Midweek game, does it help, hurt or not affect attendance?

[BGSU33]

Just wondering what you all thought. I'm sure it might make it harder for some to get there, but we'll be there regardless. The weather looks like it will hopefully be nice too, so that always helps. It sure would be nice to see a turnout like we had last year for the opener for Minnesota (the students were awesome!) but with a better result on the scoreboard. GO BG!!

[Falcon137]

I have no problem with the game being played on Thursday avoid conflicts with Labor day weekend. Other weeknight games, such as 5:30 on Fridays, I am not in favor of.

[BGSU33]

I have no problem with the game being played on Thursday avoid conflicts with Labor day weekend. Other weeknight games, such as 5:30 on Fridays, I am not in favor of.

Good point about Labor Day weekend, I forgot all about that.

[mjmorefield]

I simply cannot make weekday games. Any of them... Thurs, Fri, Tues, or otherwise.

[Strouse]

I think it'll hurt the student attendance simply because there are those instructors that refuse to cancel class regardless of any situation.
But then again, it's a thursday night and with tailgating it means that the students who normally flock downtown to drink can just stay on campus, get drunk, and enjoy a good game of football.

[BGSU33]

I think it'll hurt the student attendance simply because there are those instructors that refuse to cancel class regardless of any situation.
But then again, it's a thursday night and with tailgating it means that the students who normally flock downtown to drink can just stay on campus, get drunk, and enjoy a good game of football.

It guess it could also help with the students who normally go home on weekends, or on extended weekends, who will now be in town. Although, I always wondered why so many students would go home on weekends all the time??? It's college! Enjoy the heck out of it! In four years you'll be wishing like heck you had them back! Most of them were home all summer long and two weeks into school you're rushing back already? Especially with the weather so nice this time of year.....oh well.

[VDub26Falcon]

I never understood people leaving for the weekend and coming back on Sunday. As for attendance, I think it will be great! Home Opener, great weather, good opponent. I expect a PACKED Doyt!

[professorjackson]

Yeah, that going home on weekends thing has always puzzled me about BGSU students. I try to encourage them to stay in town and make it their home for four years (even registering to vote in BG). There aren't that many classes scheduled at gametime, so I don't think professors' attendance policies will have much effect.

[NWLB]

I'll be there, for the first time during this dark era of weekday games.

I think coming the Thursday before Labor day blunts the harm somewhat. Not a ton, but some. But the day and time prevent my taking one or both kids to the game.

[Falcon137]

After looking at the schedule, I'm ok with the Friday night game against Akron. 5:30 sucks, but being a national game on ESPNU makes it easier to swallow.

[VDub26Falcon]

Except for those of us who work until 5:45 and live 90 minutes away.

[hammb]

After looking at the schedule, I'm ok with the Friday night game against Akron. 5:30 sucks, but being a national game on ESPNU makes it easier to swallow.

Kicking off at 5:30 is totally unacceptable, AFAIC. I don't love these weeknight games, but I can deal with them if they kick off at a normal time, but a 5:30 kickoff on a weekday should NOT be an option. A large percentage of our fanbase gets off work at 5:00. A 5:30 kickoff means they have almost no shot to see the kickoff of the game, unless they work IN BG (or take time off work).

I will be among the large number of people who will not be able to make it in time to see the beginning of that game.

As to the Thursday night game, I don't know how much it will really affect attendance for the opener. I think the weeknight games late in the year with worse weather are much more likely to negatively affect the attendance.

[Falcon137]

I don't like 5:30 games on a Friday, either. I was just saying at least this year it's on ESPNU, unlike last season when Buffalo started at 5:30 for no apparent reason.

[BillyLP]

I think that for this particular situation it won't affect attendance so much. I do know of two separate 6-9 classes where the professor's have said they expect full attendance (my friends in those classes are still attending the game, however). But I also have heard that one of the campus ministries has cancelled all of their bible studies for that night and is encouraging people to go to the game. There is a lot of hype and the game doesn't start until 7 so I think that this situation is alright.

Later in the season however (such as the Akron game), I can see attendance suffering pretty mightily.

[NWLB]

I've had proffs while I was in college that attempted to bluff students into attending on days when vacation or sports events came up.

They always say it. And they know full well they lose if a single well structured complaint gets tossed their way. It is right up there with the complaint I filed against a now retired Col. Sanders look-alike when he basically told me to produce a body after my Grandfather died and I missed my first exam in his math class.

Likewise I recall a certain Poly Sci proff that attempted to get away with a "no final exam" only to be marched into the classroom with the department head standing cross-armed five feet away to wittness him telling us we did have to have one.

Lord I miss BGSU. Higher Ed. is just such a wondrous way to avoid reality.