#hokienation What is your preferred kick off times for occasional game we get to pick? Lots to consider on our side— Whit Babcock (@WhitBabcock) May 20, 2014
It's awesome that the man in charge is asking the fans for their input on an administrative decision. I'm curious, what do y'all think?
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I am a fan of a late fall 3:30 kickoff. I love night games, but 3:30 at the right time of the year has everything - good amount of time to tailgate, good temperature, and the sun setting over the mountains behind the scoreboard showing a VT victory.
This. Begin the game in the sun, end it beneath the lights of the TerrorDome. Perfection.
This. A thousand times this. And there's plenty of time to eat dinner and go DT after the game.
My response:
Anything that isn't noon.
Or 11:55 (didn't weaver do that to us once last year?)
Anytime under the lights.
Supporting evidence:
I love the 3:30 games in the fall when night comes during the 4th quarter
Check out that sweet block by MD7 in the background.
Looks like he's holding up a sign that says "Me, too".
That. Just. Never. Gets. Tired.
AWESOME!
So many reasons for more night games or ones that end at night.
I tweeted him and said 330 or later that noon games were terrible with a bunch of explanation points
Most of the non-TV games are in September.
It still gets hot in Blacksburg in September.
I have many memories of being sweaty and sun-burnt after these games.
I would like to create new memories of being dry/non-burnt.
Plus, packing up a tailgate at 11am sucks
So sometime around 6pm would be ideal.
7 before daylight savings time ends, 3:30 after.
Ideal, to me:
Initial home games at 3:30-perfect tailgating time, great weather, time to drive home or go out in Blacksburg post win.
Then later games in early fall to enjoy cool night weather.
Later October Thursday night game to showcase the Terrordome-(can we have Cornell ride out on a fire-spouting tank dressed in black with a 'Terrordome' flag?)
Then finish the season with 3:30 games b/c Blacksburg is cold as crap in November- schedule Miami then.
All night...all the time!
I just love that he's asking the fans that question. I doubt he'll be overwhelmed with calls for more noon games
3:30 or after, preferably nights
In consideration of alumni that travel to games, the town that lives off of the business generated from people in town for games, a fanbase that enjoys tailgating, and a desire for playing under the lights, 3:30 is the way to go. It allows those who travel and want to make it a day trip the opportunity to do so. Even getting back to NoVA, you will be back before midnight. It brings money to Downtown Blacksburg as people buy dinner in town and possibly lunch too depending on their preparedness and level of tailgating. It gives fans more than enough time to tailgate. And it allows games to end under the lights. If every game was under the lights, starting at 7 or later, then no game would be special and we would eventually go back to having an apathetic fanbase only now at night games. Let's keep those exclusive to Thursdays and marquee games in prime time on Saturday.
I always found it especially curious that Jim Weaver scheduled all of our early season OOC games for midday instead of mixing in some night games. Night games in September make sense for a lot of reasons, later in the season not so much.
Every game we have control over should be 3:30. To hell with nooners and 1:30 kickoffs. Give us a decent tailgate after being allowed to sleep in, and we'll be happy. Yes, everyone loves a night game, but night games should be reserved for BIG opponents and should be special. Miami in 2003 wasn't awesome because it was at night, although it helped. That game was awesome because it was a huge game in itself, and having it at night made it an even more special event that ended up blowing the roof off the place.
And I am not going to complain about noon games that are regionally televised. If the network wants us to play at a certain time, then we play at that time. However, if we ever get a choice, we should ALWAYS take the later option than the earlier. I have heard many times over the years that whenever Raycom would offer a noon or 3:00 option, we always went with noon. That's gotta change going forward. We might not have been playing like it the last 2 years, but we're one of the big boys of football in this conference, we should act like it. Let ourselves get a later, premier timeslot when its available, every time its available. Not only will it help our visibility, but it makes for a more enjoyable gameday when you aren't having to worry about not oversleeping the start of your tailgate after a long week of work.
Especially those boys on the West Coast...
My stomach and liver really appreciate not digesting bourbon at 11:30AM.
We start tailgating for the richmond nascar race by 8 am. We have kicked the day off with 7:30am tequila shots before we crack the first beer. That gives us a solid 10+ hours of tailgating.
Twice a year.
Can't keep that up for 13 weeks.
Nick is also 25, Ranger is 33. That might also have a big something to do with it.
Bingo, with sex trophys (kids) running around all snotty and making loud noises.
If you wouldn't give them bourbon so early in the morning they might not do that.
Damn, I didn't think about that...
...and if you feed them, they'll never leave!
...Like pigeons...or teenagers.
Can't find an embeddable video (and this one will only be available for about 6 more days) but see this Surviving Jack episode at time indexes: 00:00-00:50, 2:36-3:30, 8:44-9:02, 14:09-14:37, and 20:57-21:36
http://www.fox.com/watch/243231811605
Though as with every good show they develop, Fox decided to cancel it.
Oh, I can do that twice a year also, standing on my head.
It's every Saturday for 13 weeks that would be tough. Especially with the sex trophies of which Ranger refers.
