In L.A., Eric Sondheimer writes in its "never-ending quest for more money and more TV exposure, the Pac-12 Conference is taking dead aim at something that used to be considered unfathomable -- playing college football on Friday nights." The Pac-12 released TV plans for the '13 football season last week, and UCLA plays Washington on Friday, Nov. 15, at the Rose Bowl, the "same night" California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section and City Section football teams "open the playoffs." In Southern California, playing on Fridays is "going to divide loyalties, create traffic nightmares and lead to further disillusionment about what college athletics is supposed to be about." It also will "affect teams and communities." Southern Section Marketing Dir John Costello said, "Yeah, it's going to hurt local gate" (L.A. TIMES, 6/3).
FOLLOW THE LEADER: In Austin, Kirk Bohls writes to "look for more schools to follow West Virginia’s lead and start selling beer at their football games." WVU AD Oliver Luck said that the school "generated $750,000 in beer sales last season." Luck added that since WVU started selling beer two years ago, "about five others have joined the club," including Minnesota, UTEP, Toledo and Akron. Texas is "still considering whether to sell beer at Royal-Memorial Stadium" (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 6/3).
LUCK OF THE IRISH: In Orlando, Paul Tenorio reported a UCF-Penn State football game in Ireland during the '14 season is "inching closer to reality." Sources said that a team of four UCF administrators "returned Friday from a four-day trip to Ireland where they met with potential partners for a game." The game is "likely to be held" at Croke Park in Dublin (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 6/1).
