Why doesn't Notre Dame play night games at home?

[dshans]

I also had calculus on Saturday mornings..........mine started at 8 AM....double ouch!!!

Hell, by Special Papal Decree you've been granted a hard-to-come-by "Triple Ouch!"

 

[DCirishfan]

I've heard many reasons.

First, tradition. The Cubs famously refused to play night games and did not install lights at Wrigley until I believe MLB forced them to do so when they finally made the playoffs in 1988.

The thinking was that baseball was meant to be played in "God's light" and that batters have always had to pick up the ball from the pitcher in the sun and not in artificial light.

With football, it's not as tradition bound, but you always hear how people love the Irish coming out of the tunnel with the sun sparkling on their gold helmets.

Second, NBC does have a big say. If I'm not mistaken I believe they paid for the installation of the lights at ND Stadium and may also pay for them whenever they are turned on. I'm not sure how much it costs to have them on for a whole game, but I don't think it would surprise a lot of people if a big part of it was NBC being cheap. Nevertheless, the lights are used for many 4th quarters during the season when the sun evnetually goes down, especially later in the season.

Lastly, wasn't there a big concern from the school about having students and fans tailgating all day? I seem to remember there being strong objections to night games because the school didn't want the atmosphere to turn into Death Valley in Baton Rouge.

I think in the end it's a combination of all three factors. Although there have been a few night games in the past during the Holtz era.

There should be one or two night games a year at home. Day games are nice and everything, but there's just something about watching a game under the lights. It gives it more of that "stage" feeling like you're watching high drama at a theater, you know?

it was 89 not 88 I AM AWESOME

I am an Orioles fan and a Nats fan and new dat, FTW

 

[DCirishfan]

Hell, by Special Papal Decree you've been granted a hard-to-come-by "Triple Ouch!"

I would have failed at any time of the day so..........................what was I saying?

 

[IrishLax]

ND vs. Washington State was a home game, for ND. That's why NBC televised it.

No, it was a neutral site game. Yes, I was wrong 100% wrong about what the contract covers as I said a couple posts up.

 

[dshans]

I would have failed at any time of the day so..........................what was I saying?

Had the university not decided to show mercy on our poor freshman souls I would have failed the class. It was a required class regardless of one's area of interest. As it was, I got a "D." But only because the powers that be declared that a single passing grade on any quiz or exam warranted an overall "pass."

My instructor was a very mathematically bright graduate student, Mr. Peebles – I kid you not. He would fill the black board with some formula or proof, turn to the class and state that "this, of course, is trivial." He would then erase all he'd scribbled and start anew. After a few more "it's trivial" comments he'd announce that there was a quiz or exam the next class and that we'd be expected to know and understand the material. He didn't field questions or offer any help.

Sheesh! Fortunately I survived and went on to graduate in spite of being on academic probation following my first semester.

 

[kmoose]

No, it was a neutral site game. Yes, I was wrong 100% wrong about what the contract covers as I said a couple posts up.

The only thing "neutral site" about it was the venue. ND gave up a game in South Bend, to play a home game in San Antonio. They even made a big deal out of it, just before the game. It was considered a home game for ND, and that's why NBC televised it. I know it may sound like hair splitting, but it's not really, when you look at it from the perspective of the NBC contract.

 

[D. Ling]

At this point in time the main reason for the games being played during the day is because NBC believes that ND football on a Saturday afternoon is a high quality brand. However, NBC actually would like to air more ND games in Primetime because (believe it or not) Saturday evening sitcoms don't do so well nowadays.

So right now, Saturday afternoon games are just a convention moreso then something being mandated and I wouldn't be surprised if there are more ND evening games live from South Bend in the coming years... ND vs. Texas? ND vs. Miami? Live in Primetime from South Bend... don't be surprised if/when it happens.

 

[Jerry]

I like the mid afternoon games. I wouldn't want to get up any earlier for say a noon game. And although I wouldn't be against a night game I just like drinking/tailgating in the morning. But I guess the Chicago traffic wouldn't be as bad on Saturday night at midnight as it is at 8pm driving home.