UA Homecoming Parade Set for 7 a.m. Oct. 5

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama’s 2013 Homecoming Parade will take place at 7 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, on the UA campus.

The parade will begin on campus and move west toward downtown Tuscaloosa. The Homecoming game vs. Georgia State University will kick off at 11:21 a.m. in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Additional information on Homecoming Week activities, which run from Sunday, Sept. 29, through Oct. 5, may be found at http://uanews.ua.edu/2013/09/leaving-a-crimson-legacy-theme-of-uas-2013-homecoming-week/.

The grand marshal for the Homecoming Parade is Eddie Conyers. Conyers, a beloved figure in the UA community, began working with the UA athletics department in 1960, when Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant hired him to serve as the football official during practices.

He has worked for every football coach since and still officiates practice under Coach Nick Saban. He is also a liaison football official with the Southeastern Conference. The coaches’ dressing room in the football complex was named for Conyers in 2006, and he was made an honorary member of the A-Club, the athletics alumni group.

A native of Montgomery, Conyers earned a bachelor’s degree in advertising from UA in 1954. Before graduation, he served four years in the U.S. Navy. He earned a master’s degree in higher education from UA in 1979, and served as assistant to the dean for the College of Continuing Studies from 1978 to 1993, when he retired.

In recent years, he has become a popular speaker at UA Alumni Association events around the country, where he entertains the crowds with humorous and poignant memories from his storied career.

All Alabama alumni, friends and fans are invited to attend Tailgatin’ with the Tide Under the Big Top brunch on the Quad three hours before kickoff. Tickets are $15 each and may be bought in advance at alumlive.ua.edu/2013-tailgatin-tide.