Schools

Thursday Eureka High Football Home Games: Why the Change?

Eureka football fans recently made several inquiries about why home games will be hosted on Thursdays rather than Fridays. Eureka High School activities director Jason Green explains.

Friday night football games have been a bit of a big tradition in . This year, home games are being held on Thursday evenings, leaving football fans wondering why.

activities director and assistant principal Jason Green said the Thursday night football games have been scheduled for more than a year. "We're on a two-year schedule, and the new one was redrawn, according to the new play-off system," he said. "Perhaps Thursday night games stand out because it's probably been five or six years since Eureka's had them."

Green said Thursday night football games are considered each year, however.

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"The final schedules at each building are based on a variety of factors, such as holiday weekends, days off school, special events, coaches' requests and special considerations," he said.

Another factor is the overall use of the school building and resulting traffic flow on any given day or evening.

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For this year, he said there were some student-related considerations taken into account, such as when Senior Night falls for the seniors playing football. "We have 175 or more students involved with football. If we can do a little something to help them, then why not do it?" he said.

With only three home games, some parents expressed concerns about the following factors:

  • middle school students who generally attend the high school games having to be out late on a school night, as compared to a weekend night for Friday games
  • parents getting off work in time to get to the games
  • decreased overall attendance that will affect concession stand sales

And then there are the Eureka High band members and supporting families. Some band-related parents said because their students are at school all day, then at practice followed by the game, there is no time to leave to eat so they are diverting band-related funds to pay for meals for band members.

One band-associated parent told Patch that band members will have to leave the games after half time, due to the total number of straight hours any one given student can be kept in school and continuing school activity.

Green said while he understands parents' concerns, the same issues do not crop up during the winter sports of basketball and wrestling—which also include Thursdays on their schedules.

He said next year, there may be five home games, and they hope to work the schedule such that the football players get an extra day of rest before play-offs. An element he said they are looking strongly at is the Labor Day weekend and trying to provide players with a day off during that holiday.

2012 Eureka High School Football Varsity Schedule

DateTimeOpponent 8/17/2012 6:00 PM AWAY; Jamboree 8/24/2012 7:00 PM AWAY; Lafayette 8/30/2012 7:00 PM HOME; CBC 9/7/2012 7:00 PM AWAY; Mehlville 9/15/2012 6:30 PM AWAY; Oakville @ Edward Jones Dome 9/21/2012 7:00 PM AWAY; Wentzville Holt 9/28/2012 7:00 PM AWAY; Marquette 10/5/2012 7:00 PM HOME; Lindbergh Homecoming 10/12/2012 7:00 PM AWAY; Fox 10/18/2012 7:00 PM HOME; Parkway South

YOUR TURN: What do you think of Thursday home football games? Share your views in the comments' section of this article.


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