Football great Joe Staley to serve as grand marshal for homecoming celebration
Former Central Michigan offensive lineman Joe Staley will serve as the grand marshal for CMU's homecoming celebration, according to the university.
Staley will also be inducted into the Marcy Weston CMU Athletics Hall of Fame during homecoming weekend, slated for Oct. 15-16.
Homecoming weekend will feature CMU squaring off with Toledo at 3:30 Oct. 16 at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. The game is designated as both homecoming and the Hall of Fame Game, according to CMUChippewas.com.
Staley played at Central Michigan from 2003-06. As a Chippewa, he won a Mid-American Conference championship and helped lead the team to its first ever bowl victory in 2006. He was a first team All-MAC selection as a senior.
He was selected in the first-round, 28th overall, by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2007 NFL Draft. The Chippewa great played his entire career with the 49ers, appearing in two Super Bowls.
Overall, Staley started all 181 games he played in during his career. He was named first team All-Pro four times and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame All-2010's team
"Central Michigan holds a very special place in my heart," Staley said in a university press release. "It is where I got my start toward my professional career and I have many great memories from my time there. I am excited to come back and have a great week with the friends and family who have had such an important influence on who I am and my accomplishments."
The Rockford native is one of six that will be officially inducted during the Hall of Fame weekend. Also set to be inducted are Sue Guevara (women's basketball), Margo Jonker (softball), Dan LeFevour (football), Katie Simon (gymnastics) and Tyler Stovall (baseball).
