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OSU-Iowa State: Football or freeze tag?
Published: 4/26/2011 2:33 PM
Last Modified: 4/26/2011 2:33 PM

You’ve got to be kidding.

For the sake of television, alias ESPN2, Oklahoma State’s football game at Iowa State has been moved to a Friday night in November.

I don’t have a problem with the game being moved to Friday. It won’t be the first or last time that a college football team will play on a night usually reserved for high school teams.

But I have a big problem with the game being played at night. That means no sunlight. In mid-November. In Ames, Iowa.

The average low temperature for Ames in November is 28 degrees, according to go-iowa.com. The average low in December is 14 degrees. Let’s split the difference and say the low temperature could be a balmy 21 degrees when the game occurs on Nov. 18. And that’s not counting wind chill.

I don’t have much sympathy for student-athletes, who get great perks for being on the best work-study program possible (play games!).

But I don’t think it’s right for them to be placed at risk for frostbite just because a network needed a game.

I’m OK with the move if this happens: Any executive or administrator who agreed to the decision should have to stand on the sideline during the entire game with the players and coaches. Bring a coat. Or two. And maybe a Saint Bernard with a first aid kit.



Reader Comments 4 Total
hesanutbag (last year)
In this instance, I think the pros outweigh the one con of playing at night in Ames in mid-November. If you look at the Big XII schedule that week, OSU vs ISU is probably the third best game behind TTU vs Mizzou and OU vs Baylor. Depending on potential, it could be the fourth best game behind KSU vs UT. The OSU administrators probably saw this and decided that the difference between an 11am regional Fox game and a primetime, nationwide ESPN2 game is worth the cold.

Since I'm definitely for the change, I'd be willing to stand on the sidelines in shorts and a t-shirt if OSU will pay for my travels.
Davie (last year)
The possibility of a very cold night in Ames in mid-November gives the home tema a possible advantage, albeit small. Bad weather is the great equalizer of teams.
codystovall (last year)
It does indeed make the game slightly more even. And I like it. These kids get free education and great opportunities to apply themselves to potentially go to the next level. The chance to showcase a "decent" big 12 game with the cold evening out some of the on field play is only going to help the confrence appeal. They are big boys playing at the big level, they can suck it up!
Graybeard (last year)
Since when does a NCAA football game have to be played on a Saturday? So what if it is cold!
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Tulsa World sports writer Jimmie Tramel is a former class president at Locust Grove High School. He graduated magna cum laude from Northeastern State University with a journalism degree and, while attending college, was sports editor of the Pryor Daily Times. He joined the Tulsa World on Oct. 17, 1989, the same day an earthquake struck the World Series. He is the OSU basketball beat writer and a columnist and feature writer during football season. In 2007, he wrote a book about Oklahoma State football with former Cowboy coach Pat Jones.

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