2008 Woodie Awards
CMU to MAC: Cease weekday football games
By: Tim Ottusch
Issue date: 11/14/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Central Michigan University no longer is looking to tussle on Tuesday nights.
Nor any other weeknight from now on, for that matter.
University President Michael Rao and Interim Provost Gary Shapiro sent an e-mail to students, faculty and staff Tuesday, saying that CMU has taken a position against playing Mid-American Conference football games on weeknights.
"The primary mission of the university is the education of its students. And sometimes, this is lost in the excitement about extracurricular events," Shapiro said Tuesday.
The e-mail comes one week after the football team beat Western Michigan University on ESPN2's national broadcast dubbed the "Tuesday Night Tussle." The game was part of a contract the MAC has with ESPN that allows ESPN to broadcast MAC games in the first two weeks of November on weeknights to show on national television.
This year, four MAC games were broadcasted or scheduled to be broadcasted on ESPN2 on weeknights.
"I think that by coming out with a clear statement for an institution, I think we have expressed to the Mid-American Conference that we think that there should be some change," said Kevin Love, faculty athletic representative.
Athletics Director Dave Heeke said the contract with ESPN will last about two more years and will bring in more than $1 million for the MAC.
Gary Richter, MAC assistant commissioner for media relations, said he is unaware of any complaints from CMU or any other MAC school about this issue.
The issue could be brought up again at January's MAC meeting, where athletic directors, university presidents and faculty athletic representatives get together and discuss issues.
"We'll make sure we get this on our agenda," Love said.
Rao is the chair of the council of presidents and works closely with MAC Commissioner Rick Chryst to determine the agenda for each meeting.
The e-mail's meaning wasn't just about scheduling football games on weeknights, officials said.
"We're here for students to learn and for students to graduate and become productive, caring citizens. That's why we exist here as an institution," said Rich Morrison, associate vice president of public relations and marketing. Rao, Shapiro, Heeke and Love all agreed education should come first.
"This whole thing I feel very good about because it shows that everybody is on the same page," Love said. "It just reinforces to me that the quick reaction and the quick statement by the president, along with the athletics director and myself, really indicates that we are on the same page about academics coming first."
news@cm-life.com
Nor any other weeknight from now on, for that matter.
University President Michael Rao and Interim Provost Gary Shapiro sent an e-mail to students, faculty and staff Tuesday, saying that CMU has taken a position against playing Mid-American Conference football games on weeknights.
"The primary mission of the university is the education of its students. And sometimes, this is lost in the excitement about extracurricular events," Shapiro said Tuesday.
The e-mail comes one week after the football team beat Western Michigan University on ESPN2's national broadcast dubbed the "Tuesday Night Tussle." The game was part of a contract the MAC has with ESPN that allows ESPN to broadcast MAC games in the first two weeks of November on weeknights to show on national television.
This year, four MAC games were broadcasted or scheduled to be broadcasted on ESPN2 on weeknights.
"I think that by coming out with a clear statement for an institution, I think we have expressed to the Mid-American Conference that we think that there should be some change," said Kevin Love, faculty athletic representative.
Athletics Director Dave Heeke said the contract with ESPN will last about two more years and will bring in more than $1 million for the MAC.
Gary Richter, MAC assistant commissioner for media relations, said he is unaware of any complaints from CMU or any other MAC school about this issue.
The issue could be brought up again at January's MAC meeting, where athletic directors, university presidents and faculty athletic representatives get together and discuss issues.
"We'll make sure we get this on our agenda," Love said.
Rao is the chair of the council of presidents and works closely with MAC Commissioner Rick Chryst to determine the agenda for each meeting.
The e-mail's meaning wasn't just about scheduling football games on weeknights, officials said.
"We're here for students to learn and for students to graduate and become productive, caring citizens. That's why we exist here as an institution," said Rich Morrison, associate vice president of public relations and marketing. Rao, Shapiro, Heeke and Love all agreed education should come first.
"This whole thing I feel very good about because it shows that everybody is on the same page," Love said. "It just reinforces to me that the quick reaction and the quick statement by the president, along with the athletics director and myself, really indicates that we are on the same page about academics coming first."
news@cm-life.com
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 11
Mark Van Faussien
posted 11/14/07 @ 6:54 AM EST
While I certainly laud the altruism, the reality is that the MAC is a business. Do President Rao and the AD propose alternative funding sources for the MAC to replace the $1 million in lost revenue from ESPN?
To put it in perspective, this is just one weeknight per year and seems a small price to pay for the exposure CMU or any other MAC school receives for having their football games broadcast in primetime. (Continued…)
Rick
posted 11/14/07 @ 12:44 PM EST
I don't see why the MAC doesn't sign a contract with Fox Sport Network to televise these games. Local product on local channel would sound like a good idea to me. (Continued…)
michmediaperson
posted 11/14/07 @ 1:51 PM EST
2 things:
Mark, the question is how much money did Western lose by not playing this game on Saturday from parking, concessions, gate receipts? They probably would have made more money than what their ESPN cut will be. (Continued…)
Melissa
posted 11/14/07 @ 4:54 PM EST
Obvious answer to michmediaperson's "tough" question- Baseball doesn't bring in as much money as football does and students aren't hungover after going to a basketball game like they are after a football game. (Continued…)
tpdub
posted 11/14/07 @ 9:12 PM EST
So are we going to cancel all of the basketball, volleyball, and wrestling matches that take place on weeknights as well? How many times a year does the football team play on a Tuesday or Wednesday compared to the mens and womens basketball teams? The mens hoop team plays 13 Mon-Thur games with 8 of those games on the road. (Continued…)
Alan Christensen
posted 11/15/07 @ 10:51 AM EST
I love the Tuesday night game and what it does for Central Michigan. Central Michigan University football is on the map again and that proof can be seen everywhere. (Continued…)
Dave
posted 11/15/07 @ 11:07 AM EST
Its about time CMU took a stand against weeknight games! I've written a letter or two to this paper and to CMU trustees about how these games have to end. (Continued…)
Bob Vance
posted 11/15/07 @ 3:12 PM EST
This is by far the stupidest thing i have ever heard. I'm planning on attending Friday night's game, but if i have to choose between going to a Central game and watching a big 10 game on tv. (Continued…)
jen4k2
Jen
posted 11/16/07 @ 11:51 AM EST
Please keep weekday games!
It brings in tons of money, helping the team support itself and take the financial burden that it is off the rest of the students who could care less, and it helps keep students responsible--no getting totally wasted, you've got class tomorrow. (Continued…)
Daniel Kelley
posted 11/16/07 @ 4:37 PM EST
Rao is correct, CMU is an educational instition and its' primary goal is the success of its' students. But who is kidding who, CMU is about making money. (Continued…)
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