Pretty easy solution to Friday night games

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I hate Friday night college football.

Saturdays are for college
Fridays are for high school



Every big school metro football program in the metro has a game on Friday night.



We are in one of the only states who has a Friday night in October with Zero count then ZERO high school football games.


Mark Coyle should offer big ten to host a Friday night big ten football game every MEA Friday. Literally no conflicts with the rest of the football community that gets annoyed by these Friday starts.
 

Interesting, only the largest class plays Friday for high school. No other teams play that night. Maybe MSHSL changed their date and the Gophers tried to plan around games.
 

Coyle was on the Sports Huddle last Sunday, and he said he told the B1G that, in the future, the Gophers only will play a Friday night game on the Friday of MEA week. They wanted to play on that week this year, but it didn't work out for some reason.

And, FWIW, this Friday night there are Volleyball playoffs. I will be covering a Sub-section match with 1st serve at 7:00pm, so I might be able to catch the second half of the Gopher game - unless the match goes 5 sets.

As far as the FB playoffs, Class 6A follows a different schedule. The rest of the classes, with minor exceptions, all go Tuesday - Saturday the first week of playoffs.
Some of that could be due to officials. It's getting harder to find certified officials to work all the games. There are teams that have moved games to afternoon kickoffs because the only way they could get refs was to find a crew that would work two games in a day.
 

Even on MEA weekend, Friday games would be a pain in the butt. Harder for people to make it due to work schedules, parking issues due to campus being busy until around 5:30, and I'm sure there is some impact on the football team getting 1 less day of rest/practice. We should insist that we only play in and host Friday games as much as other teams (particularly Michigan and Penn State who say they won't host them) but offer to have them on MEA weekend when it's our turn.

Unless we find out that recruiting visits go better during MEA weekend in which case we should push for a home game every MEA weekend, whether it be on Friday or Saturday. But unless there is some benefit to us, we should not be hosting Friday games any more than our fair share.
 

Playing Friday night means you don't get to tailgate much, because people gotta use the lots for normal school parking.

It sucks, and I hope the experiment ends early.
 


UpAndUnder43 said:
Interesting, only the largest class plays Friday for high school. No other teams play that night. Maybe MSHSL changed their date and the Gophers tried to plan around games.
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The largest class has one less round than the other classes around the state because there are so few schools. Therefore they can spread out the games more. Most play their first rounds tonight, then second rounds Saturday.
 

GophersInIowa said:
The largest class has one less round than the other classes around the state because there are so few schools. Therefore they can spread out the games more. Most play their first rounds tonight, then second rounds Saturday.
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I see that. I just assumed everyone played on Tuesday (if needed) or Saturday
 

GophersInIowa said:
The largest class has one less round than the other classes around the state because there are so few schools. Therefore they can spread out the games more. Most play their first rounds tonight, then second rounds Saturday.
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I'm glad they did it though. The last split between 5A/6A means programs like Coon Rapids, which could never get out beneath the mega publics, now have a chance to win games.
 

Gophers_4life said:
I'm glad they did it though. The last split between 5A/6A means programs like Coon Rapids, which could never get out beneath the mega publics, now have a chance to win games.
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No matter how you split up classes some team has to be the smallest class. Why Coon Rapids opted out of 6A will never make sense. They are 6 kids bigger than East Ridge and about 55 kids smaller than Lakeville North - the #1 team in the state.

I might be the only one but I am excited for the Friday night game. People still complain but it is the second best night Minnesota could host. Obviously MEA weekend is #1, but there are only 15 high school football games in all of Minnesota on this Friday night. It is the 30 of the 31 biggest schools, but a lot better than any other Friday night in the fall that all schools could potentially be playing.
 



Gophers_4life said:
I'm glad they did it though. The last split between 5A/6A means programs like Coon Rapids, which could never get out beneath the mega publics, now have a chance to win games.
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Hate it. They are all arbitrary cut lines. Why do you arbitrarily tell coon rapids to go 4-4 but tell anoka to go 1-7.

Coon Rapids should get better.

