Playing football on Friday night is a bad idea all
around. Writing as a lifelong Ohioan, Friday nights are a sacred event
within most Ohio communities, built around high school football. It truly
does not matter if your son does not play, as my two sons do not. The
kids who are in the marching band, high school students hanging out with their
friends, and proud parents or alums attending the game ~ there truly is
something special about going to the local high school game, creating memories
that last a lifetime.
The backlash against this decision by The B1G to play on
Friday nights has been severe and justifiably deserved. Jim Delany’s
short-sighted decision to put extra money into The B1G’s coffers has earned him
the enmity of Ohio high school football coaches, as well as other Midwestern
states that comprise The B1G, as these high schools are going to be
economically damaged by lower attendance that can severely impact their
respective high school athletic budgets.
And in case anyone thinks that I am writing this strictly
and solely from the perspective of an Ohio State fan, here is what Teddy
Greenstein of the Chicago Tribune has to say on the matter. One of the
most overlooked aspects of this decision is how this impacts recruiting, no matter
which teams are playing. How can Northwestern invite any recruits to this
game, when they will be playing on Friday night? Isn’t recruiting the
lifeblood of all college football programs?
UPDATE, as of 2:30pm EST on 10/18/2019...Even Ohio State TE Coach Kevin Wilson thinks this is what Ohio State fans should do...
One of the things I try to stress to my children is if you
make a mistake, own it. Admit it. Here is an opportunity for Jim
Delany and B1G leadership to do the same, and eliminate the option of B1G
football being played on Friday nights into the future.
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