The Homecoming Parade
A week's worth of cheering, chanting, and chilling with the Chancellor culminated with this morning's Homecoming Parade hours before kickoff for Vanderbilt and South Carolina. Hundreds gathered on 24th Ave, as 20 student organizations drove their Las Vegas-themed floats down the street.
First, the Commodore mascot rode on the back of a car, throwing candy to little children in the crowd. I actually got a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, so I knew it was going to be a good day.
Then came the floats that we saw as a work in progress yesterday afternoon. One came by with a "Welcome to Nash Vegas" sign proudly displayed. Then another one drove by, sporting a banner that read, "Come Morning We Won't Remember This."
That pretty much sounds like Vegas.
My personal favorite was the "Nash Vegas Chapel of Luv and Luck" which featured two students exchanging vows and tying the knot. A Vegas wedding might not make their parents happy, but the Vanderbilt community seemed content today.
The highlight of the afternoon was watching Jonathan Schaub, a former Vanderbilt Safety, ride triumphantly down 24th Ave. Schaub is a somewhat intelligent guy (he only scored 1600 on his SATs) who went to Russia after graduation to learn Russian and teach English. He came back to the United States, lived in New York briefly, and was hit by a truck one tragic evening.
Schaub was supposed to bleed to death. But he didn't.
Schaub was never supposed to walk again. But he's walking.
Today he was honored by Vanderbilt as the Grand Marshal of Homecoming. It was great for the fans to see a guy who gave so much on the field come back and be recognized.
Homecoming was emotional and exciting, and it was a perfect appetizer for what should be a good game this afternoon.
