Rise and shout — the Cougars were out bright and early on Oct. 13 for the annual BYU Homecoming Parade.
Students alumni and staff lined up at 9 a.m. along the parade route following 900 east and running through the south of campus along 800 north, ending at the Smith field house.
Blue donuts replaced the traditional blue pancake breakfast this year.
Cougar fans could choose between two donut flavors: A glazed plain donut with white frosting and blue sprinkles or a blueberry donut with blue frosting and white sprinkles. Hot chocolate was also served at various tents along the parade route.
“We put a lot of time and thought into changing from pancakes to donuts hoping it would make things easier and the parade a lot more enjoyable,” French said.
BYU alumna Shirley Howell has been a fan of the blue pancakes in the past but thought the donuts were a great change.
“I love donuts because they are finger food, easy to eat and fun to look at,” Howell said.
The parade included BYU sports teams, a tribute to mothers, President Worthen and his wife, BYU’s ballroom dance company and various floats from BYU schools and alumni.
BYU alum Roger Ford was excited to be back at BYU Homecoming for the first time since graduating in 1965.
“I haven’t been back here for 53 years and looking back, I think I missed a lot when I was here as a student. I should’ve been at the concert last night and at the parade today but I was too busy studying. These events are ones you don’t want to miss,” Ford said.
BYU alumna Bernie Underwood brings her family to the parade every year to surround herself with the BYU student population, who she calls a “great population of kids.”
