Every Homecoming, in addition to facing their opponents, Dartmouth's fall athletic teams have to compete for attention against Big Green football, which traditionally attracts the greatest number of spectators and the most fanfare.
This weekend, in addition to football, Big Green volleyball, rugby, field hockey, women's and men's soccer will all have home games.
In recent years, an effort has been made to decrease the number of teams competing at the same time as football, so more people can attend more games.
"Within the league there was an attitude to move soccer and field hockey so that they were not competing with football," women's varsity soccer coach Kelly B. Knudsen '91 said. "And it makes sense."
All of the teams expect an increase in the number of fans. Knudsen said women's soccer estimated they have crowds of up to 500 fans at any weekend game, and they are expecting even more for Homecoming.
Knudsen acknowledged that before the soccer games were moved to Sunday, the number of fans attending their games was definitely lower.
Knudsen said the soccer team used to play at 11 a.m. and football started at noon.
"We did not always get that great of a crowd," she said.
Field hockey is still competing on Saturday, and hopes are high that they will be able to attract large numbers of fans to their game.
"We are expecting possibly over 100 people," varsity field hockey Captain Kristen Leadbeater '00 said. "We are opening on the new turf, it is our last home game and it is Senior Day. We are hoping that this brings out some new fans."
While tradition has maintained football as the focus of Homecoming athletics, some Dartmouth students have expressed sentiments that Homecoming should be about all of the teams.
"It is definitely biased," field hockey Captain Lauren Scopaz '00 said. "Traditionally Homecoming has been for football, but I think that it should be for all of the teams."
"They represent Dartmouth the same," she added. "We should not be able to differentiate between that."
All of the teams are anticipating tough games. Rugby will be facing off against their toughest competitor, Army.
Women's volleyball is playing its Homecoming match against Harvard.
"We have never beaten Harvard at home, and we have only ever beaten them once," Captain Janna Merryfield '00 said. "We are a very similar team to Harvard, we play the same game. It is always a good game."
Women's soccer will be playing Cornell, a team that they beat 7-0 last year.
"Cornell will be gunning for us," Knudsen said. "They are a better team than they were last year. I am anticipating a tough game."
While the women's soccer team has lost its first two matches, the team does still have a shot at going to the NCAAs.
The field hockey team also plays a big game against Cornell.
"It is going to be a battle," Leadbeater said. "They just beat Harvard."
"The Ivy League for field hockey is still up for grabs," she said. "All the teams are really good."
