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Tulsa-Oklahoma Football Game Moved to Friday Night
3/1/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
March 1, 2002
Tulsa, Oklahoma - The 2002 football game between The University of Tulsa and the University of Oklahoma, originally scheduled for Saturday, August 31, will be played on Friday, August 30, at Skelly Stadium, it was announced today by the two schools.
The game will be televised nationally on ESPN. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. (CT).
The Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association and the Oklahoma Coaches Association were consulted by the two universities before the decision was made to change the game date. Oklahoma Athletics Director Joe Castiglione and Tulsa Athletics Director Judy MacLeod were pleased with the support of the OSSAA and OCA in making this game change to accommodate national television.
"The issue of college football being played on Friday nights in the state of Oklahoma is of obvious concern to the OSSAA, OCA and the Universities of Oklahoma and Tulsa," said MacLeod. "We feel strongly about prep football being played on Friday's without a conflict from college football.
"It was not until discussing this issue with Danny Rennels of the OSSAA, and getting that organizations blessing that the decision was made to play the game on Friday. If this was a night that the high school's were playing regular season contests, this move would not have been made."
"This certainly does not signal a change in our stance with regard to Friday night. Friday night is for high school football. Fortunately, this game fell on a night that precedes the high school regular season," said Castiglione. "We have the opportunity to play a nationally televised game and yet hold true to our that we should not conflict with the high schools. This is a win-win situation that clearly demonstrates the positives that can be achieved when we all work together."
The only high school games scheduled for Friday, August 30 are preseason scrimmages.
"Our main concern is not to have college football interfere with the regular Friday night football season," said OSSAA Executive Director Danny Rennels. "Friday night high school football needs to be held sacred. Although this is a Friday night, it's before regular season competition begins. We want to work with the universities in Oklahoma as much as possible as long as we can maintain the integrity of Friday night high school football, and it is good to know that Judy and Joe feel the same way.
"Both Milt Bassett, executive secretary of the OCA, and I appreciate the consideration by both athletics directors by making contact with us, and involving the OSSAA and OCA in their decision. It is good to know that we can work together in a manner for what we hope are common goals," added Rennels.
The University of Tulsa's complete 2002 football schedule is expected to be released within the next 10 days.
