NORMAL - Joyce and Jim Haselton looked forward so much to meeting friends Saturday at Illinois State University's homecoming parade that they left home in South Carolina on Thursday to make it on time.

It was the first time in 50 years that Joyce Haselton would see an ISU homecoming parade with fellow alumni. They arrived on campus at 7:15 a.m. and headed with their "Class of 1959" sign to their classmates' agreed meeting spot on College Avenue.

"It's changed so much; I can't believe it," Joyce Haselton said of the campus and the town of Normal.

One thing that hasn't changed much, however, is the tradition of a homecoming parade floats and bands and a theme urging the Redbirds to victory in the ensuing football game. Thousands of people lined the streets around campus for the 153-unit parade bearing the theme, "Rock the Red."

While they cheered and applauded the parade, float that won the top prize had special significance for them. The ISU Apparel Merchandising and Design Association's entry adopted a rock 'n' roll theme and depicted a 1950s diner complete with girls in poodle skirts.

It won in a distinctly modern way, however. In a feature new this year, each float carried a code number that allowed parade watchers to vote via cell phone for their favorite entries as the parade passed.

The Student Alumni Council interpreted the "rock" part of the theme in a different way. About 30 people toiled for weeks building a papier-mâché mountain.

They dubbed the float "Mount Sycamore," drawing on the team name of ISU's homecoming opponents from Indiana State University. Reggie Redbird was atop Mount Sycamore, and ISU president Al Bowman, a rock climber himself, was depicted on the mountain as well.

"We didn't even place (in the float competition)," said a disappointed Audrey Just, who helped build the mountain-themed float. "It was a lot of fun."

The criminal justice science students made a float named "Jailhouse Rock with Elvis." The float was a favorite of Patrick McGuire of Normal, who graduated from the justice program earlier this year.

McGuire, who just landed a job with the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, watched the parade with his daughter, Hailey, 6. She filled her Halloween bag with parade candies.

"It's a little colder," he said, comparing the parade to other years. While the temperatures were in the mid 40s, the atmosphere was decidedly warm.

Red-clad students, filling the balconies at the Kensington Suites apartment building near Milner Library, cheered loudly and sang along with songs played by passing bands.

Friends and relatives of the Fieldcrest High School marching band hurried to the College Avenue street overpass to get a bird's-eye view of the band in its first appearance at ISU's homecoming.

"We're excited," said Lisa Musser of Wenona as she spotted her daughter in the Minonk-based Fieldcrest band.