Students don’t like noon games. Fans don’t like noon games. It’s obvious and expressed by a large number of those who attend the football games. It forces early mornings and limited tailgate time.
The argument can be said for all ACC teams and even teams across the nation. The ACC shouldn’t and can’t stop playing noon games, but it should spread out game times to play fewer early contests. Football is a business, so getting rid of noon games is not plausible because of the networks who show these games.
However, fans would much rather go to an afternoon or evening game. Also, noon games in September, especially in the south, can be dangerously hot. It is dangerous for fans, employees and especially the athletes. Head football coach Dave Doeren touched on it after the Pack’s week one win over James Madison.
“Thanks to our fans, and our students, and our band and everybody that endured that heat,” Doeren said after the game. “That was a hot one out there. A bunch of our players I know are getting IV’s right now, and I’m hoping that a bunch of the fans come out of that thing without any heat issues. Really, thank you for doing that, for those of you that stayed four quarters.”
Heat is a part of the game, but continuously scheduled noon games are hurting the experiences of everyone involved. It is a real shame that fans aren’t able to stay the full length of the game because of the heat.
With the postponement of the West Virginia game, NC State has played two home games so far this season that started at noon and 12:30 p.m. On Saturday, the Pack will host Virginia at 12:20 p.m., and the following week is the Saturday of fall break when Boston College comes to Raleigh to play at 12:30 p.m. Since the last home game is a Thursday night clash with Wake Forest, the Florida State game has a chance to be the only home Saturday game that would not start in the noon time slot.
The ACC schedule on Saturday includes four games that start between 12:00 p.m. and 12:20 p.m. and three games that start at 3:30 p.m. The lone evening game starts at 7:00 p.m.
Why not play fewer noon games and more late afternoon or evening games? Joe Giglio, NC State’s sportswriter for The News and Observer, suggested recently on Twitter (@jwgiglio) to add a weekly Friday night ACC game. The conference has scheduled five Friday night ACC matchups in each of the last two seasons, so making it weekly isn’t out of the imagination and could help limit a noon Saturday game.
On top of a Friday game, Giglio suggested that instead of the ACC Network having two noon slots, one is moved to later in the day. For example, this week, the NC State and Virginia game would be moved to 7:30 p.m., leaving an ACC Network game at noon, 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
The strategies that Giglio suggested would limit the number of noon and 12:30 p.m. games from four to two. Fans and students around the ACC would certainly appreciate that schedule more. Also, having a Friday night and two Saturday night games would likely increase ratings for those games.
Obviously, there is a lot of time and a lot of money that goes into scheduling. Since TV networks decide the start times, there will always be noon games, but there must be ways that the ACC and regional sports networks can stay away from early games.
The NC State game against Louisville last season was one of the more exciting games of the year. It was on a Thursday night where students were ready to rock. Yes, it was between two really good teams, but it’s that afternoon and evening atmosphere that is better for ratings, fans and for the game.
Unbearably hot noon games in the middle of September are not helping the experience and should be limited as much as possible by TV networks that show them.
