Morgan State’s Homecoming Will Celebrate Earl “Papa Bear” Banks’ Enduring Legacy
Morgan State’s Homecoming will carry a tribute to one of Baltimore’s foundational football figures. In an announcement Thursday, October 8th, the university said it will celebrate the legacy of Earl “Papa Bear” Banks during Homecoming 2026, connecting Saturday’s gathering to the coach who helped build the Bears’ national reputation.
The October 10th celebration will also honor former Morgan players Mark Washington and Raymond Chester. Washington became a two-time Super Bowl champion, while Chester went on to earn Pro Bowl recognition. Their careers help explain why Banks’ influence still belongs in the conversation when generations of Bears return to campus.
A football legacy that reached beyond Baltimore
Banks coached Morgan State from 1960 through 1973 without a losing season. The National Football Foundation, which inducted him into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1992, credits his teams with 31 consecutive victories between 1965 and 1968.
The foundation also records Morgan’s victories in the 1965 Orange Blossom Classic and the 1966 Tangerine Bowl. Those accomplishments made the program’s success visible well beyond its home city and remain central to the story being remembered this weekend.
Forty-one of Banks’ players reached professional football, according to the foundation. Its list includes Willie Lanier, Leroy Kelly and Chester, illustrating how a college program in Baltimore became a pathway to the sport’s highest level.
Why the tribute belongs at Homecoming
Banks’ work also extended into the city. His Hall of Fame biography describes his role in a fundraising drive that raised $1 million for Lafayette Square Community Center, alongside service with several civic and charitable organizations.
That wider record gives the tribute meaning beyond wins and famous alumni. Homecoming brings former students, current students and families into the same place; remembering Banks links the football celebration to education, leadership and service.
The new tribute adds a historical focus to the game-week activities outlined in PowerPage’s Homecoming preview. For returning Bears, Saturday is also an opportunity to revisit the people and institutions that made Morgan football a lasting part of Baltimore’s identity.
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