In light of the the announcement of the ACC schedule this afternoon and a new AD that may or may not try to shake things up, what are everyone's thoughts on the idea of a Friday night game in Blacksburg?
I know Friday night games are typically reserved for high school, but this is the 21st century and by the end of the regular season in November, its become common to see live college ball on nearly every night of the week. I'm sure this spark has something to do with the availability of ESPN resources and ratings for showing more games but its something to consider. Friday night games are not unheard of in the ACC, for instance, BC played Wake on a Friday night last September. And as far as travel/work concerns go, its really no different than a Thursday night game except that you take 1 less day of work off to travel, so bonus points for that. In my opinion, Friday night is usually a boring period of time between exciting Thursday football/happy hour and game day, so why not?
I like the idea of a Friday night game. VT may or may not have made Thursday night games a "thing" for college football. Now how about Friday night? Plus, those people who are not going to the game and would already be somewhere downtown at a bar drinking will have more reason to go to a hokie bar with their friends.
Thoughts, opinions, agree, disagree, GO.
Comments
Don't like the idea at all. We consistently get scheduled at noon on Saturdays. The reason Thursday night games have been so great for vt is because they put us on a national stage. Our classic Thursday night games helped us become a household name across the country. On Friday nights, people are busy; they are out and about and not in front of a tv. I watched football every Thursday night last year and didn't watch once on a Friday. I love that most football fans tune in on Thursday nights, and I love it when we're the team that they're watching.
My only thing about the Friday night in question is that is Black Friday. I know from personal experience I watch a LOT of football that entire weekend. Any random Friday I totally agree but that Friday I think will have more viewers.
What I don't know and can't speak about is whether people have off of work that day. I realize retail stores are open, but I don't know if the office workers would be home or not.
I'd say probably most of them will be. My current employer is pretty stingy with holidays (we get a total of 8, none of which are between January 1 and Memorial Day non-inclusive... worst time of the year, right now) and we get that Friday off.
Black Friday would be LOLUVA weekend, so I cant see us trying to make that a Friday night game. Would it be a cool one time thing to thump the Wahoos on a Friday night, maybe, but why mess with a Decade of Dominance.
Yeah Friday NIGHT would be a tough one to land.
Misread your post the first time and tried to edit (will see if it goes through). I agree with you on that.
Hadnt read the schedule thread before posting that. Still disagree with that game being on a Friday, even if its the ACC serving our rivalry up to the E$PN Sacrificial Altar. Especially after reading its not even guaranteed for a night slot, seems ridiculous that E$PN would require the games if they aren't for primetime slots.
It was my mistake. I misread/missed the "night" part of your comment the first time. I really do hope Hokie Nation makes it out to Lane (regardless of nooner, 3:30 or night) to watch a Wahoo thrashing.
As a high school football coach, I like preserving Friday nights for high school play. I can see the reasonings for wanting to play college games on those days but I'd hate it. It used to be Friday night games were second rate, however, I can see it becoming a huge thing because you're off the next day. Still, I like Friday night lights being for high school.
I also tend to think about this in terms of scouting. How in the hell are the college teams supposed to know what's going on at the HS level, who they want to recruit, if they're playing games on Fridays?
Exactly! You can't go watch a kid because you're playing, and they can't come watch you because they're playing. I can see why some people would like Friday night games, no better way to end the work week than with your college team playing, plus you get two days after that off to do whatever you want. However, I still consider Friday night college games for mid level schools, as well as Wednesday night games. Take night games on Thursday or Saturday. Save Friday night for high school!
By Late Nov. , High School football is their Playoffs. Which most of those games are on Saturday ! Be great for Recruits to see a game and not miss their game IF they are in the playoffs.
No. No Friday night.
It's currently too unusual a day on the schedule.
Thursday nights and late Saturday afternoon are the best times for college ball.
i agree that friday is more for high school and that it feels small time unless it's a bowl or maybe a holiday weekend. however, i feel like a friday night game in lane could be epic. it would be easier for people to travel, plus you'd have two days to get rid of your hangover (a concern for us old fogies). tv ratings would be low it being friday and all, but being there live in person it could be a blast.
Thats what I'm mostly trying to get at. It would have all the excitement of a Thursday night game without any worry waking up the next day. It also wouldn't be every weekend. I'm talking about just for one game as a feature game like "Thursday" night games. Imagine if we got a marquee matchup, like make our home game against tOSU on Friday night. THAT would give people a reason to watch college football on a Friday night.
