Some Game Time's Released by ESPN

[GoUC11]

Saw that ESPN announced some additional game times for the upcoming season.

They are....

Delaware State-7 PM
Rutgers-Noon (the first of probably many BE noon games)
Toledo-TBD carried by ESPNU or 3.

I imagine Miami and Fordham will be night games as well since UC will probably have a little more control in what time those games are played (we all know playing Miami will never merit an ESPN slot).

VT is the one I'm curious about. I'm hoping for a 3 PM or later slot, but wouldn't be shocked if we were slotted for noon.

[BearCatMarcher]

Noon ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎     

[ucfan34]

Would the Delaware St. game's late start time be an indication that the game may wind up on TV?

ESPN's schedule page for the Bearcats shows that it will be on ESPN 3, at least.

[BearcatLife]

Originally Posted by GoUC11

Saw that ESPN announced some additional game times for the upcoming season.

They are....

Delaware State-7 PM
Rutgers-Noon (the first of probably many BE noon games)
Toledo-TBD carried by ESPNU or 3.

I imagine Miami and Fordham will be night games as well since UC will probably have a little more control in what time those games are played (we all know playing Miami will never merit an ESPN slot).

VT is the one I'm curious about. I'm hoping for a 3 PM or later slot, but wouldn't be shocked if we were slotted for noon.

Just curious - why do you think we're going to get alot of noon games?

I ask b/c that is by far my least favorite start time

[cincycpaw]

Why does a noon start bother people?

I can tell you that at no point have I ever heard an Iowa Hawkeye fan complaining about the start time of a game.

[cpawstoney]

Originally Posted by cincycpaw

Why does a noon start bother people?

My only problem with the noon start is getting up early on a Saturday to make the tailgate. I'm really not complaining, just saying the later start times make getting to the tailgate parties a little easier and I get to sleep in a little.

[sbcat84]

I will be there at noon 3pm or 7pm, that being said the energy for night games versus day games is drastically different. I bet that is true at every staduim (even Iowa) but especilly here.

[True Bearcat]

Originally Posted by cincycpaw

Why does a noon start bother people?

Because I have to work until 3pm on Saturdays. I would love all 7 starts so I can get to the game, and enjoy it instead of watching the gave DVR'd

[cincycpaw]

Originally Posted by True Bearcat

Because I have to work until 3pm on Saturdays. I would love all 7 starts so I can get to the game, and enjoy it instead of watching the gave DVR'd

Well, that seems to be a reasonable reason.

[GoUC11]

Originally Posted by BearcatLife

Just curious - why do you think we're going to get alot of noon games?

I ask b/c that is by far my least favorite start time

Just basing it off of last year and previous years. We tend to get booted up to Noon even if we are in the Big East race as they play SEC or Big 12 games later in the day.


And the start of the game really isn't a big deal. But going to tailgate at 1 or 2 PM for a 7 o'clock start (heck even a 3 PM game) beats being there at 7:30 AM for a Noon game.

Think of this way. Kegs n eggs aren't bad.

Beer, Burgers, Wings and BBQ are just a whole lot better.

[RedRocker]

Why does a noon start bother people?

I can tell you that at no point have I ever heard an Iowa Hawkeye fan complaining about the start time of a game.

Originally Posted by cpawstoney

My only problem with the noon start is getting up early on a Saturday to make the tailgate. I'm really not complaining, just saying the later start times make getting to the tailgate parties a little easier and I get to sleep in a little.

Agreed and for those who have kids that play soccer or other fall sports, most of those games are in the morning or afternoon. That is a principal reason a lot of my friends don't have season tickets. They go to the night games, but anything before 7 pm is impossible because of commitments.

Also, a lot of students paying for their education have to work all day Saturday. I was one of those and missed most Saturday afternoon games while I was in school.

BTW, there ain't sheet to do in Iowa City on Saturday. That goes for State College, South Bend, East Lansing, Gainesville, Athens, Blacksburg, College Station, etc.

[cincycpaw]

Originally Posted by RedRocker

Why does a noon start bother people?

I can tell you that at no point have I ever heard an Iowa Hawkeye fan complaining about the start time of a game.



Agreed and for those who have kids that play soccer or other fall sports, most of those games are in the morning or afternoon. That is a principal reason a lot of my friends don't have season tickets. They go to the night games, but anything before 7 pm is impossible because of commitments.

Also, a lot of students paying for their education have to work all day Saturday. I was one of those and missed most Saturday afternoon games while I was in school.

BTW, there ain't sheet to do in Iowa City on Saturday. That goes for State College, South Bend, East Lansing, Gainesville, Athens, Blacksburg, College Station, etc.

