Weeknight College (Navy) Football

[USNA69]

College week night football should be banned. First off, Friday night is for high schools. Any TV college coverage will detract from high school ball. Secondly, many many students use football as an excuse to party. I wonder how many classes are missed both the day of the game and the morning after. Thirdly, a non reason, but really something that colleges need to consider,alumni, who contribute big bucks, and very few who live in the immediate vicinity, cannot always attend these games. If USNA needs this money to survive, their football program has gotten to big.

I care when Army plays because they maintain an example of a program where football has a more minimal impact on classes.

 

[NativeTexan]

"First off, Friday night is for high schools." Who says? There are plenty of high school games in my area that are played on Saturday afternoon and night. So I guess ban college then on Sat too.

Many adults do not have high school kids and could care less about high school ball. But those same adults will follow college teams weather they have college kids at those schools, are Alumni or just plain follow any college ball. Fact of life. TV coverage pays for college ball. By having more opportunities to get TV coverage, it is starting to level the playing field for recruiting those high school players. We could just go back to the 60's, 70's and 80's where college ball was dominated by a few conferences. Also, most of the well to do Alumni, that donate heavily, usually tend to live near their school of choice and given my alma mater (UT) go to games regardless what night they are on. At most state schools party night is Thursday so why not just include a football game.

Why not take football out of the high schools and colleges all together and just have the pros and club level junior programs. After all doesn't it all distract from academics?

Bet Paul Johnson would really love to know that know the Alumni think that Navy Ball has gotten too big. Go tell that to Roger Staubach, I doubt he would agree. Tell it to the many that donate to Navy athletics, don't think they would agree either.

Just because Army doesn't play (this year) any weeknight games does not necessarily mean that id doesn't distract from Academics. Last year on the Thursday of Army Navy Week, Philadelphia was over run with Cadets - didn't see one Midshipman until late Friday afternoon. So there you have it, football can interfere at Army Too.

I personally enjoyed being able to watch the game last night in my own home. I will only get to the yard once this season for a game. Since I do support Navy athletics monetarily it was a treat to me. Pain for my Mid to sit in Alumni Hall and can't figure out the rational for it anyway since Sat away games are not mando in Alumni Hall.

 

[Just_A_Mom]

"First off, Friday night is for high schools." Who says? There are plenty of high school games in my area that are played on Saturday afternoon and night. So I guess ban college then on Sat too.

Lots of people - the only schools that play on Sat afternoon are those without lights. TV has traditionally shyed away from broadcasting college football of Friday night because it affects attendance at high school games.

At most state schools party night is Thursday so why not just include a football game.

The Thirsty Thursday attitude is ridiculous. State schools and private schools are starting to crack down on this and schedule classes on Fridays. This is a trend that has gotten out of hand.

Bet Paul Johnson would really love to know that know the Alumni think that Navy Ball has gotten too big. Go tell that to Roger Staubach, I doubt he would agree. Tell it to the many that donate to Navy athletics, don't think they would agree either.

All about the money.

Just because Army doesn't play (this year) any weeknight games does not necessarily mean that id doesn't distract from Academics. Last year on the Thursday of Army Navy Week, Philadelphia was over run with Cadets - didn't see one Midshipman until late Friday afternoon. So there you have it, football can interfere at Army Too.

Army/Navy game is one game. Navy scheduled THREE weeknight football games.
The cadets at USMA get to see their team play because they play on Saturday afternoon. The athletic department has not been running the brigade up there.

I personally enjoyed being able to watch the game last night in my own home. I will only get to the yard once this season for a game. Since I do support Navy athletics monetarily it was a treat to me. Pain for my Mid to sit in Alumni Hall and can't figure out the rational for it anyway since Sat away games are not mando in Alumni Hall.

That is teriffic! I am glad you got to see them play - would you have not watched if they had aired on a Saturday afternoon?


The whole weeknight football issue is all about money. EPSN is driving this and ESPN should not be running the Naval Academy or the University of Pittsburgh or any other University. They have a schedule to fill and they look for ways to fill it. Again - it is all about money. The NCAA actually is looking into weeknight football games. They are against them and you might find them cracking down on them.

