TCU cancels 2016 homecoming parade

A few days after TCU’s football team won its home opener in an unexpectedly close game with South Dakota State, students and alumni got another surprise.

The university has canceled its 2016 homecoming parade because of scheduling conflicts with the school’s Family Weekend events, according to a statement on TCU’s website.

“For the first time in many years, TCU will celebrate Family Weekend and Homecoming on the same weekend. In the process of combining the traditional Family Weekend and traditional Homecoming schedules, the campus community have identified several key scheduling conflicts,” the statement said. “One of those is the Homecoming parade. In light of numerous conflicts related to the parade time, TCU will take a year off from the Homecoming parade in 2016. This does not mean the long-term elimination of this campus tradition. Rather, it simply means that as a compromise in the merger of these events, having a parade is not possible this year.”

Students and parents quickly expressed disappointment on TCU 360.

“Oh no! Family tradition. . .our newest horn frog misses his first parade,” said one commenter. “This is very sad! ... COME ON TCU!!!” said another.

Many student organizations usually build floats for the parade, including fraternities and sororities. And the TCU band marches.

But there will still be a pep rally at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16, followed by FrogFest. Both events are free and open to the public.

TCU opens its Big 12 schedule on Saturday, Sept. 17, against Iowa State atAmon G. Carter Stadium.

This story was originally published September 7, 2016 at 12:14 AM with the headline "TCU cancels 2016 homecoming parade."