U of M homecoming parade features Mondale, Keillor
Walter Mondale and Garrison Keillor are among six University of Minnesota alumni who will lead tonight's homecoming parade.
The former vice president and the host of "A Prairie Home Companion" will serve as grand marshals along with NFL Hall of Famer Bobby Bell, Gopher women's basketball standout Lindsay Whalen and Deb Hopp, vice president of publishing for MSP Communications. The late Nobel Prize winner Norman Borlaug had also been chosen as a grand marshal, and his daughter will participate in the parade in his place.
Officials expect up to 30,000 students, alumni and others will attend the parade, which starts at 7 p.m. at 15th Avenue Southeast and University Avenue. It then travels along University Avenue and ends at the new TCF Bank Stadium.
The stadium will open to the public at 6:30 p.m. for spectators to watch the parade on a live video feed. A pep fest featuring the university's marching band and remarks by Keillor and Gopher football coach Tim Brewster begins around 9 p.m.
The Gopher football team takes on Purdue at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
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