Attendance at this year’s Homecoming game against the University of Virginia dropped by over 1,500 from the 2006 Homecoming game with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, according to 2006 and 2007 N.C. State Football scoring summaries for those games.
The 29-24 win over the Cavaliers Saturday brought 55,342 fans to Carter-Finley Stadium, while the Pack’s loss to Georgia Tech saw attendance of 56,837, the summaries said.
Josh Sherrod, chair of the Homecoming Committee and senior in microbiology, said he saw a difference in turn-out initially.
“The student section was completely empty at kick-off,” he said.
But Sherrod said the crowds definitely picked up after the game began.
Brittany Prater, junior in English, said she saw a similiar influx.
“One of the student sections on the top level was almost completely empty, which was kind of sad,” she said. “But everything else was completely packed, which was really exciting to see all the students come out.”
Prater said she also saw a noticeable difference in the crowd’s energy for the Homecoming game.
“Everyone was a lot more pumped this game. Everyone stayed on their toes the entire time,” she said. “The last couple of games we’ve been improving, so everyone was anticipating this game.”
Brian Klinepeter, senior in mechanical engineering and four-time Homecoming attendee, had a different reaction.
“I thought it was a real poor showing for Homecoming,” he said. “People need to come out to every game. Yeah, we’re having a rough season, but you need to support the team.”
Klinepeter has not missed a home football game in his four years at State.
Despite motives, Sherrod, Prater and Klinepeter all agreed the twelfth man showed up for the game.
“There was tons of students and alumni,” Sherrod said.
Klinepeter said the students were pumped for the football game.
“The section I was in, everyone stayed around ’til the end, and everyone was yelling so loud that they were all hoarse the next day,” he said.
Prater also appreciated the fans’ enthusiasm.
“At one point the wave went around the entire stadium, which showed that every single fan was excited for their team,” she said.
The Nov. 4, 2006 loss to Georgia Tech lasted approximately the same length as the 2007 Homecoming win over UVA, with the games lasting 3 hours and 50 minutes and 3 hours and 40 minutes respectively.
Georgia Tech was ranked 20th in the country at the time of the Homecoming game last year, and UVA was ranked 18th before they lost this weekend.
