October 5, 2008-Fargo Forum
Fall tradition
Lee Morris
The Forum - 10/05/2008
Green leaves fading to yellow formed a canopy above North Dakota State University’s homecoming parade.
Thousands, including generations of Bison families, watched 100-plus parade entries Saturday.
“Everyone’s excited!” yelled Kayla Schroeer, standing with fellow pharmacy students on North University Drive. They saw American flags, vintage cars and Halloween masks on the sunny, windy morning.
“It’s kind of just what you do; you celebrate Thanksgiving, don’t ya?” asked 30-year-old and lifetime parade devotee David Syverson, who attended NDSU in the late ’90s. “Got to keep the tradition.”
His father, Stuart, said the parade is similar to when he graduated from NDSU in 1970. He said the university’s 2004 entry into Division I has perhaps stoked the parade’s size and atmosphere.
Retired professor Donald R. Scoby watched a revamped Gold Star Band lead the parade.
“The improvement they’ve done to the band has been tremendous,” he said. Among other things, the band has grown from about 90 members to 160, according to Forum archives.
Following the band was university President Joseph Chapman, his wife, Gale, and Bison mascot Thundar.
Election-year politics also manifested itself in the floats of Gov. John Hoeven, Insurance Commissioner Adam Hamm and Public Service Commission candidate Brian Kalk. Offsetting the swath of Republicans was the NDSU College Democrats.
“We’ve gotten the parade down to a pretty good science,” said Kim Bruemmer, NDSU coordinator of student activities and organizer of homecoming, which had the outdoors theme “Roughin’ It.” Homecoming events began Monday.
The festivities, though, may amount to less than what NDSU’s homecoming was when it started in 1921.
“It was unbelievable compared to what they have now,” said university archivist Mike Robinson about the early parades, which rolled down Broadway. “These floats, they spent a week building them.”
Robinson doesn’t downplay current enthusiasm for homecoming, though he laments the loss of the townwide celebration the week once was.
“When they played rivals, they would even include them,” Robinson said.
Saturday’s parade lasted about an hour and 15 minutes. The Bison won its football matchup versus Southern Illinois 35-27.
Former state Sen. Richard Brown, watching the parade near the Fargodome, said: “I think it’s a lot of variety, a lot of people watching, a gorgeous day.
“And I think it’s a nice parade.”
Readers can reach Forum reporter Lee Morris at (701) 241-5523