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| Thursday, May 3 SEC: No plans for Friday night games Associated Press | |||
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Dan Washburn can relax: The Southeastern
Conference has no plans to move its games to Friday nights.
Washburn, executive director of the Alabama High School
Athletics Association, said such a move would "destroy some high
school programs."
"It's a great Southern tradition on Friday night to go to a
high school football game," Washburn said.
Earlier this week, the NCAA opened the door for major colleges
to play football on Fridays.
The LSU-Arkansas game is traditionally played the Friday after
Thanksgiving, but SEC officials say they don't have plans to move
any games to Friday night.
"The SEC respects the tradition of high school football on
Friday night," said Charles Bloom, an assistant commissioner for
the SEC. "The reason you would do that is for television, but I
don't think you'll see our teams move their games to Friday for
that."
Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville agrees.
"Fridays are for high schools, Saturdays are for colleges and
Sundays are for pros," Tuberville said. "Friday night high school
football is kind of like a religion."
Alabama coach Dennis Franchione said his program doesn't need to
play on Friday night, but that he can see how it might be a boon to
some smaller programs.
"I wouldn't think we would have to do that ... but some
conferences, and I've been in some of those, might need it to
generate revenue, draw crowds and create exposure for their
programs," Franchione said.
Conference USA has two Friday night games scheduled this year,
but neither involve UAB.
Blazers athletic director Herman Frazier said Friday night
football will likely be discussed at the league meetings later this
month.
"I don't think we at UAB should play games that would take away
from high schools," Frazier said.
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