Personally, I'd rather see the ACC (and VT by extension) get more of those Saturday night prime time slots. Thursday used to be great, but ever since the NFL Network started broadcasting pro games on Thursdays, the college game on ESPN just isn't as special as it used to be. As for Fridays....
Also another reason to encourage a Friday night game. Theres no pro football on Friday night. But then again, those involved in high school football would hate it, especially prospective recruits that have to play that night.
What if NFL played on Friday nights instead of Thursday nights?
I'm with CPA on this one; leave Friday for HS and get us something other than the dreaded noon timeslot on Saturdays. Of course I'm one of the minority who thinks that the time for Thursday night games is behind us; I think the exposure was good early on but now it just feels gimmicky, not to mention being a pain in the ass as far as travel goes. And nothing will top the 2003 aTm game anyway.
Not until the next hurricane hits the Burg, at least.
Please tell me that's from Ren & Stimpy?? I loved that show. Ahh the 90's...
Yep, that's Mr. Horse from Ren & Stimpy
I feel that if we scheduled a Friday night game, we would fall into the 'wannabe' category that the Big East/ConferenceUSA championed. Seemed like the Big East/Conference USA always had a game on Friday night - to which I was not excited to watch 1.) because they never played a great opponent and 2.) Thursdays and Saturdays are reserved for college football
I dont even know what it will accomplish? If it's the rumored after thanksgiving UVA game there is already an SEC game that day. And a lot of people work that day. So you aren't getting a primetime game, and you are probably decreasing the amount of fans in the stadium. So its lose-lose. Sounds like a great call to me.
Whenever I think of college football on Friday nights I think of Boise State. I swear they play on Friday night at least six times a year.
Thats true, I also think of Boise on Fridays...but thats the thing about perception, it takes a big influence to change perception: such as big football programs starting to schedule Friday night games. If I recall, Thursday night games didn't use to be that popular.
IIRC, we were one of the first major conference teams to play on Thursday nights, and look where we are now.
That's not to say that Friday would be that great, but it's at least a prime-time slot on national TV. IMO it would be a huge improvement over a Saturday nooner.
Yeah, Boise or Fresneck. Sometimes I swear I see Fresneck play twice in a single weekend.
Even if this was the best idea it can't happen. Coaches need to recruit and go see high school football games on Friday
EDIT: I would like to add that I am not so opposed to Friday Night Games. Hell, I'll take college football every day of the week. Tuesday night game? I'm there. Wed? Phuck yah. I get the point you're trying to make though and I agree about the excitement level you could generate.
NO. For all the reasons listed above.
Also would it affect recruiting? Don't the coaches usually go to high school games to watch recruits on Friday night?
They probably do go to high school games, but they must be more local games like Christiansburg, Salem, Roanoke. I can't imagine coaches fly around the country between Friday afternoon after practice and Saturday morning before all those noon games. Plus, in this day and age, theres limitless tape on nearly every game of every high school player that wants to play at the next level. FWIW, my question was only for one Friday night game so I have a feeling the coaches could sacrifice or work around one weekend to the point where some high schools play games on Saturday afternoons either because of weather or use of a shared facility.
When we have home games, our coaches have gone to the Tidewater area for games. They don't travel far, but they do recruit throughout the state, maybe even NC as well.
If you were planning on attending the game, I'd say Friday night would be awesome. Get out of class/work, start tailgating, watch the Hokies win and then heading downtown sounds like a great night. I'd be all for that if I was still a student.
For people like me who live too far away to make it to the game, I would love to watch the game, but if the kids, wife/gf, friends etc. have something planned for that night, finding a tv may be tough. Because Friday night isn't football on tv night, it's having fun so you can wake up at 10:30 and start preparing to yell at the tv.
Also, if we want to be visible to recruits on a national stage, pretty sure playing at the same time as them defeats that purpose. Not sure how big of a deal that would be, but it'd be something to think about.
Let the MAC keep Friday night. Or are they Tuesday night?
Point is, any night other than Thursday or Saturday isn't where we want to be.
I'm against it as well. Friday night games already have the perception of being the "nationally televised" games for weaker conferences. Why would we want in on that?
It may be nice logistically, but I think it hurts the perception of the program.
No. Coaches recruit on Friday nights. And recruits won't be watching or coming to a F=riday night game since they'll be playing themselves.
that's some bush league, big east shit right there.
Except for the SEC and B1G always play on the Friday after thanksgiving... Any other Friday of the year, then yes I agree.
