CEDAR FALLS - The event itself was short and sweet, but worth the wait.

The University of Northern Iowa's Homecoming parade Saturday morning stretched just a few blocks, but long enough for hundreds of people along the route to get their fill of Panther pride.

This year's route was altered from years past. Bands and floats headed the reverse direction down West 23rd Street and onto College Hill. Construction on College Street prompted the change.

That didn't deter people from turning out to watch.

"It was a different approach this year," said Leland Stanley of Fairfield.

Stanley and his wife, Shirley, made the 159-mile drive to Cedar Falls, even though their two daughters have already graduated.

Shirley Stanley said the couple was immediately impressed with UNI's environment when moving their first daughter in years ago. They've been coming to the UNI Homecoming celebration every year since, she added.

The only difference this year will be that the Stanleys didn't plan on going to the football game later in the afternoon against Southern Illinois University. They did manage to stake out their usual spot along West 23rd Street across from St. Stephen the Witness Catholic Student Center.

The big football game wasn't forgotten, though, before or after the parade.

Prior to floats and marching bands, a crush of purple parade watchers enjoyed children darting up and down West 23rd Street playing catch.

"Oh, it's going to be a big one," said Nick Evens of Cedar Falls.

Evens and his wife, Kelly, secured spots across the street from the Stanleys in front of St. Stephen's, also their usual vantage point.

"You have to get here early to get a seat right here on the curb," Nick Evens said.

Evens said the area is usually pretty busy, but the amount of traffic picked up from last year. That was because the parade has grown in size and because it was the head of the route, Kelly Evens added.

The Evenses were able to get their spot because they helped with the pancake breakfast at St. Stephen's, Nick said.

After the parade, the family planned on going to the game against Southern Illinois and later the UNI volleyball game against the University of Evansville.

A few blocks away, others were already staking out spots and setting up grills, tables and games in the parking lots surrounding the UNI-Dome.

By 11:30 a.m., senior Matt Ungs and his friends had already begun the "Beer Olympics," a series of events that involved drinking, chugging or shotgunning beers while completing physical challenges.

"You actually don't drink as much as you think," said Ungs, who has tailgated UNI's Homecoming the past five years, said. Ungs thought UNI would claim victory with a score of 35-21.

At noon, senior Brian Haugen and his friends arrived in the already-crowded parking lot, decked out in Panther gear. Haugen and others agreed the weather was befitting a football game.

"It's actually been perfect," Haugen said. "We just want it to be sunny."

Haugen predicted the final score would be 35-27, UNI.

Bev Stearns, mother of a UNI student and resident of Freeport, Ill., was less worried about where her football loyalties lay than making sure everyone in her crowd had plenty to eat and drink. She said UNI's tailgating atmosphere is nothing like some schools, where fans treat it almost like a "religion."

"Sometimes, simpler is better," Stearns said of UNI's casual atmosphere. She predicted a UNI win but didn't give a final score.

But that didn't mean UNI tailgating was free of interesting events. Police reportedly ticketed those who couldn't wait in the long portapotty lines and tried to use the fields, and someone else reported UNI mascot T.C. being repeatedly "assaulted" by mobs of fans wherever he roamed.

The effects of alcohol were apparent by the afternoon, as fans and unlucky vehicles sported beer stains.

By 3:30 p.m., freshman Jake Thien was thoroughly pleased with his first experience tailgating.

"It's (expletive) awesome!" he said. His UNI hopes were highest: The team would win, he said, 35-7.

Contact Josh Nelson at (319) 291-1565 or josh.nelson@wcfcourier.com; contact Amie Steffen at (319) 291-1464 or amie.steffen@wcfcourier.com.