Florida Athletic Director Scott Stricklin made his first appearance on the "Gator Talk" radio show on Thursday. (File photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)
Carter's Corner: Stricklin Not a Proponent of Friday NIght Games
Friday, November 4, 2016 | Football, Scott Carter
The Big Ten has a package of Friday Night games planned next season.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Big Ten caused a stir this week when the league announced that starting in 2017, the conference will play a package of games on Friday night as part of its new TV contract.
The games will be in September and October and not every school in the Big Ten wants to play on Friday night.
New Gators athletic director Scott Stricklin addressed Florida's stance on potential Friday night games on Thursday during his first appearance on the "Gator Talk" radio show. (Listen to the show here).
"Well, I can tell you the league has kind of frowned on our schools hosting Friday night games for the reason of high school football. That's such an important part of the South and the culture down here and obviously it's a pipeline to where we get our players," said Stricklin, who was asked about the issue from a fan in attendance. "I think it's very important that we respect those families that are involved in that and don't make them have to choose between supporting the Gators and supporting young people who are competing in high school football. So I don't ever envision [Florida)'playing a Friday night game."
Stricklin is no stranger to playing on Friday night. Earlier this season while at Mississippi State, the Bulldogs played at BYU on a Friday night.
Still, don't expect the schedule to include a game at the Swamp on Friday night in the foreseeable future.
"It's interesting because it's not only the Friday night, but school,'' Stricklin said. "We've actually got over 50,000 students here that all of a sudden that changes the dynamics of everything that you have to do at an institution, an educational institution.
"So there's a lot of pieces that go into that. And here's the one good thing as well. We're the Southeastern Conference. I don't think we need extra games on Fridays."
The games will be in September and October and not every school in the Big Ten wants to play on Friday night.
New Gators athletic director Scott Stricklin addressed Florida's stance on potential Friday night games on Thursday during his first appearance on the "Gator Talk" radio show. (Listen to the show here).
"Well, I can tell you the league has kind of frowned on our schools hosting Friday night games for the reason of high school football. That's such an important part of the South and the culture down here and obviously it's a pipeline to where we get our players," said Stricklin, who was asked about the issue from a fan in attendance. "I think it's very important that we respect those families that are involved in that and don't make them have to choose between supporting the Gators and supporting young people who are competing in high school football. So I don't ever envision [Florida)'playing a Friday night game."
Stricklin is no stranger to playing on Friday night. Earlier this season while at Mississippi State, the Bulldogs played at BYU on a Friday night.
Still, don't expect the schedule to include a game at the Swamp on Friday night in the foreseeable future.
"It's interesting because it's not only the Friday night, but school,'' Stricklin said. "We've actually got over 50,000 students here that all of a sudden that changes the dynamics of everything that you have to do at an institution, an educational institution.
"So there's a lot of pieces that go into that. And here's the one good thing as well. We're the Southeastern Conference. I don't think we need extra games on Fridays."
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