Michigan State Football: Pros and cons of the Friday night kickoff vs. CMU

Con: Late Drive Home

I was really hoping to make it to the home opener. The weather will still be warm, it’s (hopefully) a chance for the starters to get game reps, then send in the backups to see what they can do in a real game by the middle of the fourth quarter, and there’s always a buzz around campus for the first game.

While the late start isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker, it does complicate the schedule a little bit.

While the aforementioned traffic is already a hurdle, the drive home can also be an added irritant. Let’s be generous and say the game starts at 7:30 p.m. ET which really means a 7:43 kickoff. The new clock rule reduces the game time to about three hours (again being generous), getting out of the game at 10:43, then filing out of the stadium and add the walk to the car. It’s 11:05 by the time you’re in the car getting ready to go home.

While traffic will not be as bad going out as coming in, you still have to file out of the parking lot and there will assuredly be a line to get back on the freeway. Home by 12:30 a.m. In my younger days, I wouldn’t head to the bar until 12:30 a.m. but as a 34-year-old, that is way past my bedtime. Especially on a Friday where I worked all week, so I’m exhausted just from that only to add a football trip.

You’re probably thinking to yourself, “Just sleep in, it’s Saturday!” Yes, I would love that but I’m at that age where my body wakes me up at 6:15 a.m. regardless of what time I go to bed. It just makes for a long day and then I’m just off for most of the day Saturday. AirBnb is in play but that’s just more money out of the pocket.

Again, not a deal-breaker but makes for a tough weekend.