You obviously don't know what you are talking about. Here's the thing, big time programs have fans that don't bitch about start times. They have kids too, their kids play sports too. They don't sign up for Saturday events, and the city starts scheduling everything around the games. This is one big reason why UC will be left behind in football.

[BearCatMarcher]

What's an Iowa, and can I eat it?

[cpawstoney]

Originally Posted by RedRocker

BTW, there ain't sheet to do in Iowa City on Saturday. That goes for State College, South Bend, East Lansing, Gainesville, Athens, Blacksburg, College Station, etc.

And THAT'S THE TRUTH!

I spent a year and a half in Lafayette before I saw the light and came back to U.C.. On a Fall Saturday THE ONLY THING HAPPENING was a football. Essentially, the football powers have a captive audience while the kids are in school.

This is the building block of tradition so they keep coming back, bringing the money with them. If we want to be one of those players, we need to figure out how to build that kind of following.

[CaptainProbasco]

Most programs prefer the noon start times, so ESPN probably thinks that they're doing us a favor when we get a noon start time. They just have no idea that in a city, a 7 pm start time is ideal.

Plus, Nippert rocks for night games.

[RedRocker]

Originally Posted by cincycpaw

You obviously don't know what you are talking about. Here's the thing, big time programs have fans that don't bitch about start times. They have kids too, their kids play sports too. They don't sign up for Saturday events, and the city starts scheduling everything around the games. This is one big reason why UC will be left behind in football.

UC is still a commuter school at heart and Cincinnati has more to offer than small college towns that host large state schools where the world revolves around that school and all other events are scheduled around the football in the fall. Not gonna happen here so UC must adapt where possible to accomodate their fanbase.

Saturday nights have always been better draws than afternoon games. Look at other programs that are city schools such as Pitt, USF, UL, Houston, UCF, etc. Their attendance is better when they play in the evening also.

You have your opinion, I have mine.

[RedRocker]

Originally Posted by cpawstoney

And THAT'S THE TRUTH!

I spent a year and a half in Lafayette before I saw the light and came back to U.C.. On a Fall Saturday THE ONLY THING HAPPENING was a football. Essentially, the football powers have a captive audience while the kids are in school.

This is the building block of tradition so they keep coming back, bringing the money with them. If we want to be one of those players, we need to figure out how to build that kind of following.

And that means playing Saturday night or later in the day wherever possible. UC is still a commuter school so the majority of its fanbase lives within an hour or so of Nippert. Except for homecoming there aren't a lot of people traveling more than 2 hours to get here for a game unlike programs such as O$U, ND, UF, FSU, etc.

[swilsonsp4]

Certainly, the atmosphere at Nippert is better at night. (I suspect that certain imbibing activities by the students throughout the day contribute.)

However, I will be there, sun or moon (even horizontal sleet), even for the likes of Delaware State and Fordham.

[GoUC11]

Originally Posted by RedRocker

And that means playing Saturday night or later in the day wherever possible. UC is still a commuter school so the majority of its fanbase lives within an hour or so of Nippert. Except for homecoming there aren't a lot of people traveling more than 2 hours to get here for a game unlike programs such as O$U, ND, UF, FSU, etc.

As a recent graduate the commuter school label is becoming obsolete. My senior year I commuted to campus and was in the strong minority. Clifton housing is exploding with students (check what they charge for rent. They know housing is at a premium and it shoots up each year). UC is even renovating Scioto Hall (off of Jefferson) due to the lack of dorm space for the students.

UC is a much different place than it was even 5 years ago. Students don't go to UC because its the 'local school'. Students from all over Ohio CHOOSE to go to UC because of the great things that are going on campus and off of campus. Changing this perception is hard when your own fan base still thinks of the 1990's and earlier.

Students identify themselves as Bearcats and there is a lot more pride on campus in being a Bearcat.

This isn't a diss to anyone on here. But if you still hold a perception from the days of old go on campus and talk to current students, walk around Clifton on Wheeler, Chickasaw, and Victor street on game day and check out all the students in extracurricular activities. Believe it or not, the 5,000 plus that cram the stands for each football game aren't commuters. The majority are living in Clifton.

[cmm27]

That is one of the reasons why UC's future is bright for attendance. We should start seeing that push now, as the first generation of students that has known success in football start graduating, hopefully getting employment, and chosing to re-invest in a football program they are proud of by attending the games. It will probably still take another four or five years of this level of performance before Nippert is able to sell out on season ticket sales alone. Once that happens, then a lot of our bitching and complaining about things will go away because the support will be what it needs to be.