It is Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Homecoming.

Jonathon and I just happened upon a Pep Rally, on Old Campus, this morning.

The Saluki Dogs were there.

The Saluki Mascots, were in attendance.

There was free pizza.

There was ‘snappy’ music, as we old folks refer to it, and happy students and an air of expectancy and exuberance…that I have not seen on Campus…for some time.

NBA superstar, Walt Frazier, will be the Grand Marshall of the Homecoming parade, in the morning.

‘He learned Basketball on a rutted and dirt playground, the only facility available at his all black school in the racially segregated South of the 1950’s.  After Howard, Frazier attended Southern Illinois University.  Although he was offered other scholarships for his football skills, Frazier accepted a basketball offer from Southern Illinois University, saying that ‘there were no black quarterbacks, so I played basketball.’   Wikipedia

‘SIU moved up from Division II to Division I in 1967, and Frazier and SIU won the National Invitation Tournament, beating Marquette University 71-56 in the final, in the last college basketball game played at the old Madison Square Garden in New York.  Frazier was named Most Valuable Player of the 1967 tournament.’   Wikipedia