Should Tulsa play more Thursday and Friday night games?

[Tulsa Guy]

For more national exposure and perhaps boost recruiting? The downside is decreased attendance. Boise State followers claim that the Broncos playing Friday night games early on helped boost their program. Here is the 2020 schedule for Tulsa, UCF, and Houston. UCF and Houston are the only two AAC schools playing more than two Thursday/Friday night games.

UCF will play 4 Friday night games in 2020. USF and Tulsa are the only AAC schools playing two Friday night games. All other AAC schools play either/or one Friday night game and/or Thursday night games. Generally, Friday night is the stronger spot as Friday night generally outdraws Thursday night games. Speaks well of Tulsa being selected for two Friday night games.

TULSA:
Oct 23, Friday, Tulsa @USF
Oct 30, Friday, ECU @Tulsa

UCF:
Sept 4, Friday, North Carolina @UCF
Sept 18, Friday, UCF @Georgia Tech
Sept 24, Thursday, UCF @ECU
Oct 16, Friday, UCF @memphis
Nov 27, Friday, UCF @USF

HOUSTON:
Sept 3, Thursday, Rice @Houston
Oct 8, Thursday, Tulane @Houston'
Oct 16, Friday, Houston @BYU


AAC SEPTEMBER SCHEDULE:
Sept 3, Thursday, Austin Peay @Temple
Sept 3, Thursday, SE Louisiana @Tulane
Sept 3, Thursday, Rice @Houston
Sept 4, Friday, North Carolina @UCF
Sept 18, Friday, UCF @Georgia Tech
Sept 24, Thursday, UCF @ ECU

AAC OCTOBER SCHEDULE:
Oct 1, Thursday, Memphis @SMU
Oct 8, Thursday, Tulane @Houston
Oct16, Friday, UCF @Memphis
Oct16, Friday, Houston @BYU
Oct 23, Friday, Tulsa @USF
Oct 30, Friday, ECU @Tulsa

AAC NOVEMBER SCHEDULE:
Nov 5, Thursday, SMU @Temple
Nov 12, Thursday, ECU @Cincinnati
Nov 27, Friday, UCF @USF

So the AAC will play 8 Thursday night games and 7 Friday night games, a total of 15 non-Saturday games. Tulsa will play in 2 of the 7 Friday night games. To be repetitive, it speaks well of Tulsa being selected for these two Friday night games on national TV.

Late season Thursday/Friday night games should probably be played at warm sites like UCF, USF, Tulane, and Houston.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

Coach Montgomery is on record stating that Friday games are bad for us because recruits are unable to attend. He only gets 6 home games per year and would prefer that all are open to recruiting visits.

Using that logic, Thursday games would be better for us than Friday except for Fall Break weekend when the local schools play on Thursday.

You’re correct that Friday games do see a decrease in attendance. Any combination of home games for Bixby, BA, Jenks, Owasso and Union will easily outdraw the Tulsa game that night.

There are a lot of football fans in the area that simply can’t attend on a Friday due to conflicts.

 

[TUMU]

No Thursday or Friday night games. I prefer Saturday games and Saturday evenings or late afternoon.

 

[TU1NNJ]

If possible for home games - Tuesday or Thursday before Labor Day vs Sat. Always avoid Friday at home, September and October play Saturday night (6:00 or 7:00 kick off) and Saturday afternoon (3:00 kick off) for November. Avoid 11:00 AM and noon games. My 2 cents.

 

[jesterondirt]

If we're playing for something meaningful like a conference championship or a ranked non-con opponent, the place would be packed even on a Tuesday night. Having a game in a better attendable slot doesnt mean anything to the administration if its only gonna bring 500-1000 more people.

Some of the best environments at HA Chapman in the last 10 years were played mon-fri.

 

[Hurricane Drummer]

As long as we avoid 11 am Saturday games we're good. That way we don't conflict with OU's game times.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

“We get only six home games a year,” said Montgomery, whose team hosts UCF on Friday, Nov. 8. “At those six home games, we have the ability to bring recruits in and they can watch a game, come down on the field prior to the game and we get to visit with them and their parents before and maybe after.

“When you play on Friday, it’s not an option. Now you’ve taken that down to five. You’re losing the opportunity to have recruits at your game and the chance to visit with them and showcase what your team’s about and what your atmosphere’s about and what your program’s about.”

 

[TU_BLA]

As long as we avoid 11 am Saturday games we're good. That way we don't conflict with OU's game times.

OU fans bitched incessantly about the 11am kicks last season.

 

[TU_BLA]

“We get only six home games a year,” said Montgomery, whose team hosts UCF on Friday, Nov. 8. “At those six home games, we have the ability to bring recruits in and they can watch a game, come down on the field prior to the game and we get to visit with them and their parents before and maybe after.

“When you play on Friday, it’s not an option. Now you’ve taken that down to five. You’re losing the opportunity to have recruits at your game and the chance to visit with them and showcase what your team’s about and what your atmosphere’s about and what your program’s about.”

Of course we played our best home football game on that Friday. And maybe even the year before vs USF who was undefeated and we brought them behind the woodshed in the 1st half. Coaches may not like it but TU certainly shows up to play in those games.

 

[TU Man]

OU fans bitched incessantly about the 11am kicks last season.

pretty sure that's why he said - tongue in cheek.

I do NOT like competing with the high school games on Friday nights - it is an American past time Friday night lights. let the high schools have that night.

thursday I would be fine with.

Like the NFL does, have every team in the conference take a turn on thursday nights and get on with it. bite the bullet and let's go.