COLUMBUS – The Ohio High School Football Coaches Association is voicing its displeasure over the Big Ten’s decision to play some games on Friday night next year.
Matt Dennison, president of the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association and head coach at New Philadelphia High School, said the decision will hurt prep football, adding that “the Big Ten’s quest for money is greater than the great game of football.”
“Our association is vehemently opposed to this action as it infringes on a great American tradition of high school football, is not in the best interest of student athletes, cripples the small budgets of high school athletic departments, disrupts the relationships between high school coaches and Big Ten coaches, and hinders the recruiting process.” –statement from Matt Dennison, president, Ohio High School Football Coaches Association
The group has joined prep coaches in Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Wisconsin in speaking out against the conference’s decision to play six games throughout the season on Friday night, which traditionally is reserved for high school football.
Ohio State said it is willing to host a Friday night game once every three years, but only when the Friday falls during fall break on the academic calendar. Michigan and Penn State have alerted the conference that they will not participate in Friday night games.