WSSU, NC A&T, NC Central schedule homecoming Oct. 31

Both the calendar and I-40 will be crowded this Halloween.

North Carolina Central and North Carolina A&T, along with Winston-Salem State are celebrating their homecomings on Oct. 31.

The three schools, all within an 80-mile radius, and the sharing of this date may cause a conflict to those looking forward to attending more than one of these events.

NC A&T's and NCCU's homecoming games kick off at 1:30 p.m. WSSU's game begins at 2 p.m.

When the 2009 football schedules were released by each school earlier this year, NCCU and WSSU originally had Oct. 31 as the date for their homecoming.

NC A&T's homecoming was scheduled for Oct. 10, but in a Feb. 17 press release, Athletic Director Wheeler Brown announced the change.

"I'm excited about this schedule," Brown said.

"With the announcement of our new coach, after signing some outstanding talent this month and now that we know our schedule, we can't wait to get going.

"We're looking for 2009 to be the start of something big for Aggies football."

Brian Holloway, assistant athletic director of media relations at NC A&T explained the details of the date change.

"We originally set it [homecoming] for Oct. 10, and that game was against Morgan State.

"They [Morgan State] came here last year for our homecoming. This year was for their home game [against NC A&T] to be up there, instead of coming back down here again for our homecoming. So because of that we had to do some things differently."

Coincidentally, the change was made to Oct. 31, along with NCCU's and WSSU's homecoming dates.

"Just looking at our schedule and the way homecoming usually breaks down, in that situation you only have but so many options," Holloway said.

The change to NC A&T's schedule now has them facing Bethune-Cookman for their homecoming game.

On Oct. 24, the Rams are scheduled to play at Bethune-Cookman for the Wildcats' homecoming. WSSU will play Hampton for its own homecoming.

"I think the attendance is going to be affected," said Interim Athletic Director Tonia Walker.

"Revenue potentially will be impacted," Walker said. "Honestly, we are considering and looking into changing our date, so that it does not conflict with NC A&T and NCCU, and that decision has not been made as of yet.

"If we do choose to change our date, it [the decision] will be made very soon."

Walker also said that if changes take place to WSSU's Oct. 31 game, it would not coincide with either of the scheduled NC A&T or NCCU games. NC A&T, NCCU, and WSSU will face each other in the 2009 season.

The Aggies will play the Eagles in Greensboro Oct. 3, and the Rams are scheduled to play the Aggies at Bowman-Gray Stadium Sept. 5. The Rams will also host the Eagles on Nov. 14.

Other home opponents for the Rams this upcoming season include Florida A&M on Sept. 12 and Delaware State on Nov. 7.

Walker explained what would have to occur to change the schedule.

"We're talking with alumni associations, making sure there are no conflicts with venues, or any of the optional dates we have in mind. Once we have spoken to each of those entities, once it is confirmed that we can safely make those changes and no one takes a loss, then we'll make those decisions."

Carese Bates is a junior psychology major at WSSU. The Durham native and Greensboro resident says she returns to Durham often.

She said that she has attended homecomings at all three universities.

"My mom is a [NC] Central alum, so I do support Central," Bates said.

"But because I don't go to Central and they're all on the same day, I probably won't go to Central's [homecoming].

"I will definitely go to our game. I think this will effect Winston's homecoming tremendously."

Bates added that even though she has not noticed much of a difference between the football games among the three universities, she has noticed a difference between the festivities after the games.

Bates said she plans to attend NC A&T's events in Greensboro after WSSU's game.

She said this crowded schedule of homecomings has caused her to also change her Halloween plans.

"I usually go to Franklin Street [in Chapel Hill]," Bates said. "Last year I went to ECU, but I'll do homecoming [this year]."

Give your opinion about the Homecoming schedule conflict by participating in the RAMble online poll. Click here to visit the poll.