Opening Fridays to colleges is foul play by NCAA

Sporting News, The, May 28, 2001 by Tom Dienhart

Each fall, the beat of the football weekend begins Friday nights. Dimly lit high school fields glow in places like Big Spring, Texas. For two hours or so, 17-year-olds become as important as city council members in burgs like Mechanicsburg, Pa. But now, the high schools have to share their night with colleges. And it's not right.

An encroachment penalty should be called on the NCAA for enacting legislation to allow colleges to play on the night mythical figures like Ridgemont High's Charles Jefferson and Ampipe High's Stefan Djordjevic helped make famous for high school stars. This is an infraction that has torn at the bond between the high school and college ranks. Without strong high school programs, colleges would suffer. But in making this move, which was part of a deregulation package to avoid potential antitrust litigation, the NCAA mortgaged tomorrow so a small few could benefit today.

I can understand why some leagues would choose to play games on Friday nights. Airtime is scarce on Saturdays. The TV networks focus their attention on the big boys with the big bands, big enrollments and big alumni bases. A fan of the smaller conferences might see a few highlights of one of his or her teams, maybe even a game. But by playing on Friday nights, a notoriously bad TV night, schools figure to get better exposure. It's a choice of Matlock or the MAC.

College football already had begun to seep out of its Saturday time slot in recent seasons. This season, Conference USA will play games each day of the week but Wednesday. Schools like Colorado State have taken advantage of ESPN's Thursday night slots to build their programs. Never before have so many fans been beamed into Fort Collins, Colo., to look live at the Rams, which has helped recruiting.

In addition to the exposure, the schools will get a nice paycheck for their Friday night work. It's a constant fight for most athletic departments to fill their coffers, so the lure of an infusion of TV cash is enticing. But despite those positives, the NCAA should have done something to protect the high school game.

"High school football in America needs support from the NCAA and other entities, not the distraction Friday night college football will bring," says Grant Teaff, executive director of the American Football Coaches Association.

What makes the AFCA and others even more upset about the change is the fact the NCAA didn't consult them while contemplating Friday night games.

"In smaller towns and cities where colleges make the decision to play on Friday nights, there will be an immediate negative impact on local high school football as fans have to decide whether they will support their high school football team or their college team," says Teaff. "Nationally televised games will almost certainly have a negative effect on high school football attendance."

While Friday night games like Northwestern-UNLV and Minnesota-Toledo, two such matchups this fall, don't figure to threaten attendance and gate receipts at prep hotbeds like Valdosta, Ga., the day could come when big-time colleges opt to play on Friday nights if the money is right.

"I have mixed feelings about (playing on Friday nights)," UNLV coach John Robinson says. "I think we all would complain mightily if the NFL were to play on Saturdays. We all are competing for the money. If college football as a whole doesn't want to (play on Friday nights), then the have-nots have to have a way to continue to flourish."

Bob Kanaby, the executive director of the National Federation of State High School Associations, thinks the impact could reach beyond the football field. In many cases, other high school sports rely on money generated by the football team, so lower attendance would have an adverse effect on paying for other sports. Kanaby's organization is encouraging its membership to write college athletic directors and conference commissioners to voice their displeasure.

It's a start, but TV exposure and money are mightier than the pen.

Staff writer Tom Dienhart covers college football for THE SPORTING NEWS. E-mail him at tsntsd@aol.com.

RELATED ARTICLE: inside dish

Kansas State might be best advised to decline to play Southern Mississippi in the Black Coaches Association game August 26. Though it would be good for the Wildcats to get a game under their belts before playing at USC on September 8, the Golden Eagles won't be pushovers. The fact that K-State will be breaking in new QB Ell Roberson makes the prospects for a slip-up more likely. The Wildcats would score points with critics for opening against two tough foes, but it wouldn't be worth risking an 0-2 start.... If you're looking for LSU QB Rohan Davey this summer, check the film room. While no one doubts his physical skills, Davey needs to become more polished when it comes to reading defenses and making decisions.... One of the things Ole Miss QB Eli Manning says he likes to work on during summer workouts is improvising plays near the goal line with his wideouts. "We'll run a play, and then I'll yell `scramble.' The receivers know I am on the run, and they go to certain areas. A lot of times I'll throw it toward a goal post, where either my guy will catch it or no one will. Those are the type of things we usually can't spend a lot of time working on in the fall." ... Iowa State watchers are keeping an eye on QB Seneca Wallace. The JC transfer wowed 'em in spring ball with his athletic skills. He'll continue to work on timing and touch this summer.... Louisville might have the nation's most underrated pass-catch duo in QB Dave Ragone and WR Deion Branch. Ragone will look to home his touch in summer workouts, while Branch will work to refine his hands. He is a fearless route runner who might project as a first-day selection in the 2002 NFL draft.