FRIDAYS, TURKEY AND ORANGES

There's been some chatter today about the new ESPN deal with the ACC, and ATL pointed out how Friday night Football games are now built into the contract. There's a few points to make based on this specific update.

First, the section in question, emphasis mine:

Per the extension, ESPN has the right to televise three Friday ACC football contests annually which will include a standing commitment from Boston College and Syracuse to each host one game as well as an afternoon or evening game on Thanksgiving Friday.

A few points to note:

• Newton (the city/neighborhood) despised us having Thursday night games. That's what built around the many year gaps between the home games. Getting involved in Friday may be a way around some of those issues will simultaneously providing a national spotlight. I'm calling this a win.
• Friday nights, however, are still weekdays when it comes to out of towners and alums. It may be easier to play hooky on a Friday afternoon for local tailgaters, but season ticket holders are likely going to lose at least one ticket - and it may be a good one, since it's a national game. Downside.
• Three overall games on Fridays, and BC and Syracuse each get to host one annually, you say? Would anyone be surprised if Syracuse hosted BC and/or vice versa for one of those legs that are built into the yearly schedule?

and finally...

• Several teams, as we know, have non-ACC finishing games the week of Thanksgiving. Two teams that don't? BC and Syracuse. And each one has to get a Friday game every season? Writing on the wall?