McRobbie, Marching Hundred to lead Homecoming Parade

Football players, IU President Michael McRobbie and the IU Marching Hundred will all be parading through the main streets of Bloomington in the name of Hoosier spirit. \nThe 49th Annual Homecoming Parade will begin at 5:30 p.m., traveling west from Third Street, then north on Indiana Avenue and ending at the Sample Gates. The Grand Marshals of the parade will be McRobbie and his wife Laurie Burns McRobbie. Although neither was available for comment, IU Director of Communications Larry MacIntyre said that President McRobbie was “very excited for the opportunity.”\nSenior members and captains of the football team along with head coach Bill Lynch and Athletic Director Rick Greenspan will be rallying support against Penn State for the Homecoming game next Saturday. The Rose Bowl Reunion Band, made up of members of the Marching Hundred who traveled to IU’s last appearance in the Rose Bowl in 1967, will be playing in the parade, as well as the Marching Hundred. The Homecoming king and queen and various student organizations with have themed floats as well.\nThis year’s theme is “Rock the House,” a play off of IU Football’s “Defend the Rock,” created by the late coach Terry Hoeppner. \n“It means jubilation and creating a ruckus environment of school spirit,” IU Alumni Association President Tom Martz said. “It’s sounding a loud expression of enthusiasm.”\nThe event, which is free and open to the public, is a long-standing tradition of IU’s Homecoming weekend, Martz said.\n“The parade is a chance for students and alumni of past and present to come and show their spirit and enthusiasm for football and our school,” said Student Alumni Association Vice President of Special Events Phillip Blomeke.\nA homecoming parade has been a staple in many school’s festivities, and Martz said IU’s celebration does not veer too far from the norm.\n“It’s a tradition that most universities have,” Martz said, “but I say we do it best.”