More than 1,000 alumni, students, parents and friends gathered under the Big Tent for Homecoming 2010, then watched the Lions mount a spirited fourth-quarter comeback before bowing to Dartmouth 24–21 in Ivy League football on October 23.

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It was a perfect day for fun and football, as mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the 60s welcomed Columbians of all ages who flocked to the Baker Athletics Complex to enjoy barbecue fare and convivial conversation at the annual Homecoming pre-game picnic and carnival. The Cleverest Band in the World lifted spirits in the tent with a rousing rendition of “Roar, Lion, Roar,” and Roar-ee the Lion posed for pictures with children in the carnival area.

The football team, which had trounced Princeton 42–14 in its Ivy opener three weeks earlier, scored a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter to take a 21–17 lead before Dartmouth responded with a 14-play scoring drive. Nick Schwieger’s second touchdown of the day, a one-yard run with 2:28 to play, capped that drive and provided the winning margin for Dartmouth. A boisterous crowd of 10,904, the largest of the season, attended the game at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium.

Homecoming was one of the highlights of Family Weekend, which also included campus and neighborhood tours, panels, lectures and open houses. The festivities began on Thursday and Friday with a two-day “Especially Open House” at the Columbia Alumni Center at 622 W. 113th St., and culminated with the annual Black Alumni Homecoming celebration on Saturday night. Columbia recognized the members of the third class of the Athletics Hall of Fame at a black-tie dinner on Friday night and a halftime ceremony on Saturday, and the renovated baseball facility was rededicated in honor of Phillip M. Satow ’63 on Saturday.

Alex Sachare ’71