There should be 5 classes including 9 man. Elk River and owatonna would be top 20 in 6A right now but we have created a new class just so certain teams can win.


The 6A class is really unfair to about 10-15 teams in 6A who can’t compete but get zero easier games on their schedule. The whole thing is designed to get the superschools exactly what they want.

Schools like Lakeville South and Rosemount don’t even play anymore meanwhile we have Wayzata playing Eagan in 9B football on a Monday at 4pm to appease certain power brokers. The whole MSHsL is broken for football. I am actually an advocate of the SEC, SSC, and NWSC dropping out of mshsl and doing their own thing for football so they can play logical schedules that aren’t dictated by a bunch of bureaucrats at the high school league
 

MNfootballfan said:
No matter how you split up classes some team has to be the smallest class. Why Coon Rapids opted out of 6A will never make sense. They are 6 kids bigger than East Ridge and about 55 kids smaller than Lakeville North - the #1 team in the state.

I might be the only one but I am excited for the Friday night game. People still complain but it is the second best night Minnesota could host. Obviously MEA weekend is #1, but there are only 15 high school football games in all of Minnesota on this Friday night. It is the 30 of the 31 biggest schools, but a lot better than any other Friday night in the fall that all schools could potentially be playing.
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I agree that it is the second best Friday night to play.


I didn’t realize Coyle had made statements about MEA weekend.
Glad he sees it
 

Some guy said:
I hate Friday night college football.

Saturdays are for college
Fridays are for high school



Every big school metro football program in the metro has a game on Friday night.



We are in one of the only states who has a Friday night in October with Zero count then ZERO high school football games.


Mark Coyle should offer big ten to host a Friday night big ten football game every MEA Friday. Literally no conflicts with the rest of the football community that gets annoyed by these Friday starts.
Click to expand...

Maybe MEA week does not work out TV wise due to the baseball playoffs & basketball. FS1 had the NLCS last week. ESPN had the NBA.
 

Ope3 said:
Maybe MEA week does not work out TV wise due to the baseball playoffs & basketball. FS1 had the NLCS last week. ESPN had the NBA.
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Well, part of it was simply the U didn't have a home game that week, so kind of answered itself.

I hate weeknight games. I hate the Thursday opener. I hate this Friday BS. I hope they quit doing both.
 



MNfootballfan said:
No matter how you split up classes some team has to be the smallest class. Why Coon Rapids opted out of 6A will never make sense. They are 6 kids bigger than East Ridge and about 55 kids smaller than Lakeville North - the #1 team in the state.
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It has to do with economics. Coon Rapids is 44% Free Lunch, East Ridge is 11%. That's a significant difference. They didn't opt out of 6A, it's part of the formula for classes that when a school has a high number of Free Lunch they don't count your enrollment as being as high as it actually is. I think this is a good thing that gives the economically disadvantaged schools a chance to compete. And trust me, I'm no socialist.

Edit: According to what I've read, you need to be at 50% free lunch to move down a class. What I just found online is their enrollment has dropped to 1647 - the cutoff for 6A is 1656 - so they just missed it this year. I wouldn't be shocked in 5-10 years though if they hit the 50% free lunch rate.

In looking this stuff up I found a stat that kids on free lunch are 40% more likely to NOT participate in high school sports and that's why the high school league made this rule.
 
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If they are going to play home games on MEA Friday, they should do it every year. And the University should have a "mid-fall break" or some fake day off so people can spend Friday on campus.

Do college tours for prospective students (very common over MEA), open tailgate lots 6 hours before the 7pm game. Make it a tradition. EVERY SINGLE KID IN THE STATE HAS THE DAY OFF. Use that as an advantage for all sorts of things. Make an unreal atmosphere. Bring in all the instate recruits (they won't be at other games, or taking other trips) and make this an event.

As it is, the Friday over MEA is still a day of classes at the University. Parking will be a mess. Students will be less into it. Tailgating will be an issue. This will still be a disaster because the University being open makes it one. Just like the Thursday night games where parking is always a problem.
 

