Daily Collegian Story - Homecoming parade rolls in spirited pomp as many take a peek

By Kathryn Brazel - Collegian Staff Writer 

It was Friday evening. Anthony Italiano was sick and tired. He hadn't slept since Wednesday. But his spirits were cured once the music began and the parade got rolling.

"Once I turned the corner and saw all the little kids and people yelling, all the hurt went away," said Italiano, president and homecoming chairman of Sigma Nu fraternity, 340 N. Burrowes Ave. Italiano played the jester in his fraternity's float based on the story Sleeping Beauty.

Sigma Nu members and friends worked on their float and madhatter for two weeks before Friday's afternoon deadline. Italiano and members were still pomping the float while it was driving away to the judges.

Sigma Nu's tireless efforts didn't go unnoticed. They placed first in the Float Competition and second in the Madhatter Competition. Italiano said it was the fourth time in five years that his organization placed in the parade competition. Theta Chi fraternity, 523 S. Allen St., and Alpha Xi Delta sorority, 13 Wolf, placed first in the overall competition.

Students, alumni and State College residents lined the town streets on Friday night to see Sleeping Beauty and other attractions of the 1993 Homecoming Parade. College Avenue was lined with sorority and fraternity members who had reserved spots to cheer on their organization's float. But the floats weren't the only draw to the parade.

State College resident Jack DeBoef, 2, said he liked the fire engines the best. Jack's father, Tony, said he traditionally brings his wife and children to see the parade.

And Tom Finlay, Class of 1969, said the parade remains one of his favorite Homecoming events.

"It was good last time, and it's good this time," Finlay said, adding that the well-made floats and the marching bands were his favorite part of the parade.

Fred Heller, Class of 1965, was enjoying the parade with his wife Donna, an Indiana University Class of 1978 graduate. While kidding each other about the competition between the two schools, Heller joked that he made his pilgrimage to Happy Valley "to see the bands, have fun, and go to the Skeller and have a few beers."