Deep Thoughts

What do you want on Football Friday Night?

Kinda hard to believe, but Football Friday Night’s been on the air nearly 15 years!  It’s an honor to host the show, and over the past couple of years we’ve tried to evolve into something even better for you.  So I’d love to hear your thoughts on what you’d like to see us try this season—-we’re planning to feature more of the traditions and cool stories that go around football fridays.  I’m just curious what you’d like to see…

If you have a great story idea or an idea for how we do Football Friday Night each week, let me know here.  Just send a comment and respond and we’ll listen! 

Thanks
JROD

btw—our Football Friday Night Kickoff Special airs August 21st at 7pm on NBC 4.  We’re profiling dozens of teams in central Ohio, and hopefully we get to your school soon! 

What I don’t want to see is the patronizing, pathetic treatment of the band kids you bring into the studio every week, and the even more pathetic coverage of the bands at the games. These are kids who put in the same kind of time and work just as hard as the football kids. Instead of making them out to be total geeks singing your theme song and mugging for the camera, why don’t you take a couple seconds and show them doing what they’ve spent hours practicing to prepare—their field show… or at the very least, show them performing in the stands, supporting their team and school with pride and dedication.

As a band director myself, if I were asked to allow my students to appear in your studio, I would have to say no. They don’t need that kind of publicity. As a football fan tuning in on Friday nights to get scores and highlights, I usually change channels when your “band” segment comes on. And as a music educator trying to help build a band program, I cringe when our efforts are thwarted by media such as yourselves, who seem to take delight in portraying these kids as complete nerds. Some of the most outstanding band programs in the state are located here in Central Ohio (check out the OMEA State Marching Band Finals)—you’re really missing out on a great opportunity to showcase them and their talent. No, I don’t suggest turning your FFN into a band show, but even a few seconds of the right kind of coverage of one band a week could go a long way toward making your show truly unique.

As classy as your station is in so many other ways, please consider addressing this issue. A simple survey of some band parents and music teachers would likely give you a place to start.

Thank you for your time.

I think that it is ashame that you show so little coverage of the Columbus City League matchups. You “might” show one game a week. There is so much talent in the City League and you kind of just brush them aside. I also think that you show to much coverage of teams that we have no idea of who they are or where they are located (ie. Danville, Mechanicsburg, Mt Vernon)I know I would like to see whats going on with the OCC, City League and leagues that are close to columbus and or are playing teams from the Columbus area. You have a City League alum in Maurice Hall and you don’t even show his alma matter, let alone let him cover one of their games. You need to do a better job of this.

Show more of the bands - those kids are out now in this hot weather working as hard as the football team!  Watterson’s band is in “hell week” this week for band camp - they are at school from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.  The bands REALLY love being on tv - no matter which school you cover.  I know you don’t have much time but make a moment for those kids too!  After all, the only kids who attend every single game are the band and cheerleaders!

Thanks for listening.

Personally, I would like to see lots of attention on the STUDENT athletes.  Not just the kids putting up big numbers and headed for big colleges but those kids who may be second string football and National Honor Society or doing some kind of volunteer work that makes them outstanding student athletes.  The occasional news story is seen on those rare combinations of student athletes who are outstanding at both but it would be nice to see kids recognized that may not be the best athlete but are outstanding students.  There are lots of these kids who never get noticed.