Old Colorado City turns scarlet for Coronado parade

Old Colorado City turned scarlet and gold Saturday morning, with cougar paw tracks up and down West Colorado Avenue.

But there was no wildlife to fear.

It was the 39th annual homecoming parade and pep rally for hundreds of enthusiastic Coronado High School students, alums, parents, faculty and the little ones from elementary feeder schools who will wear the Cougar colors someday.

“Team Mom” Debbie Glynn said her family was doing “the whole thing” Saturday, from parade and pep rally to tailgate barbecue and football game against Rock Canyon High School  from Douglas County.

“We’re been doing the whole (homecoming) thing for weeks,” she said, laughing.

She and other swim-team parents erupted in cheers as the swim team float passed by, featuring shirtless athletes doing a few choreographed cheers and dance steps. This year the fellows hoisted tridents for the “Under the C” theme.

Coronado parents Steve and Jewel Meyer staked out a street corner for their annual viewing tradition. One son graduated from Coronado and the other is a senior. The Meyers shared their corner with “Uncle Joe” Taylor, whose kids were Cougars.

“Last year this was the biggest homecoming parade in the state,” said Steve Meyer. The 2009 production was indeed over an hour long.

Each of the elementary schools had its own signature style and showed off school colors. Jackson kids rode big bikes, little bikes and tricycles. Howbert’s sign announced “For a real buzz, hug a Hornet.”

Several Buena Vista daredevils on mountain bikes — properly attired in helmets — garnered cheers as they went speeding up and down the street, slowing down only to do figure eight formations.

The Trailblazer Crew in purple was followed by a vivid-purple Dodge Charger, whose driver gunned the engine to loud cheers from the guys.

Groups from Bristol, West and Chipeta all marched and waved and West Middle School brought its own waddling West Crew bulldog.

The Holmes Middle School float was accompanied by one carrying the school’s jazz band.

Suddenly the air was split by gigantic horns, heralding the arrival of the high school classes and teams aboard a fleet of huge C&C Sand and Stone Co. flatbed trucks that more often haul around boulders and steel instead of female volleyball players blowing bubbles.

The football team arrived, signaling the parade’s end, and everyone headed for Bancroft Park for a full-fledged pep rally with cheerleaders, the school band, cheers and, of course, boo’s for the freshmen.

Ellie Erickson and Maddie Quintana from Holmes Middle School, wearing green yearbook-staff shirts, side ponytails and toe socks with flipflops, could only watch and wait for their turn two years from now.

As the crowd dispersed, two sophomore boys stood to the side, stances casual. “We’re just lookin’ cool,” one announced.

And one veteran schoolteacher, watching the loud, milling crowd of young faces, said the whole thing is why she just doesn’t want to retire.