell, DVM ’91, to campus for a kickoff event. It also inspired Crow's sold-out concert benefiting the construction of a new School of Music building.
The 11th-ranked Florida Gators defeated Mizzou's football team 21-3 but could not crush the spirit of the 70,767 Tigers fans cheering at the Homecoming game.
Relive some highlights from Homecoming week.
![A student donates blood](https://news.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Homecoming_0022-940x627.jpg)
Taylor Santel winces as she donates blood on in the Hearnes Center Fieldhouse. Photo by Mikala Compton
![people eating and talking](https://news.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Homecoming_0011-940x627.jpg)
Tiana Glass and Sequoyah Moore sit on the floor of the Multicultural Center during a potluck dinner with friends Shane Stinson and Jasmine Morgan. Photo by Lizz Cardwell
![Legion of Black Collegians marching down the street.](https://news.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Homecoming_004-940x1423.jpg)
The Legion of Black Collegians (LBC) and their allies participate in a memorial walk throughout campus. The event, “Uplift,” honored people who have lost their lives to violence and signified the solidarity of the community. Photo by Hanna Yowell
![Ballons are released into the air](https://news.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Homecoming_0021-940x627.jpg)
The Legion of Black Collegians and their supporters release balloons in memory of loved ones for the Upliift event during Homecoming week. Photo by Mikala Compton
![Silhouetted dancers pointing upward](https://news.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Homecoming_007-940x627.jpg)
The MU Percussion Dance Team kicks off the third day of the 2015 Homecoming Talent Production. Photo by Michael Cali
![Talent show dancing](https://news.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Homecoming_006-940x627.jpg)
The MU Percussion Dance Team performs on the final day of the Homecoming talent competition. Photo by Michael Cali
![audience members cheer after a dance performance](https://news.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Homecoming_005-940x647.jpg)
Emma Berry, a freshman Chi Omega member, cheers to opening videos at the 2015 Homecoming Talent Production. Photo by Michael Cali
![A performer dressed as Ron Burgundy acts out a skit](https://news.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Homecoming_008-940x649.jpg)
A member of Gamma Phi Beta, dressed as Ron Burgundy from the movie "Anchorman," performs in the self-produced play "The Truman Games." Photo by Michael Cali
![Students dance on stage](https://news.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Stroll-off-940x627.jpg)
Students step it up at the Stroll-Off at Jesse Auditorium. The annual step show is a Mizzou Homecoming tradition. Photo by Hanna Yowell
![Singer raising his hand after a performance](https://news.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Campaign-Kickoff_1-940x627.jpg)
During the funding campaign kickoff gala for Mizzou donors, junior psychology major and wrestler J’den Cox performs an original song he wrote about his experiences at Mizzou. Cox is a two-time NCAA All-American. Photo by Nicholas Benner
![Mizzou chancellor raises his glass for a toast.](https://news.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Campaign-Kickoff_2-940x627.jpg)
Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin makes a toast among the guests, major donors and Mizzou supporters, gathered at the black-tie funding campaign kickoff event on the floor of Mizzou Arena. Photo by Nicholas Benner
![mascot riles up the crowd](https://news.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Homecoming_012-940x627.jpg)
Truman the Tiger raises the spirit level from the stage of Traditions Plaza at the Friday night Spirit Rally. Photo by Rob Hill
![students decorate windows](https://news.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Homecoming_013-940x627.jpg)
Erin Stump, a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, paints a green outline of the Missouri state map on the window of Kaldi's Coffee. Members of fraternities and sororities painted the windows of downtown businesses to spread Mizzou pride during Homecoming week. Photo by Mikala Compton
![man stirs kettle corn](https://news.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Homecoming_014-940x1317.jpg)
Gabe Davis of the Bates County Mizzou Alumni Chapter pours kettle corn at the Homecoming Headquarters Open House Friday afternoon. Photo by Rob Hill
![kid slides down slide](https://news.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Homecoming_015-940x627.jpg)
A future Tiger slides down the bounce-house slide on the Sigma Pi fraternity's lot during House Decorations. In addition to the bounce houses, the brothers offered cotton candy, hosted a Chick-Fil-A booth and sold popcorn. Photo by Tanzi Propst
![students perform a skit](https://news.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Homecoming_016-940x627.jpg)
From left, Mara Manion, 12, Hanna Juengermann, 12, and Jillian Larkin, 12, pose for a photo in the photo booth of Phi Mu, Lambda Chi Alpha and Alpha Chi Rho's house decorations Friday. Photo by Tanzi Propst
![musicians perform on stage](https://news.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Homecoming_017-940x627.jpg)
Mizzou alumna and nine-time Grammy winner Sheryl Crow performs a School of Music benefit concert at the Missouri Theatre Friday night. Photo by Nicholas Benner
![Singer talks to crowd](https://news.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Homecoming_018-940x627.jpg)
