Traditionally, students expect to beat easy teams for homecoming, but they do not realize what goes into choosing the actual game.
Kurt Dupuis, general studies senior said at homecoming, students expect to win.
“Everybody wants to enjoy the game,” Dupuis said. “Winning is more fun than losing.”
The Alumni Center plays a major role in selecting the date of the homecoming game from a pre-determined football schedule chosen by the Athletic Center.
Alumni Center President Charlie Roberts said because so many alumni return to Baton Rouge for homecoming games, it is crucial to consider them while making the final decision.
LSU almuna Carolyn Breaux said it is a tradition for her and her family to go to homecoming.
“If I don’t go to any other game in the season, I make it a point to go to homecoming,” Breaux said. “It gives me one time in the year when I can remember what college felt like.”
Roberts said choosing an easy team is not the main goal of the selection.
“We want them [students and alumni] leaving here feeling like they’ve seen a great game,” Roberts said. “For next year we are already looking at Troy State or Vanderbilt as possibilities.”
Roberts said there are many factors that that determine when in a the best time for a homecoming game is.
He said choosing the opposing team is a crucial step in the process.
“We choose the game where there might be tickets available for returning alumni,” Roberts said. “We try to avoid the big conference games and games that will be televised.”
Another limitation when selecting the game is the timing within the fall semester, Roberts said.
“The game cannot be during the week of October 6 because of midterms,” Roberts said. “We also cannot schedule it too early in the semester because students have not been here long enough to choose a queen and king.”
Other determining factors can result from objections by the Athletic Council.
Allen Richey and Scott Levy represent Student Government on the council. Richey said objections are not the norm.
“The council can object to the chosen game, for instance, if midterms are during the week chosen for the game,” Richey said. “They normally know what the council would object to, though.”
Homecoming events during half-time also prevent the Alumni Center from selecting a game where the opposing team would bring a band, Richards said.
He said if a team brought a band, seats would diminish. Allotted time for crowning the king and queen would also decrease due to the opponent’s half-time marching show.
This year’s game against Louisiana Tech may be considered an easy win, especially after looking at the team’s record, but this scenario has not always been the case.
Three years ago LSU played Auburn University for Homecoming and lost 13-10. Granted, it came after a six year winning streak, but the facts still remain that not all homecomings are a guaranteed win.