Fill in the blank of that now-cliche setup. The new Monday Night Football. The new black. The new upset machine. The new everything. Thursday has long been a quiet part of the college football landscape but with ESPN's growing presence as a business partner, it is now kind of a big deal.In a sport where Saturday is king, Thursday night is grabbing an increasing share of the starring role as the home to nine season-opening games including two that will be nationally televised. For several years now at FanHouse we've been live blogging Thursday night games and it's apparent they've gained a certain cult status for the football-mad folks who can't quite wait a week until their next fix -- this after waiting through a torturous eight month offseason.
So, what gives?
Methinks it has something to do with the big stage. Crazy things are always around the corner in college football but the inmates seem to take over the asylum on Thursday nights. Last year saw something like five or six straight Thursday night upsets including Oregon State's jaw dropper over USC, providing some of the best video and narrative of the entire season.
College football is very much a game of emotion and for a non-traditional setting Thursday seems to bring out packed stadiums and energized teams. Perhaps part of the growing appeal is also its jump out of the traditional SEC and ACC sandbox and expanding into Pac-10 play, Big East play, and everyone else. Its truly a rotating national event that brings together fans around the country for what is still very much a regional game.
And once again this year, Thursday plays host to the season opener. The matchups aren't always sexy -- see last year's South Carolina 34 to nothing romp over North Carolina State -- but they provide sustenance and banter. Folks won't soon forget being witness to Tommy Beecher's four interception night that still saw the Gamecocks win big. Its like that every Thursday, some new talking point or narrative cropping up, ripe for the water cooler and reminiscing.
Coincidentally, South Carolina and North Carolina State will once again kick off the 2009 college football season as the game gets top billing (7 PM Eastern) from ESPN, but the matchup everyone wants to see is Oregon traveling to the noisy and mind-warping blue turf that is home to the Boise State Broncos. They're nearly unbeatable at home but Oregon and particularly quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, wants revenge for last year's upset loss. Masoli was taken out of the game after what he claims was a cheap shot from a Boise State player and he's been talking all offseason about it.
Adding to the intrigue is a coaches' association request for schools to shake hands before games on opening week, something Masoli's publicly scoffed at as he wants no part of the pleasantries.
Be sure to also keep an eye out for Sun Belt favorite Troy against MAC power Bowling Green (7PM ET) and Utah hosting perennial Western Athletic Conference whipping boy Utah State.
