A Parade of Tradition

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Wolf Pack fans, students, alumni and community members gathered along Virginia Street on the morning of Saturday, Oct. 21 to watch the UNR's first Homecoming parade in two years.

UNR Police Department cars led the parade as campus escort vans followed closely behind. Alphie, the Wolf Pack mascot, waved to the parade watchers from the back of a blue pick-up truck, while Wolf Pack cheerleaders jumped, kicked and shook their silver pom-poms.

According to Lauren O'Brien, the Associated Students of the University of Nevada vice president for programming, last year's parade was canceled due to lack of interest. However, this year the A.S.U.N. restored the Homecoming tradition.

"I'm ecstatic about the turn-out," O'Brien said. "There were a lot of members of the community watching, so that was good. It was perfect. The whole parade was really smooth."

O'Brien said that attendance at other Homecoming week events have gone up this year. Other students said that the parade was successful and should remain a tradition.

"I think it should be an annual Homecoming event again," said Lindsay Smith, a junior journalism major and member of Pi Beta Phi sorority.

The sorority Pi Beta Phi and the fraternity Sigma Nu took first place with their "Nevada Envy" themed float.

McKenna Ford, a senior psychology major and Pi Beta Phi member, said their win was procrastination at its best.

"We were up all night, and we just finished at eight in the morning," Ford said. "We're a little tired, but we're still gonna party tonight."

The stands of Mackay Stadium were full of screaming fans as the UNR Pride of the Sierra Marching Band started the Homecoming game by playing their opening number. The band ran to the Wolf Pack player entrance and lined the sides of the tunnel. The Homecoming game began with fireworks and a loud blast from the cannon.

During halftime, Cody Wagner, Sigma Phi Epsilon senior, and Cristy Delaurentis, Delta Delta Delta senior, were crowned Homecoming King and Queen.

Friends and family surrounded Wagner and Delaurentis and offered hugs, handshakes and flowers.

"Cristy is wonderful," said Tiffany Merlino, Delta Delta Delta freshman and secondary education major. "We're all really excited because we haven't won in a while."

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