Posted at: 10/09/2009 5:03 PM | KSAX.com
By: Becky Nahm
Print Story  Email to a Friend

Gophers Celebrate "The Ultimate Homecoming"

Gopher spirit rolled through Minneapolis Friday night as the University of Minnesota started celebrating "The Ultimate Homecoming" - so named to mark the return of football to campus.

Fans gathered for the parade, pep rally, fireworks and the crowning of the homecoming king and queen.

In keeping with "the ultimate" theme, the parade featured six grand marshals--NFL Hall-of-Famer Bobby Bell; Vice President for MSP Communications Deb Hopp; Garrison Keillor, creator of 'A Prairie Home Companion;' former Vice President Walter Mondale; and Gopher women's basketball star Lindsay Whalen.

Nobel Peace Prize winner, the late Norman Borlaug, was the sixth person selected as grand marshal. His daughter participated in the parade in his place.

The Gopher football team takes on Purdue at 11 a.m. on Saturday.