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MARQUETTE -- The Grand Marshals of this year's parade were members of the 1975 NCAA Championship football team.

Also making an appearance this year was the familiar Wells Fargo stagecoach, pulled by six draft horses.

There were more than 100 units in this year's parade, and plenty of people turned out to see the parade and collect lots of candy.

"Homecoming is celebrating its 75th year at Northern so we have quite a few special events happening today," says special events coordinator Lizzie Corser.  "It's a monumental occasion in Homecoming history, so we wanted to make it a little bit special."

Seventy-plus student organizations participated in the parade.  Organizations could compete in the float division, spirit banner and marching unit, or decorated cars category.  The first place winners received cash prizes and points in the overall Homecoming competition.

Another part of this week's N.M.U. Homecoming celebration was the dedication and unveiling of a new historical marker for the so-called 'Barracks Boys' in front of Northern's University Center.  'The Barracks' was one of the housing units originally constructed for use during WWII for surplus students at the end of the war.  It housed male student athletes from across the U.P., and Saturday, the men reunited to celebrate their college years and commemorate their collegiate time with the permanent historical marker.