Sheryl Crow talks to the crowd at a sold-out Missouri Theatre Friday night. Photo by Nicholas Benner
![marching band in parade](https://news.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Homecoming_019-940x627.jpg)
The University of Missouri Golden Girls and Marching Mizzou head down Rollins Street at the start of the 2015 Mizzou Homecoming Parade. Photo by Nicholas Benner
![people walking along parade route](https://news.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Homecoming_020-940x625.jpg)
Naomi Collier, a freshman majoring in parks, recreation and tourism, dances down Rollins Street with the Legion of Black Collegians. Photo by Michael Cali
![man dressed as tiger yelling](https://news.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Homecoming_021-940x625.jpg)
Terin Williams, a senior chemical engineering student, roars from the back of the Alpha Phi Omega float. Photo by Michael Cali
![antique car in parade](https://news.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Homecoming_022-940x627.jpg)
Judith Miller, dean of the University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing, waves to the parade crowd. Photo by Nicholas Benner
![families watch the homecoming parade](https://news.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Homecoming_023-940x627.jpg)
Brooklyn Mathews waits with her father, Maddox, BS '06, for the parade to arrive. Photo by Kevin Mathein
![Students support the MU International Center by carrying the flags of the countries represented by students at Mizzou. Photo by Nicholas Benner](https://news.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Homecoming_024-940x627.jpg)
Students support the MU International Center by carrying the flags of the countries represented by students at Mizzou. Photo by Nicholas Benner
![wrestlers practice outside](https://news.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Homecoming_027-940x625.jpg)
The wrestling team practices between the Hearnes Center and Faurot Field before the Homecoming football game. Photo by Shane Epping.
![Wrestlers practice outside](https://news.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Homecoming_026-940x637.jpg)
The wrestling team practices between the Hearnes Center and Faurot Field before the homecoming football game. Photo by Shane Epping.
![man playing tuba](https://news.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Game_01-940x627.jpg)
Memorial Stadium and members of Marching Mizzou reflect in a sousaphone player's horn during the Tiger Walk, Saturday afternoon. Photo by Tanzi Propst
![tailgait games](https://news.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Game_02-940x627.jpg)
Griffin Henry, 14, throws a cornhole bag from behind to his friend Stone Hewlett, 14, outside of Memorial Stadium before the stadium opens Saturday. Photo by Tanzi Propst
![Tailgate scene](https://news.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Tailgate_1-940x627.jpg)
Brennan Hammers, a junior Agricultural Science major, grills burgers with the Independent Aggies before the Homecoming. The Independent Aggies are a non-greek organization for students in the agricultural sciences. Photo by Kevin Mathein.
![fireworks fire as the marching band plays](https://news.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Shane-Homecoming_0021-940x627.jpg)
Marching Mizzou performs as fireworks explode on the north end of Memorial Stadium before action begins on Faurot Field. Photo by Shane Epping.
![mascot pumping up crowd](https://news.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Game_03-940x627.jpg)
Truman the Tiger spins his tail and points to Tiger's Lair as students jump and yell for the Tigers as they face the Florida Gators, Saturday afternoon. Photo by Tanzi Propst
![A canon fires after a Mizzou field goal](https://news.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Shane-Homecoming_006-940x627.jpg)
ROTC members fire Mizzou's cannon after a field goal. Mizzou alumnus and local artist David Spear hand-painted the cannon as a tiger. Photo by Shane Epping
![dancer holding pom](https://news.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Game_07-940x627.jpg)
A Mizzou Golden Girl waits to run onto the field to begin the pre-game homecoming show Saturday on Faurot Field. Photo by Tanzi Propst
![Koney Ealy waves to the crowd](https://news.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Shane-Homecoming_009-940x626.jpg)
Mizzou alumnus Kony Ealy, defensive end for the Carolina Panthers, waves to the crowd. Photo by Shane Epping
![Homecoming court](https://news.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Shane-Homecoming_012-940x626.jpg)
The 2015 Homecoming royalty pose for photos. Allison Fitts and Payton Head are named queen and king. Photo by Shane Epping
![Marching band plays in the stands](https://news.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Shane-Homecoming_013-940x627.jpg)
Members of Marching Mizzou excite a crowd of more than 70,000 fans with their music. Photo by Shane Epping
![Football fans waving a flag](https://news.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Game_09-940x627.jpg)
Students shake a "Mizzou: Our Time to Lead" banner Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Photo by Kevin Mathein
![football players catching a pass](https://news.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Game_10-940x626.jpg)
Wesley Leftwich, Mizzou's wide receiver, jumps to catch the ball before a Florida defensive player is able to intercept the ball. Photo by Tanzi Propst