Though Homecoming brings about pros and cons for a head coach and his football team, the pros eclipse the cons for head coach Charlie Stubbs.
“The pros definitely outweigh the cons because a lot of the alumni and former players come back,” Stubbs said. “We’ll have a great atmosphere and an electric cloud. The kids and coaches will be super excited.”
At the same time, Homecoming can provide many headaches for coaches because of the distractions they provide during the week, according to Stubbs. While Stubbs wants his team to enjoy the festivities and activities that surround Homecoming, he wants his team focused for game time.
“They’re young guys and can get distracted, but we have to watch over it and monitor it,” Stubbs said. “We want them to participate in the activities during the week, but when it gets close to 24 hours from the game, we try to start controlling their surroundings and getting their minds right.”
Senior linebacker Jordan Piper, who was selected as the Southland Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Week for tying the program record for 23 total tackles against Central Arkansas, views the game exactly how he views every game. To him, the Homecoming label doesn’t add any more pressure nor does it effect any of his preparation going into the game. He is trying to be “mature” about it.
“I mean with Homecoming, it’s a lot of hype and a lot of events going around school and stuff, but we have to go to work,” Piper said.
The Colonels are facing a team that holds a record of 3-2 and a 1-1 in the Southland Conference, and they are coming off of a 51-43 victory against Stephen F. Austin.  One of Sam Houston State’s losses is to Central Arkansas, who the Colonels lost to 34-14 last Saturday.
Still, Sam Houston was picked to win the conference preseason by Sports Information Directors and coaches around the league.  And though teams generally schedule easier opponents for Homecoming, Stubbs does not mind playing Sam Houston State. Stubbs looks at the situation as the Colonels have to play Bearkats during the season anyway.
“It just so happens our schedule is front loaded right now,” Stubbs said. “It would be awesome for the program (to pull off the win).”
Stubbs added that Sam Houston is a great team, and he would much rather play them at home rather than playing them there.
When the Colonels play the Bearkats for Homecoming, Piper and this senior class will be trying to do something that they have failed to do their entire college career-win a Homecoming game.
Piper said it is big for him to win this Homecoming not only because it is something he has been unable to do so far, but it would be a great building block for younger players. Furthermore, an upset against Sam Houston State would be huge for the Colonels, according to Piper.
“As a senior, you’d like to leave off on a good note and get the program jumped off in the right direction. Show the young guys that we can do this and dominate this conference,” Piper said.