MTSU homecoming week wrapped up Saturday with hundreds of alumni, students and community supporters turning out for the traditional homecoming parade.

With the theme of “The Deep Blue Sea,” all of this week’s events built toward Saturday’s nationally televised football game against East Carolina in Floyd Stadium. It was MTSU’s first home game as a member of Conference USA. The university officially joined C-USA July 1.

Voice of the Blue Raiders Chip Walters (Class of 1985) and Murfreesboro journalist and sports talk broadcaster Monte Hale Jr. (Class of ’86) broadcast the Homecoming Parade from The Alumni House front lawn, 2259 Middle Tennessee Blvd., which was also the location for the Mixer on Middle prior to the parade.

Parade grand marshal was Darrell Freeman (Class of ’87), founder and executive chairman of Zycron Inc., a Nashville-based company that helps hospitals manage information technology, which began in an MTSU dormitory room. Freeman was the 2002 MTSU Young Alumni Achievement Award recipient. He recently was named by Gov. Bill Haslam to represent the 7th Congressional District on the Tennessee Board of Regents, the governing body for all of Tennessee’s community colleges and most of the public universities.

MTSU 2013-14 Distinguished Alumni recipients Larry Cox of Knoxville, Tenn., and Steve Smith of Brentwood, Tenn., and 2013-14 Young Alumni Achievement honoree Aaron Carlton of Eagleville, Tenn., and Caracas, Venezuela, rode in the parade and were to be recognized at the game. Recipient Keith Taylor of New York City was unable to attend.

To view a photo galleries from the parade, go to https://www.facebook.com/mtsublueraiders.

Hundreds of Blue Raider supporters turned out Saturday, Oct. 5, for the traditional MTSU Homecoming Parade along Main Street and Middle Tennessee Boulevard. (MTSU photos by Andy Heidt)

MTSU 2013-14 Distinguished Alumni recipient Steve Smith of Brentwood, Tenn., rode in Saturday’s homecoming parade. Also in the parade was fellow alumni recipient Larry Cox of Knoxville, Tenn., and 2013-14 Young Alumni Achievement honoree Aaron Carlton of Eagleville, Tenn., and Caracas, Venezuela. Alumni recipient Keith Taylor of New York City was unable to attend.