May 2, 2011
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By Marc Daniels
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Playing a non-Saturday football game is not new to UCF. The Knights have hit the field on just about every day except Monday for a regular season game. The weekday games come with national television exposure and UCF has taken advantage of the opportunity to showcase its program. Such was the case last season with victories over UAB, Marshall and Houston that came in non-Saturday games.
With three, and a possible fourth game, already scheduled during a weekday for the upcoming season, UCF and its fellow conference members might want to keep a close watch on the NFL labor story.
If talks between the league and players do not progress and it becomes evident that some games will either be missed or rescheduled, college football may get a call too good to pass up.
Television network executives already know there is a football thirsty audience on Sunday afternoons. If there are no NFL games to offer that large group of fans, networks may turn to college football as an alternate in regards to programming.
PAC-12 Commissioner Larry Scott was the first league chief to step forward and open the door to the idea of playing games on Sunday.
"We certainly are monitoring the situation," Scott told Rivals.com recently. "We have no plans in place at this time, but you want to be prepared and consider all options."
With billions already committed to airing NFL games, networks may not be looking to offer up more money to large conferences with their own billion dollar deals with some of those same networks. Therefore, leagues like Conference USA, Mountain West, WAC and Sun Belt might be candidates to get those calls about moving games to Sunday for exposure over dollars.
If Conference USA Commissioner Britton Banowsky got a call from FOX inquiring if he and his league would be open to playing a game or two on Sunday afternoon, can you pass on the opportunity? Likely, you cannot.
It may be a moot point if the NFL reaches a deal with the players. But the league might be an advocate for college games on Sunday as a negotiating ploy. Remember, television networks are partners with the league, not the players. Therefore, if networks begin to talk about, and then schedule college games on Sunday, players may see a football-crazed audience getting something over nothing and realize some leverage would be lost. Stay tuned.
Knights notes and more: It's a happy and sad goodbye to a dear friend. Micah Byars has served as the men's basketball team's director of operations for several seasons. He stayed on when Donnie Jones came aboard this past season. Byars has moved on to Iowa State to become their director of basketball development. I am happy he is advancing his career and Iowa State's program is better already because he is coming aboard. I am sad because he has been a tremendous friend and co-worker. Micah made my job easier when it came to basketball needs related to my broadcast duties in so many areas. But what I will miss most of all is a great friend who I laughed with often and shared many moments talking about family and life. He is one of the kindest people I have ever met and I wish him the best in his new position...It's a three-peat for the UCF men's golf team at the C-USA Tournament. Bryce Wallor's team finished two shots better than Memphis with a huge final day to take the crown. Next up, the NCAA Regionals, which begin on May 19...Congrats to Jah Reid and Bruce Miller. Reid was selected in the third round of the NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens. Miller went in the seventh round to San Francisco where the Niners plan to use him as a fullback and a third-down pass rushing specialist. Reid will get a chance to play early. Miller will be asked to do something he did a lot at UCF, play special teams. Because of that special teams experience, Miller may be different than most seventh round picks who are longshots to make a team...Final thought: Got an oil change this weekend. Is there ever a time when the technician ever says the air filter actually looks good and does not need to be changed?