 

[USNA69]

I support Navy football heavily. Got to in order to get decent A-N tickets. I agree with everything JAM said. The football program should not run the school. I guess in NT's case with small local colleges, the alumni are local. That is definitely not the case for national colleges.

 

[NativeTexan]

"That is teriffic! I am glad you got to see them play - would you have not watched if they had aired on a Saturday afternoon"

Bottom line they would have never aired that game on Sat. afternoon. It would have been on CSTV and I would have had to go to a Bar to see them play (like we do for most of the games)

Speak of what you know and don't assume you know what happens out of your area. In our state the Sat afternoon and evening has nothing to do with lights but everything to do with facilities. Many schools do not have their own stadiums but share public facilities. Hard to have all games on friday night in a few stadiums.


You really think that Universities in the past have not scheduled classes on fridays? You are not living in reality, thirty years ago the same number of classes were held at UT as today. Just because you have class on Friday does not mean you can't still party on Thursday night. I have a graduate from the University of Georgia. They do not hold classes on the Thursday and Friday before the UGA - Florida Game, That was instituted about 3 years ago because so many were skipping class anyway so you see they actually bent away from your assumption. You really think Universities are cracking down on the Thursday night thing, take another look and you will figure out not necessarily the case. The next is at the University of Texas - party night is holding fast for Thursday night just like it was 30 years Ago! Schools are trying to crack down on Alcohol use, not on what night kids party.

So Navy had a Wed night game - no big deal. Had it been this Saturday as originally scheduled I doubt the Brigade would have used liberty time to watch on the jumbo-tron in Alumni Hall, and since there are no movement orders no more than those who did attend would have made the game.

"NT's case with small local colleges, the alumni are local" Would hardly call the University of Texas, University of Georgia, and the University of Michigan - all which I am a supporter of as being small and local colleges with only local Almuni. LOL

 

[USNA69]

"Speak of what you know and don't assume you know what happens out of your area.


Would hardly call the University of Texas, University of Georgia, and the University of Michigan - all which I am a supporter of as being small and local colleges with only local Almuni. LOL

I think there are movies, songs, and books with variations of the Friday Night America title. All are about Texas high school football. Yet to see anything about Saturday afternoon America referring to the same.

Did you realize that until recently MLB honored high school football and never broadcast any playoff or World Series games on Friday night. I think it was the greedyness of ESPN and college football that destroyed that pact.

So you live locally in Austin, Athens, and Ann Arbor? You do get around.

 

[NativeTexan]

So you live locally in Austin, Athens, and Ann Arbor?

Wow you know where they are located... We do jump to conclusions, don't we! Have lived locally at all three, including another major university that shall remain unsaid....Have residences in two out of the 4 and Regularly attend football games at both, one local, the other not. Give me College ball any day over HS. Sorry just my opinion and personal preference, know you would have it the other way. Maybe, that is if we are jumping to conclusions, (and certainly not to dish on Navy as I like Navy Ball too) if you had attended a University with a major powerhouse and been there for a National Championship you might have a different view. Each to their own. Hey also been to numerous ML Baseball games on friday nights in September too.

So there was a movie on Friday Night Lights - Maybe Hollywood, or any writers, should not glamorize high school ball either. Just food for thought if ESPN is so wicked to make a buck off of sports.

 

[USNA69]

Did you realize that until recently MLB honored high school football and never broadcast any playoff or World Series games on Friday night.

Hey also been to numerous ML Baseball games on friday nights in September too.

We do jump to conclusions, don't we!

Mighty tall jump you made there. Where did I say anything about MLB games being held in September? I referred specifically to playoff and WS games being BROADCAST in OCTOBER.

 

[Just_A_Mom]

Rep. Sullivan Says NCAA Deserves 'Death Penalty' for Friday Night Football

From my own personal experience most (not all) high schools play football on Friday nights in PA, VA, NC, SC........travel through those areas on a Friday night and see high schools all lit up - most local TV stations air a show called "The Big Ticket" or something similar with highlights of Friday night games --- apparantly in Oklahoma, Friday night high school football is a big deal as well......In many rural parts of the country, Friday night high school football is a community social event.

OKLAHOMA CITY (May 24) -- State Rep. Leonard Sullivan introduced a resolution Thursday in which the state House encourages the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to not schedule college football games Friday nights.

