The Observer, March 30, 2007
Volume XXXIX, Issue 22
Homecoming game to be a different kind of football
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Homecoming is an annual tradition during which towns, high schools, and colleges come together to welcome back their alumni, usually around a game of football. Every fall, students look forward to this event with anticipation simply because it is the biggest football game of the year where students celebrate and alumni return to their old stomping grounds.
However, Case's homecoming game has been changed for this fall from the traditional football game to a men's soccer game. This decision was made due to extenuating circumstances in the scheduling of conference football games.
"The decision to make the change was a function of an unusual change in our football schedule. We schedule football several years ahead, but made a change in this year's schedule as part of a new joint scheduling agreement between the University Athletic Association and the North Coast Athletic Conference," said Glenn Nicholls, Vice President of Student Affairs.
This agreement assures that schools with the same approaches to both academics and athletics in the UAA and the NCAC will have full home and away game schedules against each other. This ensures a stronger level of fairness for both sides of the competition.
With the sudden change in these schedules, there is no longer a home football game on the day that has been publicized for homecoming. To try to change the date of homecoming to another home football game at this date and time would be much of a hassle and there is too much of concer about seriously harming the event.
"With a home soccer game on the scheduled date for homecoming, we decided to stick with the scheduled date and celebrate homecoming at the soccer game," said Nicholls. "Given the success of our men's soccer team last fall it will be great to feature them during homecoming."
This success has had an impact on Case sports. Though Case students are seen not to hold sports in very high esteem, this year's men's soccer team broke that stereotype.
The team made it to the third round of the Sectional Semifinal and brought out more fan support than most football games do at Case. During the season last year, the fan base grew as the season progressed. The fans were, very supportive especially during the two home games that hosted the NCAA tournament.
The last-minute change in the football schedule provides a great opportunity for the men's soccer team.
"It's definitely an exciting thought to play in the homecoming game. In high school, homecoming was always a football game for me, so this will be something new," said freshman soccer player Nick Furlani.
One of the downsides, however, is that most people expect homecoming to be a football game and look forward to the tradition that it has become. The big question at the moment is whether or not the student body and the alumni will take this well or not.
"Homecoming weekends on college campuses are traditionally built around a football game, but I feel like this could be a positive change for the campus, in light of the men's soccer team's success in the past season," said Lauren Hassen, a fan of both Case football and soccer. "I usually attend Case football games because I am a huge fan of the sport in general, but I have to admit that the attendance at the games is pretty poor, especially in comparison to the attendance at the soccer games towards the end of this past regular season and in the postseason."
Support from both the alumni and the student body is crucial in ensuring that homecoming goes well. This change is by no means a reflection on the football team, but simply a matter of scheduling. It is hoped that the student body and the football team will not be upset by the change.
"Homecoming has traditionally been a football event, but seeing as the soccer team did as well as they did last year and looks to have an even better one this upcoming year, I can see why the athletic department as well as the PR department would want to make it into a soccer event," said senior receiver Marshall Hampton. "I think the student body will be supportive in whatever decision is made with regards to homecoming because the students are now taking a lot of pride in being a Spartan."
The men's soccer team, without a doubt, proved themselves during this past season to deserve the right of playing during Case's homecoming game. The players will undoubtedly be excited to have this privilege simply because homecoming is something special that players will remember years after they have finished playing soccer.
