TV may get its way, but college athletes forced to play when priorities conflict
By Danny Gillham
Sports Editor

ESPN came knocking, and Conference USA answered the door.

When the sports television juggernaut proposed a TV deal, the conference that hasn’t had respect or recognition in football accepted. It would allow more games to be seen, and more teams to get noticed.

But at what price?

Sure the mid-week games are put on with no other football games as competition.

And yes, the Frogs have benefited from the coverage. Last season the team had national coverage at home against East Carolina, and played a Monday game this year at Cincinnati. It will now play this upcoming Wednesday against Southern Mississippi.

Yet while the team and TV seemingly get what they want, is it really beneficial to the players?

“It throws off your routine, you got to prepare differently,” senior linebacker LaMarcus McDonald said. “It’s not like Saturday, after the game you got to get up and go to school the next day.”

College football players have to pull double duty with school and playing, and intertwining them has the potential to be a severe distraction.

Just look at it from a simple football standpoint. Sure TCU had plenty of time to prepare for Cincinnati, but conference games are normally not played that early in the season. However, with ESPN’s package with the league, the game was set then because no other time could be found.

“I just wish we wouldn’t have played (Cincinnati) so early in the year,” head coach Gary Patterson said. “We got one of their better games, and now they are not playing as good. I wouldn’t mind playing them right now.”

There are some pros to match the cons. This game gives the team 10 days between games instead of seven, allowing more time to prepare and rest. The Frogs also have the benefit of full national attention, because when it comes to football, it’s the only game being played.

Still, college football is something you associate with Saturday, not Tuesday or Wednesday. It may be good for TV and the school, but not for the players.

But TV seems to get its way, proof of which came from senior quarterback Sean Stilley:
“You can’t complain about being on ESPN.”

Danny Gillham is a sophomore broadcast journalism major from Weatherford.