For the first time in more than a decade, East Tennessee State University alumni had a homecoming with all the trimmings. The return of football and a marching band generated a high degree of excitement, with Friday’s early evening parade down West Walnut Street a centerpiece of the week’s worth of festivities. Grand marshals for the event were ETSU womens’ basketball coach Brittney Ezell and new mens’ coach Steve Forbes.
While things didn’t go quite as well as hoped on the gridiron, the Bucs will try and break into the win column at home Saturday against the 2-2 St. Francis Red Flash. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Kermit Tipton Stadium. Earlier, Forbes’ Bucs will host an open practice at Freedom Hall, starting at 10 a.m. Kids 12 and under wearing an athletic or cheerleading jersey will receive free admission to the football game.
ETSU students showed their pride at last Friday’s parade.
Photos by Jeff Keeling and Sarah Colson
A group of students painted up for the festivities.
The Firehouse Restaurant’s Tom and Donna Seaton, front, chauffer grand marshals Steve Forbes and Brittney Ezell, ETSU’s mens’ and womens’ basketball coaches.
