Finding a date for Homecoming can be challenging (so I hear).

Not everyone has the looks, the moves or the words to find a companion for Saturday’s festivities.

Just don’t count the Western football program in that group.

It isn’t afraid to take the ugly girl to Homecoming.

For the third straight year ending with a number divisible by two, the Sycamores will take the walk of shame into Smith Stadium as the Toppers’ Homecoming escort.

No, beer googles are not to blame. Tradition is.

College football almost requires scheduling a patsy when the alumni are in town. Keep them happy and donation dollars will follow.

By today’s standards, not every Homecoming opponent has been a brown-bagger.

The University of Louisville was the Toppers’ first Homecoming date in 1927. Now a contender for the Bowl Championship Series National title, the Cards lost 7-6 that year.

And before Hurricanes of Miami (Fla.) won their first I-A national title or committed their first on-the-field assault, they were a Hilltopper Homecoming victim. The ‘Canes were more like a cold-front when the Toppers celebrated Homecoming 1931 with a 20-0 win over Miami.

Overall, Western is 50-23-3 in front of the old timers and 5-1 this decade. Then-No. 3 Southern Illinois crashed the party and stole the beer in 2003 in the only loss of the 21st century.

Even the Sycamores follow the custom.

The scheduled Missouri State (1-6) for Homecoming last Saturday and ended a 24-game losing streak – the longest in Division I-A or I-AA.

According to the Gridiron Power Index (the Division I-AA version of the BCS rankings) Indiana State is the 93rd least attractive team. Western is No. 26 of the 122 I-AA teams the rankings cover.

If the Board of Regents decides votes in favor of moving to Division I-A, Indiana State will likely become a Homecoming relic just like the bonfire.

But we’ll always have memories of the good ‘ole days.

Larry Bird’s alma mater took Western Homecoming poundings in 2002 (31-9) and 2004 (24-7), but that’s no coincidence.

Those who attended the 2002 game might remember Topper receiver Casey Rooney’s block that nearly beheaded Indiana State safety Max Matthews.

The 7,300 fans who didn’t drown in the 2004 Homecoming Hurricane saw a largely forgettable victory.

But optimism is on the rebound for Indiana State. After winning his first game in 18 tries last week, Sycamore coach Lou West sounded confident in the the (Terre Haute) Tribune-Star.

“By a long stretch, the season is not over. I think we can get this one next week,” he said.

Just don’t cake on the make-up, coach.

Ugly is ugly no matter how you spin it.

Michael Casagrande is the Herald managing editor. Reach him at news@wkuherald.com.

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