More Friday night college games? No thanks, Friday is for high school football
Big Ten Conference officials aim to schedule more Friday night college football games in the future.
Shame on them.
At one time it wouldn't be a thought in their greedy heads. Friday was reserved for high schools, Saturday for colleges and the NFL owned Sunday.
But now? Follow the money and draw your own conclusions.
It's all about TV contracts and power conferences, creating a behemoth that can't be stopped. The Big Ten is locked in a $7 billion broadcast deal with CBS, Fox and NBC, and the only concern is letting the networks recoup the investment during every possible weekly window of opportunity.
With that level of cash hanging in the balance, nothing will stand in the way. Not even high school football and the beloved myth of "Friday Night Lights."
Money is more important than the high school football programs feeding the Big Ten its talent.
The league began scheduling Friday night football games in 2017, a decision criticized at the time by Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and former Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald among others. Both believed Friday night should be reserved for high schools.
Too bad. The Friday night games kept coming.
In fact, this year the Big Ten is playing two games the day after Thanksgiving - the same day the IHSA plays its state title games in Class 1A to 4A.
Indiana football coach Tom Allen, a high school coach for more than a decade, addressed the scheduling leading up to the Hoosiers' Friday night game against Indiana State in September. Remembering his roots, Allen stood up for high schools.
"Friday night football is for high school football. Bottom line," he said. "I'll say it until I'm blue in the face. Until somebody tells me to shut up. Then I'll probably say it again."
Only no one in a position of power will listen. Not if it doesn't boost revenues.
The lack of caring glares on several levels, beyond the short week of preparation created by Friday night games.
If Big Ten teams play on Friday, high school recruits can't be on their sidelines in front of 80,000 fans that Saturday. And college coaches can't put in face time with recruits at high school games if they're playing at the same time.
None of it matters, though.
With the 2024 addition of Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington from the Pac-12, the Big Ten next year is increasing the number of Friday night games to get maximum exposure while vying for attention with other mega conferences like the SEC.
For a high school football fan, it's maddening.
Between safety concerns and the pandemic, it's been a tough handful of years for the sport. Adding college games as direct competition with the high schools doesn't help.
But, again, complaining about it is like shouting into the wind.
Unless you're waving $7 billion in the air, no one will listen.