Post by rainman on Oct 26, 2009 5:06:52 GMT -5
NCAA Fridays hurting prep football
By Mickey Furfari
For the Times West Virginian
— West Virginia’s football game at South Florida will be the first of three Friday night appearances.
It will be the most ever for the Mountaineers in one season. While they haven’t had to play any of those at home, it’s probably just a matter of time before they will have to do that.
In all, the Big East Conference has eight Friday games this year. And I think that’s showing utter disregard by ESPN for the nation’s high school football programs.
Friday nights traditionally have been for prep games, and television has to hurt their attendance, especially if the weather is bad.
Like colleges, high schools need money to keep their athletic programs in the black. So colleges, in effect, are hurting what’s unofficially their farm system.
Ed Pastilong, WVU’s veteran athletic director, doesn’t like to play Friday nights. But he says the school has no choice when it comes to league scheduling.
Even Michael Tranghese, the recently retired Big East commissioner, said a year ago that he tried to limit the conference’s number of such Friday night games.
Besides next Friday’s game at USF, West Virginia plays at No. 6-ranked Cincinnati on Nov. 13 and Pitt at home either Friday afternoon or night, the day after Thanksgiving.
Other Friday games involving Big East teams this season:
Oct. 2, Pitt at Louisville; Oct. 16, Pitt at Rutgers; Oct. 23, Rutgers at Army; Nov.17, Rutgers at Louisville and Illinois at Cincinnati.
Some people think that it’s time ESPN quit dictating, at least in this matter. But Pastilong points out that the Big East is stronger than ever as far as TV contracts are concerned.
The high schools have to be hurting, though.
By Mickey Furfari
For the Times West Virginian
— West Virginia’s football game at South Florida will be the first of three Friday night appearances.
It will be the most ever for the Mountaineers in one season. While they haven’t had to play any of those at home, it’s probably just a matter of time before they will have to do that.
In all, the Big East Conference has eight Friday games this year. And I think that’s showing utter disregard by ESPN for the nation’s high school football programs.
Friday nights traditionally have been for prep games, and television has to hurt their attendance, especially if the weather is bad.
Like colleges, high schools need money to keep their athletic programs in the black. So colleges, in effect, are hurting what’s unofficially their farm system.
Ed Pastilong, WVU’s veteran athletic director, doesn’t like to play Friday nights. But he says the school has no choice when it comes to league scheduling.
Even Michael Tranghese, the recently retired Big East commissioner, said a year ago that he tried to limit the conference’s number of such Friday night games.
Besides next Friday’s game at USF, West Virginia plays at No. 6-ranked Cincinnati on Nov. 13 and Pitt at home either Friday afternoon or night, the day after Thanksgiving.
Other Friday games involving Big East teams this season:
Oct. 2, Pitt at Louisville; Oct. 16, Pitt at Rutgers; Oct. 23, Rutgers at Army; Nov.17, Rutgers at Louisville and Illinois at Cincinnati.
Some people think that it’s time ESPN quit dictating, at least in this matter. But Pastilong points out that the Big East is stronger than ever as far as TV contracts are concerned.
The high schools have to be hurting, though.
