Photos: UI Homecoming Parade spotlights local organizations, political rivalries and Hawkeye elders

As it has for more than a century, the University of Iowa Commencement Parade roamed the streets of downtown Iowa City on Friday. Since this was an Iowa City parade, local real estate agents were well represented among the marching groups, and nearly all groups in the parade handed out candy to children along the route (as well as some children who could accurately be classified as “volunteer children”).

Many children brought plastic bags to carry their candy, and those who were better prepared brought plastic buckets. A group from Procter & Gamble tipped the balance a bit by giving away the company’s candy as well as its toothbrushes.

Local nonprofits including the Community Inclusion Club, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Johnson County and Systems Unlimited participated in the parade. Marchers from Systems Unlimited, which has been helping people with disabilities live more independently for more than 50 years, were one of the groups writing a Halloween note six days before the holiday. insect juice-Inspiring costumes.

Political groups were present at the parade in Iowa City, as expected during an election year. At least along the Clinton Street leg of the parade, a small group representing the UI College Republicans, complete with marchers waving Trump 2024 flags, was met with plenty of boos. A larger contingent of Johnson County Democrats carrying Harris-Walz signs met with a much friendlier reception.

But it was Mothers in America Demanding Action for Gun Sense that received the loudest applause of any political group.

There were plenty John-Philip-Sousa-Valuable music was presented while being supported by the UI Alumni Marching Band at the beginning of the parade and the Hawkeye Marching Band at the end. In between, bands from three local high schools performed.

There were also several UI organizations for non-band baton spinners and marchers, as well as the rhythmically inclined Dance Marathon and Social Dance Club.

Ahead of Friday’s parade, it was reported that Caitlin Clark, Kate Martin and Gabbie Mitchell would return to Iowa City for homecoming weekend. Three women’s basketball stars did not attend the parade, although they attended Saturday’s game. Alongside the 2023-24 team (and their trophy as the NCAA National Championship runner-up), IWBB alumni Megan Gustafson and Tomi Taiwo also appeared on Kinnick to accept praise for their Paris Olympic performances on the Spanish and Nigerian basketball teams, respectively.

The closest the parade featured a star from the Hawkeyes women’s team was a large photo of Hannah Stuelke on a float from the Riverside Casino and Golf Resort.

It’s perhaps understandable that the parade doesn’t highlight it. The greatest UI sports team of recent yearsas the homecoming focuses on football, where the Hawkeyes have a more mixed record. This year’s grand marshal was Chuck Long, a great UI quarterback of the 1980s who was also on the team’s coaching staff in the 1990s.

Long set a new school record for pass completions as a quarterback and led the Hawkeyes to a memorable victory over the University of Tennessee in the 1982 Peach Bowl. But what he is probably best remembered for was top-seeded Iowa’s 12-10 victory over No. 2 Michigan in 1985.

On Saturday, the Hawkeyes earned a much more decisive 40-14 victory over the Northwestern University Wildcats.