This week, the University of Idaho is celebrating its 111th Homecoming — and with it, the annual Homecoming game.
The Vandals will be facing off against Idaho State University in the Kibbie Dome, accompanied by a roaring crowd and a full parking lot, barring any ongoing construction. Win or lose, the turnout will likely be massive and Moscow businesses will reap the rewards.
Only there’s one small problem — the Kibbie Dome won’t be the only stadium erupting in cheers Saturday.
This weekend marks Washington State University’s annual Homecoming game as well.
Two of the traditionally busiest weekends for each school— typically set nearly one full month apart — will be coexisting for the first time in years. And students, as a result, will have no choice but to coexist too.
Thousands upon thousands of people, all nestled between the small towns of Moscow and Pullman, are sure to flock to the various small establishments and local restaurants to celebrate their school’s victory. Or in the case of Idaho, a likely defeat. It sounds like a recipe for disaster, and it likely is.
Imagine a world where UI and WSU both celebrate graduation on the same day. It would be impossible to even leave an apartment in town, let alone drive into the heart of Moscow.
Yet, we now find ourselves in a world where this may very well be upcoming precedent.
Let’s cut to the chase — the UI campus, and Moscow as a result, is barely in any condition to accommodate its own students. Construction still lines several of the most crucial intersections, and weekend parking in town is already a hot commodity. Accommodating both Moscow and travelling Pullman residents is out of the question.
When the population effectively doubles, Moscow needs to be ready. And as we have seen time and time again, this is not the case.
Those who don’t attend UI sporting events or stay up to date on Homecoming activities may be in for quite a surprise upon venturing to Walmart or Winco for a supply run. The scene could easily be mistaken for post-apocalyptic panic, with shoppers running amuck piling their carts high with party foods and supplies.
For the students who have family or friends visiting Moscow this weekend, plan accordingly. Traffic will be backed up, intersections will be blocked and tempers will be high.
If a visiting loved one or significant other has a craving for The Breakfast Club, for instance, there may not be an alternative to giving up hope and abandoning the craving entirely.
This weekend, McDonalds may be the better bet.
An earlier visit — 7:00 a.m. or earlier, so 10:00 a.m. in college — may be the only way to reduce a multi-hour wait to something slightly more manageable.
Brace yourselves, Vandals. It’ll be a long weekend, but together, we can survive until Monday.
We can only hope this Homecoming overlap doesn’t become a recurring theme going forward. Maybe it was simply poor planning or a lack of oversight, but the result is a weekend of competing events — a weekend no student is particularly happy to bare witness to.
Homecoming should be an event that inspires excitement, not one that instills fear in its students — an event prompting us to create makeshift survival bunkers just to survive the weekend.
— Editorial Board
Cheryl Gardner
I was very disheartened to see that you wrote in the 6th paragraph "Or in the case of Idaho, a likely defeat. It sounds like a recipe for disaster, and it likely is." I can only say that you should be ashamed for having so little faith in our Vandal Football team, and I am so glad they were able to prove you wrong. It was a great game, and a great half-time show. Please don't be so negative when you are writing about our team. Have some school spirit!