DIII Trumps DII

D3_DPUFan · December 16, 2007, 11:02:43 AM

Found it interesting that the DIII National Championship was on ESPN and DII got ESPN2. Not only was DIII on the mothership, it also got the more desirable late start time...

faunch · December 16, 2007, 11:22:57 AM

I didn't like the late start simply because very few DIII games are played at night during the season. I think a championship should be played at time of day that is consistent traditional game time.

D3_DPUFan · December 16, 2007, 12:11:11 PM

Hardly consider 4 pm a "night game"...I thought it provided a nice showcase for DIII to a national audience...

Ralph Turner · December 16, 2007, 03:29:47 PM

Quote from: faunch on December 16, 2007, 11:22:57 AM
I didn't like the late start simply because very few DIII games are played at night during the season. I think a championship should be played at time of day that is consistent traditional game time.

4 pm Eastern, 1 pm Pacific.

Also, the prime time for the NFL is the 4:15 pm (EST) start for as many games as possible.

faunch · December 16, 2007, 03:44:41 PM

Quote from: Ralph Turner on December 16, 2007, 03:29:47 PM
Quote from: faunch on December 16, 2007, 11:22:57 AM
I didn't like the late start simply because very few DIII games are played at night during the season. I think a championship should be played at time of day that is consistent traditional game time.
4 pm Eastern, 1 pm Pacific.

Also, the prime time for the NFL is the 4:15 pm (EST) start for as many games as possible.

I should clarify my point...most DIII game are not played under the lights....also 4:15 EST might be the prime time for the NFL but we're still talking about DIII...I've just always liked college football to be played during the daylight hours.

smedindy · December 16, 2007, 06:18:34 PM

I thought it was cool and great that it was a 'prime time' game. It could only be better if it was in the 8PM slot on ABC on Saturday.

Knightstalker · December 16, 2007, 07:20:22 PM

The Stagg Bowl used to be on ABC in the 70's, usually a week late and on Wide World of Sports.

D3_DPUFan · December 16, 2007, 07:31:39 PM

QuoteI thought it was cool and great that it was a 'prime time' game. It could only be better if it was in the 8PM slot on ABC on Saturday.

...one day...

D3_DPUFan · December 16, 2007, 07:37:56 PM

QuoteThe Stagg Bowl used to be on ABC in the 70's, usually a week late and on Wide World of Sports.

Perhaps proof of how the DIII "brand" has grown.

AF4 · December 17, 2007, 10:42:27 AM

faunch

great points about daylight... but.... i guess it is regional... Huntingdon played at least 1 game under lights this yr...and here in the deep south... many college games r played at night...at all levels (West Al and North Al-D2- both play most of thier games at night, and Al State & Tus also play some at night) Auburn -D1-plays many at night

i thank LaGrange plays several at night ... i no we (Huntingdon) played them under lights at Calloway

i even played (rather, stood near or sat on the bench) under lights in the early 70's...in D-2..at that

keep the faith

old ends · December 17, 2007, 07:42:03 PM

To have A game on a national market is great. Wish there were more. Need a cable market for DIV III.

AUPepBand · December 17, 2007, 08:52:40 PM

Quote from: AF4 on December 17, 2007, 10:42:27 AM
faunch

great points about daylight... but.... i guess it is regional... Huntingdon played at least 1 game under lights this yr...and here in the deep south... many college games r played at night...at all levels (West Al and North Al-D2- both play most of thier games at night, and Al State & Tus also play some at night) Auburn -D1-plays many at night

i thank LaGrange plays several at night ... i no we (Huntingdon) played them under lights at Calloway

i even played (rather, stood near or sat on the bench) under lights in the early 70's...in D-2..at that

keep the faith

Little Alfred University in Western New York was one of the earlier small schools to play its football games under the lights. Founded by Seventh Day Baptists who observe the Biblical Sabbath (Friday sundown to Saturday sundown), Alfred traditionally played its home games at 8 p.m. Saturday evenings (after sundown) in deference to all of the Sabbathkeepers at the college and in the community.

Alfred at one time had the only post office in the nation that was closed Saturdays and open Sundays. Same with its bank.

Westerly, RI was also a hotbed for Seventh Day Baptists and its newspaper, the Westerly Sun, was the first American newspaper to break the news of the Pearl Harbor attack because it was probably the only paper to publish a Sunday afternoon edition. The Westerly Sun, founded a decade or so after the Alfred Sun (1883), was likely named after the Alfred weekly, and was published by Seventh Day Baptists by the name of Utter. Pep, current publisher of the Alfred Sun, calls the Westerly paper the "Utter Sun."

Just some random ramblings from Pep.

Teamski · December 18, 2007, 11:05:46 AM

I mentioned it to my wife that I thought it was really interesting to see Div I go first on Friday followed by D II and finally D III. I would of thought it would of been the other way around. Any which way you look at it, I felt that the DIII Final was the best of the lot!! So, great exposure for the division, thats for sure!!

-Ski

K-Mack · December 19, 2007, 01:31:19 AM

Well folks,
A lot of the details aren't actually statements on the importance of the game, but just start times worked out by the host sites, the division and the network. But I think there is some merit to the discussion you're having above.

I believe the Stagg Bowl does pretty well compared to similar games and for its time slot. It definitely gets good division-wide support.

Personally, I like the 4 p.m. start time because it starts in the afternoon but ends at night, under the lights and fireworks. Just gives it a grand feel.

Since I've been doing Stagg Bowls, the kick times have ranged from 11 a.m. (way too early for tailgaters and on-air prep/pregame beginning at 8 or 9) to 8 p.m. (great, but a really late ending for anyone who has to stay late and file by deadline)

Turns out, for the behind-the-scenes folks at least, 4 p.m. is pretty close to perfect.

FWIW.

K-Mack · December 19, 2007, 01:31:32 AM

As for the afternoon vs. night debate ... I take that tack as far as Salem being a fairly cold climate in December (represents what you might find elsewhere in D3 on that date) and it being a grass field, switching to turf this year (D3 used to be mostly grass, but in recent years the elite schools and many others have switched to FieldTurf).

I think the Stagg best represents a D3 game as it would be played most other plays in the country, so I guess the afternoon thing is a good point. Maybe the afternoon start/night end is the best of both worlds.

DIII Trumps DII

old ends