I mentioned, yesterday, the issue of Pitt playing some Friday night away games this season and the conflict with the tradition of the Friday night high school game. Today, an article about the topic.
The Panthers will play four weekday games this fall, including two under Friday night lights. Neither of those Friday games will be played at Heinz Field.
“We are holding firm against playing Friday night home games, out of respect for the high schools,” [Pitt Athletic Director Jeff] Long said.
“I appreciate him feeling that way,” said WPIAL executive director Larry Hanley. “But I don’t know how long Pitt can maintain that when those TV dollars are being thrown at them.”
AD Long can “Rage, rage against the dying of the light,” but a time will come. It’s not the dollars as much as it will be the dictates of the contract and pressure brought from ESPN and the Big East. Never, say never.
Among Division I-A schools, only Toledo (five) will play more weekday games than Pitt this season. Three other teams — West Virginia, Ohio and Miami (Ohio) — also have four weekday games.
Long said the Big East will resist playing on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but he expects the league will continue with games on Thursdays and Fridays.
This year, the Big East has slated 13 weekday games, including eight conference matchups. Pitt and Rutgers are the only teams in the league with two Friday games.
Of the major conferences, the Big East and Western Athletic (four games each) will be busiest on Friday nights.
The Big 12, Mid-American and Conference USA each has three Friday games. The Big Ten and Pacific-10 each have two, and the Southeastern Conference has one Friday game scheduled.
The Atlantic Coast Conference has the second-most weekday games (eight), but none are on Fridays.
No conference is immune from weekday games. The Mid-American has the most (17, including nine conference games) and the Big Ten has the fewest (three, all non-conference matchups).
At the bottom of the page is a chart showing conferences and the number of weekday games played. Notice that Mountain West, has only 4 weekday games. That’s a direct result of their moving their TV deal to CSTV from ESPN.
The WPIAL Director is also right that a Friday night home game for Pitt would hurt Pitt as well. Not just in the obvious issue of attendance. There is also recruiting.
One of the classic recruiting tools is hosting the high schoolers at the game. Give them a feel for the atmosphere and an idea of what could be. Losing a possible day to host the kids is huge when you only have 5 or 6 in a season and the competition from other schools trying to do the same.
