Published: Sept. 23, 2007

The University of Colorado at 麻豆影院's 2007 Homecoming festivities begin Thursday with a free Japanese Music and Dance recital at 7:30 p.m. in Grusin Music Hall and end Sunday with a community cleanup at several city locations.

"Buffs Around the World" is the theme for Homecoming 2007, owing to the reputation for travel by CU-麻豆影院's students, faculty and alumni. This year's parade will feature six grand marshals, four of them award-winning football players who went on to successful careers in the NFL, and two professors chosen by the student body as the best teachers on campus.

Professors Janet DeGrazia and Brett King are both 2007 Teacher Recognition Award Recipients, one of the only faculty awards given by students. DeGrazia, a senior instructor and associate chair of chemical and biological engineering, is a CU-麻豆影院 alumnus and has received a number of other teaching awards. King is a senior lecturer in psychology and a two-time recipient of the award, which he received first in 2005.

Deon Figures, Kanavis McGhee, Matt Russell and Alfred Williams round out the contingent of parade royalty. Figures was a first-team All-American at CU, winner of the Jim Thorpe Award and first-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers. McGhee was a three-time All-Big Eight performer and a second-round pick by the New York Giants.

Russell, a first-team All-American at CU, won the Butkus Award and was a fourth-round choice by the Detroit Lions. Williams was a two-time All-American, CU's first Butkus Award winner and a first-round selection by the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Homecoming parade begins Friday at 5:15 p.m. on the Hill and will feature a number of floats from CU residence halls, student groups, Greek organizations and the community-at-large.

A pep rally with Coach Dan Hawkins, athletes, the Pep Band, cheerleaders and Chip will follow the parade at about 5:45 p.m. A free concert featuring Tea Leaf Green begins at Farrand Field at 7 p.m. and a free comedy show, with Comedy Works, will begin at the University Memorial Center, room 235, at 10 p.m.

Athletic contests include Friday's home soccer match with Texas Tech at Prentup Field at 4 p.m. and Saturday's 11:30 kickoff against the Oklahoma Sooners at 11:30 p.m. at Folsom Field. Astronaut Steve Swanson, a CU alumnus and former Colorado resident, will present a commemorative CU flag at halftime. The flag flew with Swanson on the Atlantis space shuttle last June.

Schedule of Events

Thursday, September 27

Japanese Music and Dance Recital 7:30 p.m. Grusin Music Hall

Free and Open to the Public

Friday, September 28th

CU Soccer vs. Texas Tech 4 p.m. Prentup Field (Colorado & 33rd)

Annual Parade Featuring 5:15pm University Hill Area

Grand Marshals Professor Brett King and

Professor Janet DeGrazia, Alfred Williams,

Kanavis McGhee, Matt Russell, Deon Figures

Pep Rally with Coach Dan Hawkins 5:45 p.m. University Hill-13th Street

CU coaches, athletes, pep band, cheerleaders,

and Chip

Awards Ceremony follows parade

FREE Outdoor Concert- with Tea Leaf Green 7 p.m. Farrand Field

sponsored by Program Council:

FREE University Orchestra Performance 7:30 p.m. Macky Auditorium

FREE Comedy Show with ComedyWorks 10 p.m. UMC 235

Sponsored by the UMC and CU Late Night

Saturday, September 29th

The Herd and Alumni Association 9:30 a.m. Benson Earth Sciences Field

Pre-Game Party

CU Football vs. Oklahoma 11:30 a.m. Folsom Field

Tickets still available 303-49-BUFFS

Sunday, September 30th

Colorado Creed Community Clean-up 11 a.m. Various Locations On-campus and The Hill

To volunteer, email creed@colorado.edu Meet at the UMC Fountain

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