TCU football’s nationally televised matchup Thursday night against Texas Tech is giving the administration headaches in two primary areas–parking and education.
Parking on campus is already a hot topic (see here or here), and game day protocols mean commuter students and faculty will have to be bused in from remote lots.
Pair that with concern over students skipping class in anticipation of the contest, and you can see why administrators might not love the idea.
“Thursday night games, to put it bluntly, are an abomination,” said Provost Nowell Donovan. “We are an institution of higher learning, not an athletic support facility.”
Due to the Big 12 Conference’s television contract with ESPN, member universities are required to host occasional Thursday night games. The last time that happened at TCU was in 2015 when the Horned Frogs defeated West Virginia, 40-10.
Donovan said parking is the university’s biggest concern. Supporters pay for parking spots on game days, meaning students have to move their cars Wednesday night by 10 p.m..
It’s even tougher for commuter students and faculty, who will have to find somewhere to park off campus or figure out another way to get there.
One option is to use Uber. Use the code ‘BEATTECH’ to get a $10 discount Thursday.
“We’re trying to make the best of an imperfect hand which we’ve been played,” Donovan said. “I just hope that my faculty colleagues will deliver their usual high-quality lectures and that our commuter students will decide to go to class.”
It’s game week again! Thursday night, black out. #BeatTech pic.twitter.com/Y1j1OKw1bx
— Horned Frogs (@TCU_Athletics) October 8, 2018
Remote parking is available at the new Dickies Arena. Breakfast will be provided by TCU Student Affairs from 7 to 9 a.m.
The bus shuttle service will run continuously from 4 a.m. to midnight Thursday.
Administrators aren’t the only ones with concerns. Victor Norris, a senior history major, said he is worried about what a Thursday game will mean for students.
“Sadly, drinking is part of our culture, so some students are going to skip class to get drunk the whole day,” Norris said. “That will carry over into Friday, so it’s a really bad concept.”
Senior graphic design major Christopher Brown agreed that some students will skip class Thursday, but he also stressed the academic downside.
“Thursday games can be kind of cool, but at the same time it’s disruptive to the week,” Brown said. “I have to move my study schedule around and I have to wake up early Friday morning after a late night.”
Donovan understands these concerns, but he said the decision to hold class Thursday was easy because students need to attend their lectures.
“I’m sure that doesn’t apply to football players on Thursday, you know,” Donovan added with a laugh. “You know, the lads have got to get prepared and all the rest of it.”
Greer Baiano contributed to this report.