"Friday night high school football is a long-standing tradition in Oklahoma and serves to bring individuals and communities together for one night a week during the fall," said Sullivan, R-Oklahoma City. "It is reckless of the NCAA to jeopardize the welfare of high school athletics just to make an extra dollar."

[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]The NCAA recently eliminated its rule that restricted playing college games that start after 7 p.m. on Fridays.

[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]"The NCAA relies on our high schools producing quality student athletes in all sports. It doesn't make sense to endanger your lifeline," Sullivan said. "Maybe the NCAA should impose the 'death penalty' on itself for this infraction."[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]The decision of the NCAA will have a negative impact on high school football, because fans will be forced to decide whether to support their high school team or their college team, House Resolution 1024 declared. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]The effect of the rule change could have a broader impact than just on high school athletics, because in many cases other sports rely on revenue generated from football, the resolution warns. Consequently, lower attendance could have an adverse effect on the budgets of other high school sports.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]"It concerns me that at least three athletic conferences have agreed to play Friday night games and ESPN has agreed to televise them," Sullivan added.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]Several groups have expressed concern about the rule change, including the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and the Southeastern Conference athletic directors.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]In a statement posted on the AFCA website, Executive Director Grant Teaff believes the decision is a mistake.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]"The action by the NCAA, in my personal opinion, is a mistake. It is compounded by certain conferences and institutions seeking the national spotlight and additional revenue that a televised game brings. This action by the NCAA was never discussed with the AFCA nor was input requested from state high school coaches associations or the National Federation of State High School Associations."[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]"The main objective of the resolution is to urge the NCAA to change the rule and reinstate the restriction on Friday night college football games," Sullivan said. [/FONT]

[/FONT]

 

[Just_A_Mom]

Not everyone likes weeknight football games:

http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/uwire/090607acz.html

......

"Obviously, the televised games are a great benefit to our University," Hoffman said. "I hope as our national reputation continues to rise, U of L athletics will pursue more weekend televised games as to not displace our students."
Several students were a bit more harsh towards the U of L athletic department.
"I have Anatomy tests on every Friday after the weekday games," senior nursing major Mike Brown said. "This is ridiculous. Playing games during the week when students have class and tests. It decreases student participation in Cardinal athletics."
"I prefer the weekend games because it allows for more time to leisurely get to tailgating and the game instead of hectic getting out of class and rushing to get there," sophomore sociology major Michael Oghia said. "It is just easier."
Students are not the only ones affected by the late weeknight games. Communications professor Greg Leichty teaches a class on Thursday nights and said the ESPN connection does come at a distinct cost for U of L. "[The weekday games] come at the cost of family arrangements, and opportunities for people who teach and take evening classes to participate in the events," Leichty said. "A lot of people miss class too, which subtracts from the continuity and value of the educational experience as well......

 

[Luigi59]

Why pick on weeknight football?

Do we also expect all basketball games to be played on weekends as well?

Is the problem only with the interference with Friday night HS football?

Or is the problem the "next day" is a school day?

If so, then basketball is a MUCH bigger offender than football, with 60% of games on "school" nights.

 

[Just_A_Mom]

I don't think anyone is really picking on weeknight Football per se.
Go back to the Navy-Pitt thread and see where Zaphod asked the question.

Football on weeknights is a new phenomenon. There is a huge difference between Football and basketball - basketball games are much shorter and length and there are many more basketball games a season than football games.
The football culture enjoys extensive tailgating before the games and this doesn't lend itself well to weeknight games.

In 2005 and 2006 Navy scheduled all games on a Saturday. In 2007 the first two games were on a Friday night and one game was on a Wed night. There are a total of 4 Saturday's in Sept and Oct without Navy Football.
With Temple and Rutgers and Pitt being in Navy's back door - I am sure there are more than a few Navy fans on the Eastern seaboard who would have found it more convenient to go to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia or New Brunswick on a Sat afternoon than a Friday or Wed. night. But - maybe not. Just speculating.


I am not attempting to make a judgment here - just that things are changing and not everyone is happy about it.

My opinion is:
I do believe the football changes are all due to money and TV exposure. We have our athletic departments running our universities because every college president enjoys the "National" exposure. Our children are being sent the message that a university is not worth attending if it doesn't have "National" exposure. Whether that is good or bad remains to be seen.