Football may switch to Fridays only for playoffs

Ohio High School Athletic Association commissioner Dan Ross said this week that there is a push to have all football playoff games on Friday nights.

Ross said a decision would be made at the next board of directors meeting on June 12.

“There has been a lot of discussion about this from coaches and administrators and some studies have been done, and I’ve got to say I like the idea,” Ross said. “If the coaches like it, I like it. The would make Friday our night for high school football.”

Games have been played for years on Fridays and Saturdays. Ross said the chief reason for a change would be that attendance is markedly lower on Saturday with college football games, Ohio State especially, on television.

“It’s not even close,” he said. “One of the problems we’re encountering is that sites are reluctant to host on Saturdays because of lower crowds and, subsequently, less concessions. Another factor is that it’s hard to get workers on those nights.”

Those reasons hastened the OHSAA to switch Division I games to Friday beginning in the 2016 postseason.

If passed, the format would extend through the state semifinal round, or the first four weekends of the tournament.

“The concept is more feasible now because there are more potential sites available with turf and more accredited officials as well,” he added.

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