H'burg sponsors football parade

In celebration of the JMU and Harrisonburg High School football teams, a parade in downtown Harrisonburg will take place this Saturday at 2 p.m.

The parade, coordinated by the city of Harrisonburg, also will include the Marching Royal Dukes and Harrisonburg High School Blue Streaks, according to Associate Athletics Director Geoff Polglase.

The parade will begin at the corner of Campbell and Main Streets. The parade will then proceed north until the Rockingham County Administration Center at the corner of Gay Street. A ceremony will be held in the adjacent parking lot.

The city will then present a key to the city to both JMU football coach Mickey Matthews, who was also named D I-AA coach of the year as well as Harrisonburg High School Blue Streaks coach Tim Sarver, according to Cindy Ring, special projects coordinator for Harrisonburg Parks and Recreation Department.

The city of Harrisonburg is coordinating the parade to celebrate JMU Duke’s 31-21 victory in the I-AA Championship game against the Montana Grizzlies, and the high school’s second-place finish in the state championships. Irene Reynolds, principal of Harrisonburg High School and mother of a JMU cheerleader, stated that the HHS was "thrilled to receive such a recognition and honor."

One of the highlights of the parade will be the Marching Royal Dukes, an integral part of energizing the team and rallying school spirit. "This has been one of those ‘dream years,’ and this gives us a chance to thank these fine young men for bringing us this championship," MRD director Pat Rooney said.

Refreshments will be provided inside the Visitor’s Bureau. Dukes supporters also can purchase championship apparel and gifts in the JMU bookstore. The JMU cheerleaders, Duke Dog, the HHS marching band and cheerleaders will also be in attendance.