Word said:
It has to do with economics. Coon Rapids is 44% Free Lunch, East Ridge is 11%. That's a significant difference. They didn't opt out of 6A, it's part of the formula for classes that when a school has a high number of Free Lunch they don't count your enrollment as being as high as it actually is. I think this is a good thing that gives the economically disadvantaged schools a chance to compete. And trust me, I'm no socialist.

Edit: According to what I've read, you need to be at 50% free lunch to move down a class. What I just found online is their enrollment has dropped to 1647 - the cutoff for 6A is 1656 - so they just missed it this year. I wouldn't be shocked in 5-10 years though if they hit the 50% free lunch rate.

In looking this stuff up I found a stat that kids on free lunch are 40% more likely to NOT participate in high school sports and that's why the high school league made this rule.
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Makes perfect sense. Another school I’m guessing falls into a similar bucket is Park Center. Wonder what Anoka is.

Just because you have lots of students doesn’t mean you have lots out for the football team. The next level is then to consider the recent history (last 10 years or so) of competitiveness. For example, absolutely correct that St Michael Albertville is up with the big boys, when guessing it “should” be playing Elk River and Rogers. And speaking of Elk River, another school historically stuck behind the mega publics in the NW suburbs like Blaine, Champlin, Anoka, Maple Grove. Now in 5A, they’re winning.

Would like to see all three factors given equal weight in determining classes and districts. Enrollment, socioeconomics (private schools especially), and competitiveness. Wouldn’t mind if they made a 6A-I and a 6A-II as well, given that some large public schools just don’t have the chops to compete with the elites like Eden Prairie Wayzata etc. Talking like your Woodbury, Eagan, Burnsville, White Bear Lake, etc etc
 
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UpAndUnder43 said:
If they are going to play home games on MEA Friday, they should do it every year. And the University should have a "mid-fall break" or some fake day off so people can spend Friday on campus.

Do college tours for prospective students (very common over MEA), open tailgate lots 6 hours before the 7pm game. Make it a tradition. EVERY SINGLE KID IN THE STATE HAS THE DAY OFF. Use that as an advantage for all sorts of things. Make an unreal atmosphere. Bring in all the instate recruits (they won't be at other games, or taking other trips) and make this an event.

As it is, the Friday over MEA is still a day of classes at the University. Parking will be a mess. Students will be less into it. Tailgating will be an issue. This will still be a disaster because the University being open makes it one. Just like the Thursday night games where parking is always a problem.
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This is my take also. Hype it up. Shut down school for the day and have some fun. Embrace football and celebrate the fact we are the ONLY college football game that day.
Think OSU or the skunks to the east complain like we do about it?

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
 

Gophers_4life said:
Makes perfect sense. Another school I’m guessing falls into a similar bucket is Park Center. Wonder what Anoka is.

Just because you have lots of students doesn’t mean you have lots out for the football team. The next level is then to consider the recent history (last 10 years or so) of competitiveness. For example, absolutely correct that St Michael Albertville is up with the big boys, when guessing it “should” be playing Elk River and Rogers. And speaking of Elk River, another school historically stuck behind the mega publics in the NW suburbs like Blaine, Champlin, Anoka, Maple Grove. Now in 5A, they’re winning.

Would like to see all three factors given equal weight in determining classes and districts. Enrollment, socioeconomics (private schools especially), and competitiveness. Wouldn’t mind if they made a 6A-I and a 6A-II as well, given that some large public schools just don’t have the chops to compete with the elites like Eden Prairie Wayzata etc. Talking like your Woodbury, Eagan, Burnsville, White Bear Lake, etc etc
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Anoka is not close to being able to drop down. Over 2200 students and 28% free lunch. Tartan is right there at the boundaries - 49
% free lunch and 1656 students. North St. Paul is already there - 1797 students but 55.5% free lunch. Bloomington Kennedy is just over 50% free lunch. South St. Paul 47%, Irondale 41%. Park center is over 2000 students but 67% free lunch.

