Fansided

Five reasons Friday night Big Ten games will be a disaster

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Oct 13, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany speaks with the media during one-on-one interviews as part of Big Ten media day at Marriott Washington Wardman Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 13, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany speaks with the media during one-on-one interviews as part of Big Ten media day at Marriott Washington Wardman Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tyrrell Pigrome, Maryland Terrapins, UCF Knights
Sep 17, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Maryland Terrapins quarterback Tyrrell Pigrome (3) runs for the game winning touchdown past Central Florida Knights defensive lineman Tony Guerad (93) and defensive lineman Trysten Hill (95) in double overtime of a football game at Bright House Networks Stadium. Maryland won 30-24 in double overtime. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

3) Travel for fans

Perhaps expansion has killed this part of the conference, perhaps this is something not to lament any longer. But one of the charms for the Big Ten was always the schools’ relative proximity and how fans are able to travel fairly easily to road games.

The Big Ten has its Midwestern charm and fan bases are not as rabid as those in other conferences in many respects. There is at least a perception that the fan bases are collegial and, for the most part, enjoy each other’s company for some good-natured ribbing as they welcome visitors into their house.

Big Ten fans typically show up for opposing games. And a big reason, like it is throughout many conferences, is the weekly caravan to occupy a new city.

Play games on a Friday, and it becomes difficult to sell tickets to opposing fans and even home fans traveling from all parts of the state and the Midwest to get to a game. Attendance, already suffering throughout the nation, hurts even more.

This is the “I cannot get off of work in time for a Friday night game” argument.

The idea of more-empty-than-usual stadiums is not an appealing one. The reason college football — and football in general — works really well is because the season follows a natural schedule within the week. Friday is high school football, Saturday is college and NFL is Sunday. Disrupting that can lead to bad results.

Schools will drum up student support plenty fine for these special games. Selling tickets for an odd day to normal fans could prove much tougher.

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