FEATURE
Sunny Skies, Records by Reese and A Big Win Add Up to A Great Homecoming 2000
Photos by Ben Asen
Text by Alex Sachare '71

Combine bright, sunny skies and temperature in the 70s with a record-setting performance by running back Johnathan Reese '02 and a resounding victory by the Columbia football team and you have the recipe for a great Homecoming.

An enthusiastic crowd of 9,289 delighted in Homecoming 2000 on Saturday, October 21, as Columbia's football team routed Dartmouth 49-21 in the centerpiece of a full day of activities that ranged from a barbecue under the big tent to post-game gatherings of young alumni and African-American alumni on campus. The Latino Alumni had their own cheering section at the game, while there was a special lunch for members of Columbia College Women. In addition to a large contingent of students, the crowd at Baker Field ranged from infants getting their first taste of Columbia spirit with their alumni parents to 90-year-old football Hall of Famer Cliff Montgomery '34, one of 24 grid greats honored at halftime as Columbia unveiled its Football Team of the Century.

The Lion, resplendent in his new suit (donated by Bob Berne '60), frolicked with fans and tossed blue foam fingers into the stands as the cheerleaders cheered and the cleverest band in the world played on. There were balloons for the kids and blue and white pom-poms for those who visited the Columbia College Young Alumni table.

What better setting for Columbia's football team to play its best game of the year, and for Reese to come up with the breakout game of his career? The 6-1, 210-pound junior from St. Louis galloped around and through the Dartmouth defense for 236 yards and four touchdowns on 25 carries as Columbia romped to a 49-21 victory.

Despite playing less than three quarters, Reese broke the Columbia single-game rushing record of 225 yards set by Jim O'Connor '69 in 1967. He also raised his total for the season to 966 yards (in just six games), breaking the mark of 914 yards set by Doug Jackson '76 in 1975, and he lifted his career total to 1,990 yards, just two short of the Columbia career rushing record set by Lou Kusserow '49. Reese went on to break Kusserow's mark the next week at Yale.

At halftime, in addition to honoring the Team of the Century (for more information, click on www.columbia.edu/cu/athletics/comm/century/), Columbia also honored its athletes who made the All-Ivy or All-Ivy Academic Teams over the past year.