Editorial : November homecoming to be cooler than expected

The university will hold Homecoming — officially called Orange Central — starting next week. The mid-November date is unusually late compared to recent years, when Syracuse University held the event sometime in the middle of October or earlier.

The late date comes with a few obvious disadvantages: the Syracuse weather is showing the ominous signs of turning from beautiful fall to frigid winter at any moment, and Thanksgiving is so close it may deter alumni from making a potentially expensive visit to campus.

But some surprising advantages may make a late Homecoming preferable. For starters, this will be the first time in at least four years alumni can watch both football and basketball games in the Carrier Dome during the weekend. A later date ensures the football team will be playing a college in the Big East conference — offering more excitement and intrigue. This time around the football game could even determine our bowl eligibility.

The late Homecoming also comes after the wave of midterms that pile up in October. Students, generally speaking, have time to celebrate during the second weekend of November. The later date gives transfer students and freshmen time to settle in before the big show of Orange pride. And it gives Orange Central planners more time to schedule better events. As long as the campus crosses its collective fingers that Snowvember doesn’t wreak havoc on air traffic, a late Homecoming may be better than expected.