For the first time since 2001, Virginia Tech will not host a Thursday night football game in 2013. This was at the request of Tech athletic director Jim Weaver, whose quotes on the matter can be read in this “Teel Time” blog entry by David Teel.
Our question for you is simple: Would you prefer that VT host a Thursday night game this season?
Loading ...
I liked them. Fun to go, fun to watch, and electicity in the air a la FSU. But, not as concerned about this issue in scheduling as having to go back to Miami and BC and playing GT on five day’s rest. I hear the reasons and it still comes across as ACC officials shoving it up our nose!
According to the article by David Teel, absence of Thursday night games was a request from VT, not “ACC officials shoving it up our nose”…
right, but it’s the GT on 5 days rest and back to back road games late in the season to the two farthest points from us geographically.
You missed the point. Not playing Thursday night at Tech is on Weaver; same cannot be said for the Miami and BC games back at their home fields in succesive seasons. Who do we have to thank for that?
I am a fan of night games. That is the only reason I enjoy Thursday night games because it is at night. Living in Blacksburg, days don’t really matter to me, although Saturday afternoon or night games are the best for a full days worth of enjoyment. Now that being said, I find it amusing how we all think because we donate money, buy tickets, go to school at VT, live in the community, work at VT, are alumni of VT, etc, etc, etc we should have some say on things such as when our games are played. We have an athletic department, who has a staff led by an AD who also consult many others in that said department including the development staff and I would guarantee you the head coach on many issues that they have to deal with including Thursday night football games. Let the Athletic Department leaders do their job as athletic managers, and lets us do ours as athletic supporters. They give us a schedule, we show up for games. Or choose not to and also choose not to donate, or whatever our relationship is. The guys managing the Athletic Department are the experts, not those of us who cheer and/or complain. Let them do their job and if you want to discuss it fine, but stop acting like they owe you.
I love Thur games but probably wouldn’t if I lived in Nova or Eava. Still, I think Weaver should have polled the fans. Thur games are good for Hokie exposure on TV, of course.
I like the Thursday night games, that being said, I like them when they are against good teams and not snoozers like some have been in the past. Last years FSU game was how it used to be and how they should be. If you keep them for good games and keep it to one a year, then I think they remain special and continue to the atmosphere that tech is known for having on a Thursday night. Not too concerned about it this year but definately don’t want it to become the norm.
Weaver does come off as the Football Grinch in this. Why change what has become a great tradition shared by, not only VT fans, but by a national audience grown accustomed to seeing a spectacular college football event? Again showing how out of touch he is.
Delighted there is no Thursday night home game. Pain in the rear for folks who have to travel to Blacksburg and aren’t blessed with loads of vacation. I consider this a small benefit of Tech’s poor season last year.
As a NOVA season ticket holder, I’m glad to have a year off after last season when Weaver put the only two good home games on Monday and Thursday last year. I had 4 tix, but, couldn’t bring my son to either game because of school/athletic requirements. BTW, it wasn’t that loud on Thurs night last year. The loudest I’ve ever heard Lane was the Miami 2001 Sat. day game where we nearly came back. I know it’s unlikely we’ll get a Sat. night game, but, it would be sweet to get some 3:30 Sat starts, especially in Oct. as the sun sets over the Burg and the Hokies close out another victory.
The word is out. Weaver is in the process of putting the lighting system and towers on ebay since he won’t need them anymore. LOL
I can remember the year when the lights were first installed. It was quite a big deal because we could finally host night games. The lights were left running 24/7 for several days to break them in. They really did not get much use for a number of years until ESPN began to expand college football coverage.
Never missed one Thursday night game. Will miss it big time this year. It was always a major event for us. Long time (20 yr) season tix holder, but gave them up 2 yrs ago, but still went to Thursday games. Travel from NoVa. Also, I could give a rat’s rear about that dumb blank ‘stick it in’ cheer. It’s bush, crass filth. And, this from someone that cusses worse that any sailer. There’s a time and place for my cussing and same for a bunch of drunks (or not) pelvic thrusts around kids and ladies…it is about as redneck as one can get…whether you’re 18, 30, 50, or 60 yrs old. And, I’m a red neck.
I saw the reason on a Bumper Sticker…”It Happens”
One year off, no biggie. From a marketing and recruiting standpoint, I think UVA’s trend of scheduling marquee teams is concerning, Hell, they might one of those games. The media would love that.
I would say I’m both dissapointed & glad. I know what Thursday games mean in terms of exposure to the program, but they are bloody7 hard to get to for those of us with small children, demanding jobs, or both.
Thrusday night games great for us out of towners. Could still get some tail gating in.
Thursday night at Lane Stadium is always special!!
“Everybody good with these sweeping changes to our unique traditions?” Jim Weaver says to his empty office with the door shut. “OK, great!”
Where is the poll option “I’m really effing mad VT won’t host a Thursday night game.”?
I like the “night” part of Thursday night. Since Saturday night games are nevermore, Thursday games were something special. But being on a Thursday was a pain and took leave from work, so I don’t really care too much one way or the other. GO HOKIES!!!