That's just a quick lookup of some of the schools I thought would be candidates or borderline candidates. Here's the site to find the info: https://rc.education.state.mn.us/
 

No, I wouldn't expect Anoka to be able to drop down. That's where I'm saying maybe a 6A-II makes sense. Mega sized public schools, that for whatever reason just can't seem to figure out how to win. Might be as simple as, perhaps their youth development programs are weak and/or whatever talent comes up in their programs then transfers elsewhere to be on a better team?

But anyway, what I was trying to get at is .... it can't be as simplistic as just looking at enrollment. You have to figure in socioeconomics (free lunch % like you say), and I would also advocate for historical competitiveness to be figured in!
 

Word said:
It has to do with economics. Coon Rapids is 44% Free Lunch, East Ridge is 11%. That's a significant difference. They didn't opt out of 6A, it's part of the formula for classes that when a school has a high number of Free Lunch they don't count your enrollment as being as high as it actually is. I think this is a good thing that gives the economically disadvantaged schools a chance to compete. And trust me, I'm no socialist.

Edit: According to what I've read, you need to be at 50% free lunch to move down a class. What I just found online is their enrollment has dropped to 1647 - the cutoff for 6A is 1656 - so they just missed it this year. I wouldn't be shocked in 5-10 years though if they hit the 50% free lunch rate.

In looking this stuff up I found a stat that kids on free lunch are 40% more likely to NOT participate in high school sports and that's why the high school league made this rule.
Click to expand...

This is the reason they dropped. There is a new proposal on the table to go to 28 teams and give the top 4 a bye. I believe Buffalo, Robinsdale Armstrong, and Forest Lake would move down to 5A.

Minneapolis Schools play down for numbers and economic reasons as well.

For example Roosevelt and Edison play in 3A. Here are the playoff results from Tuesday.

#3 Roosevelt 20 and #6 Lake City 49
#4 Edison 8 and #5 Canon Falls 67

I believe Minneapolis teams went 0-7 on Tuesday and all are playing down.
Coon Rapids was a 3 seed and got drilled by 28 points by the 6 seed.

Many of these teams don't even have 10th grade teams anymore. They have 9th, JV and Varsity and the JV only plays about 4 games.

I believe only 5 of the 14 Northwest Suburban schools had a 10th grade team this year.
 

MaxyJR1 said:
This is the reason they dropped. There is a new proposal on the table to go to 28 teams and give the top 4 a bye. I believe Buffalo, Robinsdale Armstrong, and Forest Lake would move down to 5A.

Minneapolis Schools play down for numbers and economic reasons as well.

For example Roosevelt and Edison play in 3A. Here are the playoff results from Tuesday.

#3 Roosevelt 20 and #6 Lake City 49
#4 Edison 8 and #5 Canon Falls 67

I believe Minneapolis teams went 0-7 on Tuesday and all are playing down.
Coon Rapids was a 3 seed and got drilled by 28 points by the 6 seed.

Many of these teams don't even have 10th grade teams anymore. They have 9th, JV and Varsity and the JV only plays about 4 games.

I believe only 5 of the 14 Northwest Suburban schools had a 10th grade team this year.
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Mpls North got to play in 1A for a few years, and did really well as I recall, playing against tiny farm schools in deep outstate Minnesota.

Winning is just so powerful. It can rejuvenate a program, like nothing else. Now I think North is back playing up, maybe 2A or 3A? Tougher competition.
 

WHB Brewer said:
This is my take also. Hype it up. Shut down school for the day and have some fun. Embrace football and celebrate the fact we are the ONLY college football game that day.
Think OSU or the skunks to the east complain like we do about it?

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Ohio State already has a Friday off every year. They told the Big 10 they'd host once every 3 years and only on that Friday. If they were forced to play on other Fridays I'm sure they would be complaining.

