posted on Saturday, December 08, 2007 5:13 PM by marc.morehouse

Iowa-Badgers Saturday after Thanksgiving?

From the Wisconsin State Journal, Wisconsin administration is trying to talk Iowa into moving next season's Heartland Trophy game to the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend (Nov. 29), thus creating a bye week for both teams.

The Hawkeyes and Badgers are scheduled to meet Oct. 18 at Kinnick Stadium.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz has been vocal about re-establishing some form of a bye week since the NCAA gave the OK to 12-game seasons in 2006.

According to the State Journal, Big Ten presidents recently gave permission for schools to play games after Thanksgiving, if they can find a willing partner.

UW athletic director Barry Alvarez told the State Journal that football coach Bret Bielema has already had discussions with Ferentz.

"Bret wants to do it," Alvarez told the paper following a UW Athletic Board meeting Friday. "If Iowa doesn't want to do it, we'll just keep (looking). I'm sure Bret will try to find somebody. You need an open date. It's too hard. Twelve straight weeks is hard."

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Comments

# re: Iowa-Badgers Saturday after Thanksgiving?

Sunday, December 09, 2007 10:27 AM by hawkfan
As a fan, I would love it. It bums me out that the Big Ten is done before Thanksgiving and there are two more weeks of college football. Ohio State once again has a 50 day break before playing in their bowl game.

# re: Iowa-Badgers Saturday after Thanksgiving?

Sunday, December 09, 2007 11:19 AM by Dale
no, no, no! the season's too long as it is! the break of a bye week just prolongs an already too long season. go back to 10 or 11 games.

# re: Iowa-Badgers Saturday after Thanksgiving?

Sunday, December 09, 2007 8:48 PM by Highlander
As a fan I agree that a game after Thanksgiving would be a lot of fun. As a faculty member and parent, though, I think Ferentz has an unassailable argument against playing a game after Thanksgiving: The University of Iowa has no classes Thanksgiving week, so all students have a week of break; scheduling a game after Thanksgiving would mean football players would not have a genuine break. From experience I know that many football players who do not get a break would take one of their own, missing classes after their last game, the way that basketball players and wrestlers have done in the past when their seasons interfered with spring break. Let the kids have a break over Thanksgiving, from both football and the classroom. The Highlander

# re: Iowa-Badgers Saturday after Thanksgiving?

Monday, December 10, 2007 11:57 PM by marc.morehouse
Hey Highlander, thanks for stopping.

I think this might come down to what coach Ferentz wants more, the bye or the season concluding the weekend before Thanksgiving. He's talked about wanting both. I think the solution he'd take would be starting the season a week earlier, building the bye into the regular schedule and leaving Thanksgiving break as is, a week off for the entire program.

Highlander brings up an excellent point, players leaking out of class the week after T-break. That's not healthy.

I think if push came to shove, Ferentz would keep Thanksgiving weekend off and play 12 without the bye. Right now, there is no other viable alternative. I think starting the season on the last weekend of August would do it, but the NCAA doesn't see it that way.

Has the 12th game so far been worth it? I'm sure it's a huge yes, financially, especially for a school like Iowa with 30 or so straight sell outs. But what has it really brought? Maine? Florida International? Games vs. D I-AA? I'm with Greg, I can't get enough college football, but the value of these games is questionable.

# re: Iowa-Badgers Saturday after Thanksgiving?

Wednesday, December 12, 2007 8:34 AM by Hawk70
Marc, unless the 2008 schedule has changed Iowa already has a bye week on October 25 - the week after the Wisconsin game. This would result in two weeks in a row and I would think that Kirk definitely would not be interested in that.

As a season ticket holder I am not sure how excited I am about pushing the season further into November or early December. The last I checked we do not have a domed stadium and the weather can be pretty dicey after Thanksgiving.

# re: Iowa-Badgers Saturday after Thanksgiving?

Wednesday, December 12, 2007 11:35 AM by marc.morehouse
You're right, Hawk70. Iowa does have a bye for '08.

As far as the weather goes, Iowa has been pretty lucky the 13 years I've been around. November hasn't been horrible. Weather won't have a hand in this decision.

I'd rather not see it go into Thanksgiving, but if that's the only way Iowa can have a bye week, a choice has to be made.