Ohio University alumni were back in a-town for Homecoming this weekend and the main attraction, Saturday morning’s parade, delivered yet again.
The parade kicked off on West Union Street and ended at the Konneker Alumni Center. The sunny weather was complemented by a plethora of student organizations and local businesses who participated via floats and cars, throwing out candy and merchandise to hundreds gathered across campus.
Rufus and former Ohio University mascot, Mr. Bobcat, who debuted in 1960, were also in attendance, pumping up the crowds. One of the main attractions was the Marching 110 and Alumni Band. Both groups brought high energy to the morning.
As recent and older alumni cheered, their cohesive routine only fueled the crowd’s excitement. New Bobcats said the Alumni Band’s performance was easily the best part of the parade.
“It was cool to see a group that big, that passionate about something they did in college,” Aren Dullaert, a freshman studying plant biology, said. “I did marching band in high school, so just seeing a band like that is really cool. They had energy and all the noise they brought was just great.”
Kyle Phillips, a freshman studying chemical engineering, echoed Dullaert’s sentiment and said witnessing the Alumni Band firsthand was an incredible experience.
“It’s really cool to see tradition stick for that long, and the energy, and how they never forget [their routines],” Phillips said.
Alumni Band members had to start their careers somewhere. From thrilling facial expressions to energetic dance moves, the Marching 110 is one of the biggest draws for people who travel back to Athens for Homecoming.
“It is like coming home,” Ann Cugliari, a 2007 alumna, said. “It’s your family, whether you graduated last year or 50 years ago, it’s literally a Bobcat family.”
Cugliari said she was a flag member back when the 110 used flags in performances.
In addition to the music, the parade showcased various cultures at OU. The Asian American and Pacific Islander Student Union performed a dragon dance as the International Student Union waved flags from multiple countries.
Many of the colleges, including the Patton College of Education, Russ College of Engineering and Technology and the Scripps College of Communication, had cars and floats. E.W. Scripps School of Journalism professors could be seen throwing foam toys.
The OU College Republicans flew a flag honoring Charlie Kirk and the College Democrats were greeted by applause and shouts. The Students for Justice in Palestine also got recognition from the crowd.
Amid the countless student organizations, the signature green Go Bus traveled over the brick streets, as a promoter for the company tossed merch. Representatives from OU’s regional campuses, including Chillicothe and Zanesville, rode on a tropical themed float, reminding onlookers of the college’s multiple branches.
For alumni and current Bobcats, Homecoming is a time to ring in the saying, “once a Bobcat, always a Bobcat.”
Cugliari said she often recalls her Homecoming experiences as a student and will never forget the memories she made.
“OU is really home and it is special,” Cugliari said. “Enjoy it while you are here.”
