Badger Football on Friday Nights - Good or Bad Idea

[MickeyDavis]

I thought I'd explore this topic How do you guys feel about it, specifically the Badgers? I hate it. Even though it's early in the season it still conflicts with high school football. With the new TV deal they (networks) want more options. But I'm not a fan. I don't know how often each team will be expected to do a Friday night game. I notice neither OSU or Michigan are on the schedule for it next season.

The University of Wisconsin will be one of six Big Ten schools to host a Friday night football game next season, the conference announced Tuesday.

The Badgers, who only agreed to host Friday night games the weekend of Labor Day, will open their 2017 slate by hosting Utah State on Friday, Sept. 1, at Camp Randall Stadium.

The conference’s decision to move six of its games to Friday night next season was a widely criticized one that had Big Ten schools and state high school associations speaking out against what was viewed as a money-grabbing ploy that inconvenienced season-ticket-holders and those involved in high school football across the Midwest.

UW’s game will be the same night as Week 3 of state high school football games.

Wisconsin Football Coaches Association executive director Dan Brunner was not happy with the decision.

“The WFCA has always supported reserving Friday night for (high school) football,” Brunner said in a statement. “The plan by the Big Ten to televise six games on Friday nights next year is very disturbing.

“The thought of the Badgers being involved in one of those games is especially upsetting. Many of our coaches and their players look forward to attending or viewing Badger games on Saturdays. A lot of them have former players playing for the Badgers. It would also have a negative affect on attendance at high school games, especially in Madison, when the Badgers are playing.

“We are especially concerned with the teams in the greater Madison area and the impact this will have on travel, attendance, gate revenue, fan support, volunteer availability and media coverage. These things will negatively impact all teams in the state to some degree, but the damage will be felt especially hard in the Dane County area. Most teams get just four to five home games per year, and a decrease in revenue from a game as a result of the Badgers playing on Friday night could be considerable, and provide significant challenges to the team and overall athletic budget.”

The addition of Friday night games — to be televised by an ESPN channel, FOX or FS1 — comes as the Big Ten is set to embark on a lucrative new television deal next year.

“There has been a lot of dialogue within our conference about the feasibility of playing a very limited number of Friday night games,” UW athletic director Barry Alvarez said in a statement last week. “As a former high school and college coach, I have great respect for the tradition and importance of Friday night high school football in the state of Wisconsin and throughout the Midwest. As a conference, we felt it was the right time to explore additional opportunities for exposure on Friday nights on a limited basis.

“At Wisconsin, we are open to hosting games at Camp Randall on the Friday night prior to Labor Day weekend in selected years but have not committed to hosting Friday night games at any other time.”

Michigan State and Iowa took similar stances to UW, agreeing to host Friday night games only before Labor Day.

Penn State informed the Big Ten it would not host Friday night games but would be open to one such game on the road per season. Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel released a statement saying the school doesn’t intend to play in any Friday night games, home or away.

The other Big Ten games to be played on Friday night next season are Washington at Rutgers (Sept. 1), Ohio at Purdue (Sept. 8), Nebraska at Illinois (Sept. 29), Northwestern at Maryland (Oct. 13) and Michigan State at Northwestern (Oct. 27).

[Mags FTW]

I don't care about the high school football thing or having to watch other teams on a Friday night, but I hate the idea of hosting a game.

Some of the best times of my life have been on college football Saturdays in Madison. Friday night games take away a lot of the tailgate and pregame/postgame festivities.

[MickeyDavis]

Definitely. I'm surprised Barry agreed to a home Friday night game.

[HKPackFan]

Hate it.

I loved Friday night football as a high school kid. It is a shame they are screwing with that. Also screws up tailgating. Also screws up people that fly in for Saturday games and make a weekend out of a Saturday night game. Just a bad idea all around and seems nothing more than a money grab.

[MikeIsGood]

Hate it. Incredibly stupid.

[trwi7]

It's one game against Utah State. On a scale of I don't give a **** to I don't give a ****, I rate it as I don't give a ****.

[MickeyDavis]

This won't be a one time thing. Friday night games are part of the new TV deal.