It was 43°F out but this did not stop people from crowding the streets to cheer on the USD Coyotes and support community businesses. Kids lined scrambled to pick up candy thrown out by those who walked in the parade.
"It was marvelous! The energy in the crowd... it was a fun environment to be in and the kids picking up the candy that we were throwing made it a great experience," Hunter Wilkes a University South Dakota athlete said.
Wilkes was one of many athletes who walked in the parade for the first time with the USD basketball teams.
The Vermillion Fire Department led at the front of the parade with some of the volunteer firefighters and were followed by USD President James Abbott and First Lady Colette Abbott:
As the parade continued it was clear that the whole community was in attendance to celebrate this great week of festivities. This parade really set the energy for the day and carried through to the USD football's first Missouri Valley Conference win against Missouri State later that afternoon.
Another first was the inclusion of the University of South Dakota athletes and the Cross Media Council in the parade.
The USD Athletes followed the The Sound of USD marching band passing candy and promoting the university athletics program.
It is clear from the D-days football game that with the support of students and the community the university athletics can be a winning program.
Even when there is snow on the western part of the state and tornadoes to the east, the university and Vermillion community can come together, celebrate and have a good time.
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