Around the Big Ten

[Dr. Strangelove]

Not a great idea, if you ask me, unless they get everyone across the country to do it. The Big Ten doesn't want the fourth quarter of its first game of the day competing with the 1st quarter of the 3:30 games that are on all across the country.

I would think the opposite. First quarters are often skippable but many casual viewers will tune to a tight 4th quarter contest

[geo weidl]

There goes my nap time!

[lineygoblue]

Man, thats not safe for work

[SeanB]

Man, thats not safe for work

Good thing you're not at work, then, Mr. Retiree.

[lineygoblue]

I know.

Look at those legs, man.

I'm glad I wasn't taking a big old swig of Diet Coke at the time ....

[Jamie H]

I think you guys are reading the article wrong. The times in the article are central time. So when they are saying Delany wants 12PM starts, that would mean a 1PM start in eastern time. Or, essentially what we had for every game back before they were on TV.

He is talking about pushing the games BACK, not bringing them forward. Later, not earlier.

[Jeff Buchanan]

Not a great idea, if you ask me, unless they get everyone across the country to do it. The Big Ten doesn't want the fourth quarter of its first game of the day competing with the 1st quarter of the 3:30 games that are on all across the country.

That's the crux of the argument against it, IMO ...... I might like an extra hour of tailgating at the game when I'm in AA but when I'm watching on TV is there the possibility that the 4th quarter of a blow-out either way in a 1P game is going to be pre-empted by another 3:30 game in the Eastern time zone or a 1PM game Mountain or Pacific time?

[lineygoblue]

I like 1:00 EST kickoffs better than 12:00 noon.

[geo weidl]

I like 1:00 EST kickoffs better than 12:00 noon.

[Jamie H]

Agreed.

[WM Wolverine]

I believe its only talking about the games hosted in central division time zones; e.g. Minneosta, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois & NW.

[Dr. Strangelove]

That's the crux of the argument against it, IMO ...... I might like an extra hour of tailgating at the game when I'm in AA but when I'm watching on TV is there the possibility that the 4th quarter of a blow-out either way in a 1P game is going to be pre-empted by another 3:30 game in the Eastern time zone or a 1PM game Mountain or Pacific time?

But like I said, if it's a close game, tv is more likely to stick with it and viewers will hang around.

If it's a blowout, then sure tv will switch to something. Because the casual audience is as well

[*JD*]

I like 1:00 EST kickoffs better than 12:00 noon.

Indeed. Either an extra hour of sleep or an extra hour of tailgating. Win-win!

[Dr. Strangelove]

A 9-game conference schedule once again a major topic at the Big Ten meetings

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/bigten/2011-05-16-nine-game-football-schedule_N.htm

[Hannibal]

It'd be nice if that would be the impetus to get rid of divisions.