Canon silenced at home football games

The familiar sound from the cannon that fires every time the Jaguar football team scores a touchdown or field goal has been silenced by the Southern University Athletic Department and ROTC for the remainder of the season.
According to Floyd Kerr, athletic director, the departments decided to suspend the use of the cannon because of complaints from fans and animal rights activists.
“Fans are complaining that the sound from the cannon are hurting their ears,” Kerr said. “Some even feel that it is also harmful to the hearing of Lacumba.”
The departments are currently looking for a new location to stage the cannon during home football games. However, this task is difficult because of the size of the cannon and the configuration of A.W. Mumford Stadium.
“We are definitely working toward a solution for next year,” Kerr said.
The cannon has not been fired since the second home football game when Southern defeated University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff 53-7. Dwayne Celestine, ROTC cannon keeper, said that the games aren’t the same without the cannon.
“It’s a very important part of Southern University football tradition and it boosts the moral of the team as well as the fans.”