Leave Friday nights for the high schools. (and yes, that includes the Big East)
If I had to come home after the weekly grind of work/kids/school/homework/practice on Friday night and immediately fall into the nerve racking exercise that is watching the Hokies on TV, I would probably spontaneously combust before the end of the 1st qtr.
Besides...from the team's perspective, there's much to lose, little to gain.
Friday Night games are for Mid-majors - I want none of that! Give me two Thursday night games!
OK - the Friday after Thanksgiving is different - this day has turned into a premium gameday. I'm happy to beat the shit out of UVA on Black Friday!
Anything beats a Saturday noon kickoff, but I still don't like the thought of Friday night games.
^^This
Friday night seems so "Big East" to me but it without a doubt is better than a Saturday noon. Stadium atmosphere at night is far and away better.
Well, it's looking like we will play UVA on Black Friday this year so you might get your wish.
Ha - was wondering the same - why did this feed suddenly appear on the same day that rumors started about a UVA/VT Friday game....
.... odd.
I won't lie...I had absolutely no inside knowledge about the Black Friday game prior to this topic nor did I even hear any of the "rumors" about it being a possibility. I thought it would be an interesting topic to debate in conjunction with all the demand for a Thursday night game and sans nooners. In hindsight, it is really ironic that we end up with a Friday night game after the overwhelming majority has seemed to disagree with me based on recruiting/program perception. My post even made it into one of Joe's posts. But, as some have mentioned here, Black Friday does present the opportunity for a much larger media exposure as it is not like your typical Friday. High schools don't usually play and many people like to take that day off as its impossible to work the day after consuming so much food. Regardless, its happening so we'd best embrace it and go for the #newdecadeofdominance.
Looking into it further, in the past VT has played games on Friday after Thanksgiving.
Friday, Nov 29, 1996 vs. UVA (W)
Friday, Nov 26, 1999 vs. Boston College (W) - of course.
The Friday after Thanksgiving is the only Friday during the regular season that it's OK to play a college football game.
agree completely. and the game should never be played before 5:00 PM since no one wants to travel on Thursday night...
The Friday after Thanksgiving is a classic college football day. Last year's slate included:
Iowa vs. Nebraska
Ark vs. LSU
Miami vs. Pitt
Wash St vs. Wash
Oregon vs. Oregon St
However, I think the major issue is Blacksburg is ~4+ hours from about 80% of the student and alumni population. We'll see how the stadium looks, especially for a nooner. It should be noted, Miami vs Pitt was 3:30 last year.
It also got pretty cold after about halftime...
Blacksburg may be 4 hours for most alumni but I would say most of the students live in Blacksburg. An 8+ hour commute everyday for classes would be hard to handle. ;)
Except they typically go home for fall break and Thanksgiving.
People are crazy enough to camp out in front of Best Buy and Walmart for Black Friday deals. I think I can slip out of Thanksgiving desert and head down to Blacksburg if there is a game Friday.
Hell, Black Friday deals start at 6PM Thursday now. Nothing is sacred.
Actually KMART had theirs from 6AM Thanksgiving Day....and were open all through that night. I am thankful I realized early that retail wasn't for me.
Love Friday night for Hokie football it's great for exposure.
I remember we had a Wednesday night game in Blacksburg a few years back that I attended. Bryan Randall got picked in the endzone and we lost. Wednesday and Friday feels bush league to me like. I don't mind games on those nights if it is MAC or AAC just not VT.
A few years back = a decade
It's been a few years back since UVA last beat us, then.
Friday Day or Night in Lane Will be a Great Time. And the Hoos will be the Only Ones that will Not Like It. Sending London packing on Friday will be just fine with me, give him the weekend to job hunt !
Well, I am excited about this truthfully. I get down to Virginia once a year for Thanksgiving to see my family but usually leave on Saturday to drive back to Michigan, thus missing the opportunity to go to the game. This year I am making plans to finally go to a VT game. And I am going to drag my brother (A UVA grad) down with me to watch the ass-whopping we put on UVA!
Do you have one of those "divided household" stickers on that back of your car? I don't think I could ever spend more than 3+ consecutive hours in the company of my brother if he went to UVA unless it was during our football game...
I only see him once a year so it's bearable.
I'm in
At least VT doesn't have to play on cyber monday...
Night games in Lane Stadium make me happy. Thursday, Friday, Saturday, all good for me.
The only time I really remember watching the Friday night games is when I'm in a hotel near Blacksburg waiting for the game on Saturday.
Outside of the first weekend, Black Friday, and bowl games, there's no need for a major conference game on Friday.