Although usually, it's Irish coffees at 5:30AM instead of tequila shots. The wife would sometimes prefer the tequila shots but I like my caffeine too. The Irish coffee seems to go better with the bacon. Either way it's an ounce.
Now if I can only figure out a way to make lime-bacon, then we'd be in business.
Beer, it's not just for breakfast anymore.
If you dont start drinking in the morning, how are you supposed to drink all day?
Ummmm it's called the shampoo effect
does no one get this? i enjoyed it with a good chuckle
I don't mind the occasional morning drink/drinking. Just not every week like last year.
Those early September games at night would be a lot cooler than a noon or 3:30 kickoff. That would be awesome. It would also make the Hokies a more desirable opponent. How else is W&M going to play under the lights at a major conference stadium?
I love how Whit is reaching out to the fans about this. He is engaging the fans more and more and it is awesome. This guy gets it. He should be getting the 2015 AD of the year award.
i love 3:30. it can be hot in September, but i love tailgating from 8AM-3PM, taking in a game, enjoying a few post game beverages back at the tailgate, then packing up to head downtown for the late games at the bar. it's the perfect Saturday in Blacksburg for me. i will add, all kickoffs later than 3:30 are superior to any kickoffs prior to 3:30...noon and 1:30 kickoffs are horrible. maybe i could live with a 2:30 in November if it came down to it, but that would be the only exception!
What... if we started having games real early in the morning, to throw off our opponents?
Right...great idea. I wouldn't mind a 7am start time so I could get home and work on my stamp collection after the game.
I realize this was sarcastic but...
3:30 PM games would be awesome if we have the power to schedule them.
Goodness, I love the way the new regime has encouraged fan interaction. Thanks Whit for actually asking for fans opinions instead of just assuming them.
You mean as opposed to pretending you conducted some phantom poll, when all you did was eagerly volunteer to accept the worst of what was offered, to curry favor with Swofford et.al? Yes, Whit is a refreshing change from the past.
Oh but apparently if you read TSL the poll did happen. It was just conducted with those over 50 years old in the 90s who wanted 1:30 kickoffs because that was the normal kickoff time in the '60s and '70s. (that's actually a quote).
That's hilariously sad. I can just imagine the mindset - 'It will be like the good ole days, when we were called the Gobblers and there was only one game on TV each week.' That claim was probably made by some of those favored posters who still cling to the 'VT family' concept due to their fear of any/all change.
That was their version of "Stick it in, stick it in" the noon time slot.
Everyone knows all the ACC teams other than FSU and Miami play best at noon, that's why most games are scheduled then.
The return of Mama Giraffe.
pfft...This Whit guy is so out of touch with fans. Our last AD never had to ask anyone what fans wanted.
/sarcastica
Actually, he supposedly did ask.
The rumors of whether or not he just asked the fellow members at his geriatric clinic is still up for debate
I am surprised asking for all night games wasn't the unanimous vote. The only drawback I see to all night games is getting home afterwards. When I go to games, that is my last concern. I want as much time as possible to tailgate and spend time with friends and family leading up to the game. Night games gives you a full day to watch other games leading up to going in the stadium. After 0 night games at lane in 2013, it seems like the obvious choice to me.
In Soviet Russia you don't pick night game, night game picks you!
In all seriousness I'm sure there's much less chance of there being an choice between 6 or 8pm than there is of between noon and 3:30.
3:30 is worst time for West Coast Hokies... But, I will go with the consensus with fans that will actually attend the game. Which brings me to my next point. I think Whit is wrong to ask fans via twitter. He should be asking Hokie Club members and students with season tickets. By using twitter, he's virtually ignoring the 90% of the older alumni over the age of 45 (2009 data by Huffington Post). It would be interesting to see the statistics of respondents with season tickets, as I doubt those without season tickets are driving down to see the likes ECU or William & Mary.
I'm sure this is more of a tactic to energize the young alumni (i.e. the alumni who aren't donating) and get them to buy season tickets, but still I'm not a fan of twitter polls. Too biased of a source.
I'm ok with it because I'm sure he's been asking around the HC and older alumni with more direct polling methods. Plus, the demographic he's trying to reach (the young alumni who aren't donating yet, but will be paying the bills in 20 years is the one that has been sorely neglected for the past decade or so.
THIS X 1000! Having an AD that uses Twitter shows that he is reaching out to the future generations. The guy's not dumb, I'm sure he's doing everything he can to reach out to everyone of all ages rather than just ignore social media altogether and poll only Hokie Platinum members and above.
well, if you believe JW, the older season ticket holders already spoke. they prefer 1:30. they are Richmond and closer day trippers who like to drive in in the morning, have a little food/beverage at the tailgate, go to the game, and get home before it's too late.
while i do think their opinion matters, so should that of the students and of those who are staying 2 nights and pumping money into the local economy for more than 5 hours.
at the end of the day, we're lucky to get 1 game where we get to dictate the kickoff, but it's a fun exercise nonetheless...
Agreed, Weaver catered to the older, higher contributing season ticket holders and selected 1:30. Over the years, the reason I've ascertained for that preference is it allows them to leave home, get to their space, watch the game, and return home all in one day.
