Jack's Take: Tom Allen is Right That Friday Night is For High School Football, But TV Money Talks

Indiana coach Tom Allen's postgame rant about the sanctity of Friday night high school football went viral this week, heading into the Hoosiers' Friday matchup against Indiana State. He's right, but this kind of scheduling isn't going anywhere.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – One clip from coach Tom Allen’s postgame press conference following Indiana’s season-opening 23-3 loss to Ohio State on Saturday attracted over 1 million views. 

Allen began to answer a question about offensive scheme with his two quarterbacks against Indiana State on Friday night when he refocused on “Friday night.’’ Beginning his career at the high school level at Temple Heights and Armwood in Tampa, Fla., and later at Marion and Ben Davis high schools in Indiana, Allen values the sanctity of Friday Night Lights as much as any current college football coach.

And he made sure everyone knows.

“You know how I feel about Friday night games,” Allen said. “That’s not a decision we make. That comes straight from the Big Ten, so if anybody wants to complain about that, don’t talk to me. Okay, so Friday night football is for high school football. Bottom line. I’ll say it ‘til I’m blue in the face, ‘til somebody tells me to shut up. Then I’ll probably say it again.”

“Friday night football is for high school football.”

Social media commenters mostly agreed with Allen, saying he’s “100% correct,” and that he should preach the message to decision makers more directly than his inspired rant. Others ripped Allen, saying it’s fitting that Indiana is playing on Friday night because against Ohio State they looked like a high school team. But that’s beside the point.

Tom Allen on next week’s Friday night kickoff against Indiana State:

“I’ll say it ‘til I’m blue in the face, ‘til somebody tells me to shut up. Then I’ll probably say it again. Friday night football is for high school football.” #iufb pic.twitter.com/AqkWb2EVqw

— Jack Ankony (@ankony_jack) September 3, 2023

On Monday, Allen was asked if he ever voices this opinion in Big Ten meetings. More calmly, Allen said he’s been consistent. He doesn’t bring up the topic in every meeting, but he shares his opinion when asked.

“I am about a 15-year high school coach, and I have a lot of respect for what they do and how that night is special,” Allen said Monday. “I just think it's important. And I understand the whole dynamics of it all with different variables with media and everything. But there's certain things that if anybody wants to know my opinion, they know what it is.”

Allen is right. It’s all about television money and greed, as is most of college athletics.

He’s not complaining about Friday games because it gives his team a short week to prepare, though he probably doesn’t like that, either. His gripe stems from the fact that for decades, football followed a schedule that had no reason to be tweaked: High school games on Friday, college on Saturday and NFL on Sunday.

There’s something special about Friday night high school football games, whether it’s the bond built between teammates, the community coming together or even the interest football gains from a younger audience in attendance. It’s why nostalgic television shows and movies have been made on the topic, which are successful because they build on fond memories so many of us hold close.

Friday’s Indiana vs. Indiana State game likely won’t make high school stadiums look or feel any different than they otherwise would, but there’s real negative effects from playing on Friday nights on the college programs.

When Indiana plays a Friday night game, it can’t give sideline passes to recruits because they’re playing in their own games. Allen can’t go to high school games for recruiting purposes, either. Recruiting is a vital aspect of any program, and playing on Friday is a detriment.

Friday games also hurt the fan turnout at college games. Was Indiana ever going to pack Memorial Stadium for an Indiana State game, like it did Saturday against Ohio State? No, but college games on Friday’s could hurt Indiana’s ticket sales, especially when Bloomington South High School hosts rival Bloomington North at the same time this Friday night. Out-of-state fans are also less likely to travel to Bloomington for a Friday game.

But the sport’s decision makers don’t care. Television money drives everything. It’s why we might see Oregon play at Rutgers in a Big Ten conference matchup on a Friday night next fall.

If there’s an open TV slot, it has to be filled – that’s all that matters.

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