Very disappointed, No Pig Day
“the most spectacular and celebrated high holy day of the college football season”
I like Thursday night games, in general, but am more than happy to have a skip year. As someone else noted, if we don’t have one for a season or two, maybe they’ll become more ‘special’ again.
I personally would like a least one Thursday night game in Lane but purely for program exposure. It’s a great recruiting tool to have a Thursday night game and have the whole country watching
It was a tradition for us to meet at Big Al’s for lunch on Thursday games and then start up our tailgate at 2 pm. Best tailgate of the year! We will miss not having a Thursday home game and our AD really requested not to have one. He is wearing out his welcome.
At one time, Thursday night games in Lane were a special thing. However, we’ve gottent so accustomed to them that they lack the electricity they once had. I also think that our opponents have started getting more up for them than we do–we’ve lost a big part of the advantage.
I have relatively young kids (11 and 14), so it’s tough to keep them up that late on a school night. They have to leave at halftime.
Finally, I teach on Friday mornings in the fall. That really stinks after a Thursday night game.
Perhaps after a year or two with no Thursday night game, it will get to be special again.
I’m glad we DON’T have a Thursday night game this year. If you are in the NOVA/Richmond/Tidewater areas or farther, and you work and/or have a family, Thursday night games are definitely a hardship. I don’t object to them per se, but in recent years, it seemed like the best home opponent was played on a Thursday night, leaving the dregs to be played on Saturdays. No tears from me this year.
My biggest complaint isn’t about the lack of a Thursday night home game, but of having an away Thursday night game on 5 days rest while an extra bye week was added in. It seems like somebody done goofed.
I’m glad we don’t have one this year. Thursday night has lost its luster now that the NFL is doing their own Thursday night game. I still like the idea of a Thursday night home game, just not one every year. I would like to see either the Marshall or UNCheat games picked up for a 7PM TV start, but I’m well aware our home schedule looks like a bunch of noon on Raycom start times.
Definitely disapointed, Lane on Thurs nights are electric. However I am retired so no issue with work or travel on either Trurs or Fri. for us.
Defintely agree. We’ve been doing it for so long that it’s pretty much become a tradition now.
Count me as one who’s very disappointed that we won’t have a Thursday night home game this coming season. I hope from 2014 onward that we’ll have aThursday night game every year.
I liked them for the following reasons combined together:
- Lane Stadium at night totally rocks.
- We are the only game going at that time. The entire NCAAFB fan base is tuned in.
- I think it is good for recruiting and the program each time your team is on a national telecast. The more the better.
Although I grant you it is a logistical challenge due to the day of week, I’ve never really seen complaints about playing on Thursday on the boards. So I’m not buying the “we did it for the fans”. I feel like there was another reason and we were the convenient excuse. Not that I know what that other reason might be…that is just how it feels to me.
I would be curious to know of those of us voting in as disappointed how many actually are ticket holders.
I voted that I was glad not to have a Thursday night game but that applies to only this year and next. Once my wife retires, they will be a lot more fun. I also agree that it only works when the team is playing well. The atmosphere is sometign special but only when the team is special as mentioned previously.
I’m extremely disappointed. We have a large family golf tournament every year the day of the game. It’s become one of my favorite yearly traditions. Beyond personal reasons, there is a mystique that Lane Stadium and by proxy the Hokies themselves have developed for Thursday Night games. The fan base is particularly lubricated and into the game. Hopefully this won’t be a long hiatus and we’ll have more home Thursday night’s in the future.
Okay with no Thursday game this year, provided this is not an ongoing request by our dept. Let’s get better and take a year off. Thursday games are nice when the team is special. Not that great when the team is “less than” special.
I am just curious why do you who voted as disappointed for Thursday night game likes, like it. For me it is a hassel to take kids out of school etc to make a Thursday night game. Loose two days of work etc. I would like to see peoples reason why they like them.
It’s the trip I look forward to the most. Night game midweek and it becomes a 4 day weekend with plenty of football and no rush back to work. The Feb release of the schedule allows plenty of time to take 2 vacation days.
Two reasons:
1) The way our schedule works out, it may be the only opportunity for a home night game.
2) I normally work on Saturdays, so that is one less game that I have to make arrangements to be off from work.
Granted, I live in the Roanoke Valley, so I don’t have to deal with the hassles of traveling long distances like many fans.
To your last point, I’m a traveling fan and never ever saw it as a hassle. I looked forward to it. I’m very disappointed
I don’t buy the travel excuse (given by Weaver). It’s tough to spot an empty seat in Lane on Thursday night. Not always the case Saturday afternoon.
Thursday night football is a tradition in Blacksburg. When we were a growing program, we used it as a means to market ourselves to the nation.
I haven’t complained about Jim Weaver much, but I believe that between that removing STICK IT IN and requesting not to host a Thursday night game, were two direct shots at the fanbase (particularly the students, who give far more annually to the university than 99% of the donerrs). Not at all happy with No Fun Jim lately.
I have three small kids too young to go to the games, so I have to leave them home with my wife for any game that I attend. The Thursday game gives me a chance to do that while minimizing the impact on her and reducing the amount of weekend time that I miss with the family. Basically, I can leave after they all get to school/daycare on Thursday and be back before they get out on Friday afternoon.