from Todays Lakeland Ledger

[TyBull]

Published: Wednesday, September 26, 2007

ESPN2-Driven Time Horrible

By **** Scanlon

(863) 802-7554

****.scanlon@theledger.com         

  http://www.theledger.com/article/20070926/COLUMNISTS0604/709260525/1113/SPORTS

South Florida-West Virginia is probably the best game on the board in college football this weekend.

FSU-Alabama is an appealing neutral-field match-up, but both teams have already lost. Considering Auburn's mediocrity so far, the only interesting hook in its game at Florida is that Auburn is the last team to have beaten the Gators.

And outside the state of Florida, this weekend's schedule is bland, at best.

But USF against fifth-ranked West Virginia has everything you could ask for in an early-season showdown. The winner is likely to win the Big East and will have a good chance of finishing the regular season at 11-1 or better, ranked in the top five.

In terms of an opportunity to gain the national recognition the program has earned, it will be USF's biggest game ever. A sellout crowd is expected at Raymond James Stadium, unprecedented for USF, and ESPN2 will air the game nationally.

It is just as huge for West Virginia, which had its season derailed by USF's 24-19 victory at Morgantown last year. The Mountaineers will have "payback" working for them, always a juicy element in a big sports match-up.

You couldn't write a better script, except for one thing. The game is being played on Friday night.

That means just within the greater Tampa Bay area, tens of thousands who would have made a point of enthusiastically watching the big game will miss it.

High school players, coaches, parents, cheerleaders, band members and officials will have other games to attend, and their fans will be forced to choose between attending the high school game or watching the USF game on television.

What a waste!

It could have been scheduled on Thursday night. It could have been scheduled on Saturday, where college football belongs, with a flexible time.

Instead they put it in the one time slot that cuts off a large portion of the game's potential audience.

Seems kind of counterproductive, especially for recruiting purposes, but there's no point in blaming USF. The network offers envelopes stuffed with cash for you to play on Friday night, and if you don't take it, someone else will.

It's another example of ESPN exploiting the sports it covers instead of respecting their traditions and roots.

[ **** Scanlon can be reached at ****.scanlon@theledger.com or at 863-802-7554. ]

Last modified: September 26. 2007 7:07AM