Early Homecoming date tightens schedule

Homecoming weekend will be held 16 days earlier than last year, due to scheduling restrictions and a decision made by a group of administrators and sports coaches. The date has caused some difficulties for clubs who are planning for the event.

Blair had little impact on deciding the date of homecoming, said Sports Director Dale Miller. "The county sets the schedule," he explained, which means the dates for Friday night, home football games are limited.

Miller, who was a member of the planning group at Blair, said that a weekend during the middle of the football season is optimal for a high school's Homecoming. Blair had the option of scheduling the event during the weekends of either Oct. 9 or 15, which correspond to the football team's sixth and seventh games respectively. "We thought we'd be more likely to win the six game, against Wheaton," he said. The seventh game of the season will be played against Quince Orchard. The group also considered weather predictions.

According to SGA sponsor Rondai Ravilious, early scheduling has caused some limitations for students. This year, the freshman class team will not have elected officials since elections may take place too late. There were also difficulties in hiring a DJ for the dance. "We can't delay anything," she emphasized.

Some Blair clubs have had difficulties because of the early date as well. The Physics Team, for instance, has limited time now to create their annual float. "We were just planning to skip [Homecoming]," said junior co-Vice-President John Kim. Club members had concerns over getting home after working on the float at school but eventually decided to go through with the project anyway. "We decided that we could pull it off. We're going to have to work on it outside of school," Kim said. "It will still be a lot of fun."