I highly doubt they'd be willing to shut down campus for a Friday in the fall. There are only 3 days Monday-Friday in the Fall without classes which are Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Black Friday. Then classes end on a Wednesday to make up those 2 extra days for MWF classes and 1 extra day for TuTh classes. In order to get rid of classes on a Friday, they'd need to extend classes another 2 days at the end of the semester which wouldn't go over well considering how late finals go already. Football's not a high enough priority and the schedule makes it nearly impossible to shut down the school on a Friday.
 

Gophers_4life said:
Mpls North got to play in 1A for a few years, and did really well as I recall, playing against tiny farm schools in deep outstate Minnesota.

Winning is just so powerful. It can rejuvenate a program, like nothing else. Now I think North is back playing up, maybe 2A or 3A? Tougher competition.
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Correct, they are in 2A and a #1 seed and had a bye on Tuesday.
 

GoGophersUMN said:
Ohio State already has a Friday off every year. They told the Big 10 they'd host once every 3 years and only on that Friday. If they were forced to play on other Fridays I'm sure they would be complaining.

I highly doubt they'd be willing to shut down campus for a Friday in the fall. There are only 3 days Monday-Friday in the Fall without classes which are Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Black Friday. Then classes end on a Wednesday to make up those 2 extra days for MWF classes and 1 extra day for TuTh classes. In order to get rid of classes on a Friday, they'd need to extend classes another 2 days at the end of the semester which wouldn't go over well considering how late finals go already. Football's not a high enough priority and the schedule makes it nearly impossible to shut down the school on a Friday.
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I believe a few schools said they would not play on Friday. MN offered MEA, but they were on the road this year, so it didn't work out. Next home MEA game is Michigan in 2020. Next year we're at Rutgers.
 

MaxyJR1 said:
I believe a few schools said they would not play on Friday. MN offered MEA, but they were on the road this year, so it didn't work out. Next home MEA game is Michigan in 2020. Next year we're at Rutgers.
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No Friday night games against Michigan please.
 




Word said:
It has to do with economics. Coon Rapids is 44% Free Lunch, East Ridge is 11%. That's a significant difference. They didn't opt out of 6A, it's part of the formula for classes that when a school has a high number of Free Lunch they don't count your enrollment as being as high as it actually is. I think this is a good thing that gives the economically disadvantaged schools a chance to compete. And trust me, I'm no socialist.

Edit: According to what I've read, you need to be at 50% free lunch to move down a class. What I just found online is their enrollment has dropped to 1647 - the cutoff for 6A is 1656 - so they just missed it this year. I wouldn't be shocked in 5-10 years though if they hit the 50% free lunch rate.

In looking this stuff up I found a stat that kids on free lunch are 40% more likely to NOT participate in high school sports and that's why the high school league made this rule.
Click to expand...

The purpose of creating the 6A class was to take the top 32 teams and put them in a class. Not really fair to teams 20-28 if you let the 29-32 go down.

There is a cutoff somewhere. The state high school league shouldn’t be in the business of picking winners and losers. It should be in the business of ensuring fair play. Fair play involves winners and losers.

Totino Grace is going to opt down to 5A again. Throwing everything off.
Eagan has won 1 game in 3 years.
White Bear Lake has won 4 games in 3 years.
Anoka has won 5 in 3 years.
Shakopee has won 10 games in the last 5 years.

But by all means. Let’s just make an arbitrary decision To keep giving those teams tough schedules while deciding to give Coon Rapids 4 wins in one year by scheduling them down.

Kids at Coon Rapids matter more than kids at the other four because they are poorer.



Or


We could be rational, get the MsHSL out of scheduling and have them make and enforce the rules and that’s it. Let the schools schedule themselves. It worked for 30 years.



Meanwhile, you have over half the teams in the state playing 4 games in 15 days between October 12 and October 27.



The MSHSL is an embarrassment when it comes to football. A bunch of people who know nothing about football making bad decisions for kids under the cover of “making great decisions for kids”
 

Some guy, your argument is not 100% wrong by any means. But it is more than 0% wrong, and I will choose to disagree with it. Especially if you’re going to pretend that schools like Coon Rapids and Park Center are exactly the same thing as White Bear Lake and Shakopee, simply because of enrollment.
 

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