Urban Meyer claims the first time he heard news of the Big Ten's intentions to play football games on Friday night in the future was when sports information director Jerry Emig said something as the coach left the practice field Wednesday afternoon.
“I did not know,” Meyer said. “Jerry said something to me on the way in. And we've gotta find a way to beat Nebraska. That's it.”
Meyer's assessment contradicts what Gene Smith told Eleven Warriors earlier Wednesday, that he spoke to the Ohio State head coach regarding the conference's decision to schedule games for Friday night in prime time. Smith said the only way the Buckeyes would host a game on a Friday would be if it coincided with the University's Autumn Break, which falls on the second weekend in October.
It doesn't appear likely the Big Ten will ask Ohio State to host a Friday night game—such a brand is better sold to television viewers on normal football Saturdays and Jim Delaney said it wants to avoid making stadiums with "giant seating capacities" do so. But the Buckeyes could travel to play a Big Ten opponent on Friday night.
It causes a change in game planning and practice structure, with one fewer day to prepare. A shift in recruiting visits also appears imminent, as high school players typically play on Friday nights. Everyone will have to adjust.
“Friday night games, they're fun, a lot of excitement but again it could be a short week coming off a Saturday week,” Ohio State wide receiver Noah Brown said on Wednesday after practice. “Gotta do a good job of preparation if that's a factor.”
It is coming even though the conference did not announce on Wednesday what games will be affected for the 2017 season, only that there will be six. Smith said the Big Ten "is working on that" and an announcement is on the horizon.
The Buckeyes don't plan to host a Friday night game next season. Michigan refused to play on Friday nights regardless the location. Penn State did too.
But Ohio State is interested. Even if its football team didn't have much reaction to the news.
“It's not my business,” said cornerbacks coach and special teams coordinator Kerry Coombs, a longtime Cincinnati High School football coach. “Friday nights are for high school football in Ohio and they have been for a long, long time. Those are decisions other people make.
“It is what it is.”
