The End of a Holiday Tradition?
For decades Nebraska has played football the day after Thanksgiving. So far, the move to the Big Ten hasn't ended that. This season will be no different. However, no official word has been given about 2013 and beyond. In fact, if you look at the schedules as they currently stand, the Huskers are slated to play Iowa in the final game of the season on the Saturday after Thanksgiving instead of Friday. Would that be a welcome change or bad news?
The day after Thanksgiving is like a holiday for many. Children are out of school and if people aren't automatically given the day off, they'll often burn a vacation day to get a long weekend. It's become a famous day for Christmas shopping, but a lot of us have spent at least part of the day enjoying what might be the last Nebraska football we'll see for weeks. Nationwide, there have to be a lot of people who catch the featured Friday games on television that might not otherwise see the Huskers play, simply because NU football hasn't been their priority. That expands the visibility of Nebraska which might be an asset for recruiting.
Putting aside any marketing or recruiting advantages though, is waiting another day to see the Huskers play so bad? Maybe you don't want to burn that vacation day. Maybe you've got some shopping or other errand to do. NU fans would watch the game anyway, so would it matter when it's played?
From the players' perspective, playing a game on six days rest late in the year probably is a bit more painful than waiting that extra day. It might be easier to really enjoy Thanksgiving without a game the next day. Of course, a shorter week might also allow the team to be just a bit fresher going into a conference championship game. So it might be a worthwhile tradeoff.
It's hard to pinpoint any specific recruit that came to Nebraska simply because they caught them playing on Friday as opposed to Saturday. That doesn't mean it might not have been the tipping point. In the scheme of all things that can either help or hurt Nebraska football, this one probably nets out pretty close to zero. Still, it would be a bit of adjustment to see the game move into the Saturday mix with everything else.
What would you like to see, stay with Friday or move to Saturday?
Ankeny, IA
8/1/2012
Friday! Friday! Friday!
I have a lot of reasons. The biggest is tradition. A close follower is a Saturday game puts us in a pile of other rivalry games that day. In the Big Ten, all play second fiddle to Michigan/OSU. Nationally, we stand out much more, in my opinion, on Friday.
8/1/2012
Gotta keep it on Friday, as long as its an important game and Iowa and Nebraska are both decent. Playing on Saturday means the rest of the country can choose between your game and about ten others. Playing on Friday means they see you.
8/1/2012
Keep it on Friday. It’s special and unique to us and we need to keep it.
Lincoln, NE
8/1/2012
Friday is vital! There is a large group of people who catch the Husker game on Friday that normally don’t see games. Growing up, my family, almost always had things going on Sat afternoon and College football wasn’t something we watched much. The first few Husker games that I saw were on this friday after thanksgiving. If it had been Sat I doubt that I would have tuned in. Now of course I watch every game, but I might never have really gotten into the Huskers if it wasn’t for this game. I don’t think that I am unique in this.
Grand Island,NE
8/1/2012
I like it moving….I always have to work day after turkey day….
8/1/2012
Come on man its called a sick day Friday has been the tradition I’m use 2 and I’m 44 years old don’t won’t 2 share game time and day with all others that would play on Saturday call me spoiled!!!the girls going shopping the guys get together in front of television it has 2 be Friday!!!! Big 10 better keep nebraska on Friday its extra exposhier for the leage that wasn’t getting it on fridays after thanksgivings before!!!!
8/1/2012
Steve, that has got 2 be one of the more creatively written posts from a 44 year old.
8/1/2012
Who taught that kid how to write? My mother, an old english teacher, would be aghast! LOL. Good points though Steve…just kiddin’ with ya.
8/2/2012
Steve K - your comment was a joke, right? You are an Iowa fan hijacking this board in an effort to make all Husker fans look unintelligent, uneducated, and most of all, not well read. Correct? If so, Ha - Ha, funny. If not, please stick to just reading and please do not comment.
Now, on to the subject at hand - the Friday games are a must! I am a 47 year old, (see - three years older than you, Steve) who cannot remember a time when Nebraska did not play on the Friday after Thanksgiving. This and the home sell out streak must be preserved. All the other traditions and records may fall, but these two MUST continue. After all, we are Nebraska!
8/4/2012
Friday? What about Thanksgiving Day?
Some of you can’t remember when the game was not on Friday. I remember when the game was on Thursday.