Not to mention they can still get their early bird specials.
Its easy to say that a 1:30 timeslot would be favorable for older day trippers but look at Alabama, they practically get night games every game of the season and I'll bet their older alumni/band wagon fans have little problem with that. It all stems back to making the team better. If you win games, you'll be more in the spot light and your fans will want to spend more time in town, more time tailgating, more time at the games...and in the end will make the arrangements for overnight trips. I see it as more of a "book them, and they will come" idea. The fact that noon games were just to cater to the older folks is a little crazy to me and quite frankly, selfish. I think the fans will come no matter what time the game is, especially if the team is winning.
noon games are to cater to ESPN, 1:30 games (not on TV) are to cater to the boosters JW polled (i would be speculating if i called them old and/or rich). we only get to dictate game time if ESPN or Raycom doesn't pick us up.
as for Alabama, i'm guessing all of their games are dictated by TV, but even if some aren't, night games in the deep south are out of necessity in September and even early October...
Non-season ticket holder here. I'm much more likely to attend games if it's at 330 and not noon. Living 2 hrs away means I get to sleep until 8am compared to 6 for those nooners. You can count on me to be at ecu and w,m if they're 330 (monday test pending)
ECU is a noon game, just as it should be.
Don't know what they were thinking putting the William and Mary game at 3:30.
One reason why non season ticket holders would go to those games: relatively local, therefore families who have alumni/students from those schools can attend at what we all seem to agree is a preferred timeslot.
I am a under 40 Hokie club member and have been buying season tickets since I graduated almost 20 years ago. It would have been wonderful to be polled on this but I don't do social media.
I would expect that Whit uses more than just social media to obtain feedback as he converts VTAD to a contemporary model. He is always available to respectful, mature suggestions via e-mail. His address is readily available via hokiesports.com and I have sent him e-mails on occasion myself. I always remind myself to be respectful of the fact he is one man and Hokie Nation is thousands, so I don't flood him with every hare-brained idea I have, and I keep my message extremely concise. I also provide my mailing address and phone number so that I am accountable if necessary. As for using social media, I will say that using social media now is like people watching TV in the 60's/70's. It is where huge amounts of information reside. While it has lots of negatives, it also has many positives. I use it judiciously, and have no problems. Also - I've been a Hokie Club member & season ticket holder for a LONG time, and nobody ever asked my opinion on anything - in the mail, in person, on the phone, via e-mail, via social media, in no way was my opinion ever elicited. Until Whit. Think of it as a good beginning...
Yea, Whit is doing his job right. I'm guessing he is using multiple sources to get a true opinion of the people that matter (season ticket holders and the coaches). The twitter poll just seems too unspecific, biased, and transient. However, I'm guessing the twitter poll was more of a form of public exposure and tactical promotion. After all, he got ~40 replies, 84 retweets, 70 favorites and has a following of 9000. It's forum on this board and was retweeted by all Hokie journalists and bloggers. Well done by Whit.
Spot on, in many different ways. One fact I learned from a Steve Jobs quote - Ignore customer polls. People think they know what they want, but they really don't. - Now that requires a paragraph of explanation, but the application here is that feedback can be constructive, just not the ultimate decision factor. I think Whit is keeping his finger on the pulse of Hokie Nation, and letting us know he is doing that. That's a good thing - providing tangible evidence that he is open to feedback. He'll also wisely use his own intuition to know when to ignore public opinion and instead do what he knows will work. Not everything should be decided by popular vote, but it is extremely comforting to know we're at least being asked.
Be careful the Jobs quote. He was talking about complex things and tech too. Hard for a consumer to know what they want if they don't know what's possible.
Quite an easier thing to know that you want more time to tailgate so lunch isn't served at 10:30AM and the cook needs to get there, setup his kitchen, serve drinks and breakfast, prep lunch, cook it, serve it and drinks then let it cool, break it down and secure everything in 3 hours, all while taking time to have fun.
That's why I said the Jobs quote would take a paragraph to explain. Also why I learned years ago several breakfast recipes that work on the grill.
that HuffPost data was conducted 3 years ago. I didn't even have Twitter then (24 yo). It's changed and become a more widely used medium even for older people. So I disagree, he was in the right to use Twitter to ask.
330 is perfect, though Thursday night is still my favorite.
Wish he had a Facebook page!
It is awesome that he is engaging the fans to find out what they want. It is great to see.
I gotta say...those 3:30 games are just perfection. Some of my favorite Lane memories were 3:30 kickoffs.
2007 Florida State (when an 18 year old kid named Tyrod went absolutely NUTS with 1. the greatest throw I've ever seen across the body 50 yards to J. Harp, 2. the 3rd and 31 scramble, and 3. the original Superman pose);
2009 Nebraska (doesn't need any elaboration, except to say that tailgating with those Nebraskans for 7 hours was the experience of a lifetime);
and most recently, 2011 Miami (arguably Logan's finest hour, and to this day the most exciting game I have ever seen live.)
Bring on those 3:30 kicks whenever possible, Whit! You da man!
As someone who was also at that Miami game, I completely agree. 3:30 just seems like a perfect option excluding thursday night games.