Mostly sunny skies, warm temps expected for Albany State celebration Saturday
Parade, football game are highlights of ASU homecoming week
Staff Reports
ALBANY — It’ll feel more like summer than autumn, but otherwise Saturday is shaping up to be a perfect day for Albany State University’s annual homecoming parade and football game, the culmination of a week of activities celebrating the university.
On Thursday afternoon, the National Weather Service office in Tallahassee forecast mostly sunny skies for Saturday with a daytime high of 86 degrees. It should be a pleasant 72 when the parade gets underway at 9 a.m., reaching around 80 by its conclusion.
Temperatures should be near the day’s high for the 2 p.m. kickoff at the ASU Coliseum, where the 4-2 Golden Rams will host the Morehouse Maroon Tigers.
Three hours before Saturday’s parade, Pine Avenue will be closed to motorists from the 100 block through the 800 block. The 6 a.m. closure will continue until 1 p.m., city of Albany traffic officials said Thursday.
North Jefferson Street also will be closed to through traffic from 8 a.m. until noon between Broad and Flint avenues. Detours will be rerouted during that period to Oglethorpe Boulevard, Monroe Street, Broad Avenue, Harding Street, Flint Avenue and Madison Street, officials said.
Additional streets will be closed intermittently because of the parade route through downtown Albany, traffic officials said.
“Motorists should expect an increased pedestrian presence, be alert to changing traffic conditions and expect delays,” Bruce Maples, Albany’s managing director of engineering and planning, said in a news release. “Please use an alternate route if possible.”
Several events also are scheduled for Friday , including the annual Homecoming Convocation at 10 a.m. in the HPER gym at ASU. Speakers will be two ASU alumni: William R. Shepherd, a longtime educator and leader of contemporary inner-city school reform, and Shareka L. Nelson, Facebook’s diversity business partner for its Global Marketing Solutions teams.
A community pep rally and social will be conducted 8 p.m. to midnight Friday on the 100 block of Pine Avenue. The event, in partnership with the city of Albany, will feature ASU cheerleaders, the Marching Rams Show Band and food.
Also at 8 p.m. Friday will be the Homecoming Step Show in the HPER Gym. General admission for the show is $20. Doors will open at 7:30 p.m.
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