Lincoln Public Schools to host games at Memorial Stadium on 9/30

[Alum-Ni]

Two games will be moved to Saturday, Sept. 30

North Platte vs. Lincoln Southwest (1:00 p.m.)

-and-

Fremont vs. Lincoln Northeast (4:30 p.m.)

will take place at Memorial Stadium. That Friday night (Sept. 29) the Huskers play on the road at Illinois.

 

[Alum-Ni]

August 29, 2017 - For immediate release

LPS to play two high school football games at Memorial Stadium

Lincoln Public Schools has worked closely with the University of Nebraska Athletics Department to bring a pair of high school games to Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 30. The games were originally scheduled to be played at Seacrest Field on Friday, Sept. 29, the same evening as the Huskers will play the University of Illinois at 7 p.m.

The two games scheduled at Memorial Stadium on Sept. 30 are Lincoln Southwest vs. North Platte, and Lincoln Northeast vs. Fremont. The first game between Southwest and North Platte will kick off at 1 p.m., with the Northeast-Fremont contest to follow at 4:30 p.m. Game ticket prices -- which include all-season athletic passes and individual game prices - will be the same as at Seacrest Field.

"Lincoln Public Schools and the University of Nebraska Athletics Department both recognize the great importance of high school football across the state," said LPS Director of Athletics Kathi Wieskamp. "Given the unique challenge associated with the Huskers playing a Friday night game at Illinois, we worked together to provide a special opportunity for four Nebraska high schools to play their games at Memorial Stadium on a Saturday afternoon. This is a special opportunity to showcase Nebraska high school football and support the Huskers."

The contests are the first regular-season high school games in recent memory to be played at Memorial Stadium, and are the only regular season games scheduled to be played at the stadium this fall. Nebraska Athletics has partnered with the Nebraska School Activities Association to stage the Nebraska State High School Football Playoff finals at Memorial Stadium since 1996.

Any inquiries or requests for further information about the games should be directed to Lincoln Public Schools. NCAA rules regarding publicity and recruiting guidelines prohibit Nebraska Athletics from any further comment.

 

[SPbObRT]

great now the kids get to play in a stadium that holds 90,000 and there might be about 500 there. the appeal to play on the turf is no longer in my opinion, most fields are turf nowdays anyway. is it neat to play or coach or officiate in that stadium, hell yes but to play in a venue where it looks as if nobody is there that is where I feel the problem lies, you need atmosphere to make a game, hell the cheerleaders all they will see is empty seats. nice for UNL to do this but in the long run who gains anything from this.

 

[teachmehowtosnuggie]

I don't disagree with your empty stadium comments, especially when it's still going to be on a college football Saturday. I'd personally hate to lose a day of rest/preparation for the next week of games.

I also feel bad for those parents that have kids playing for any of the instate colleges who now probably have to choose which son(s) they go and watch. That's kind of a bummer they're put in this position just to "showcase" high school football (to whom we are showcasing that to, I'm not sure) and "support" the Huskers.

 

[northeastNebraska]

Good move by LPS and Nebraska. This won't happen again, with Nebraska more than likely never playing on a Friday again.

 

[runningback43]

Should have just left the games on Friday night. Never have understood moving high school games because of a college game.

 

[Commissioner-1985]

Playing there no matter how few fans there will be - it will be special for those teams. Good move by these schools.

 

[Alum-Ni]

Should have just left the games on Friday night. Never have understood moving high school games because of a college game.

Because a lot of casual fans will choose to stay home and watch the Huskers vs. going to the local high school game.

 

[SPbObRT]

why is it so special to play in memorial stadium, the field is 100 yards long just like any other typical football field. North Platte brings say 50 fans, quite the drive for most and whatever Lincoln team they are playing hopefully brings in some fans, you are basically playing in a empty stadium and what is so special about that. it isn't like these kids get to go into the main locker room and play on the IPADS and sit in the ice baths and eat the same grub the Huskers players get. I just don't see the appeal to this and as far as that goes they ought to move the finals away from there as well, play it at Seacrest or Kearney or Norfolk, anywhere where it would have a atmosphere.

 

[runningback43]

Because a lot of casual fans will choose to stay home and watch the Huskers vs. going to the local high school game.

I'd rather support my local high school team than support a college football team.

 

[JET20]

Is it just me or would it not make more sense for the North Platte game be at 4:30 and the Fremont game at 1:00?

 

[northeastNebraska]

why is it so special to play in memorial stadium, the field is 100 yards long just like any other typical football field. North Platte brings say 50 fans, quite the drive for most and whatever Lincoln team they are playing hopefully brings in some fans, you are basically playing in a empty stadium and what is so special about that. it isn't like these kids get to go into the main locker room and play on the IPADS and sit in the ice baths and eat the same grub the Huskers players get. I just don't see the appeal to this and as far as that goes they ought to move the finals away from there as well, play it at Seacrest or Kearney or Norfolk, anywhere where it would have a atmosphere.

No on this. The kids deserve to play in Memorial Stadium for the finals. Kids dream of doing that. Not playing at freaking UNK. The atmosphere isn't going to be better at UNK. It'll be some of the kids and parents first and maybe only time in Memorial Stadium.

I'm fine with teams playing in Memorial while the Huskers are off. It'll be cool for Fremont and NP especially.

 

[highschoolfootballnut]

why is it so special to play in memorial stadium, the field is 100 yards long just like any other typical football field. North Platte brings say 50 fans, quite the drive for most and whatever Lincoln team they are playing hopefully brings in some fans, you are basically playing in a empty stadium and what is so special about that. it isn't like these kids get to go into the main locker room and play on the IPADS and sit in the ice baths and eat the same grub the Huskers players get. I just don't see the appeal to this and as far as that goes they ought to move the finals away from there as well, play it at Seacrest or Kearney or Norfolk, anywhere where it would have a atmosphere.

Then you have never played on that field it is a great feeling, and the players love it

 

[Alum-Ni]

why is it so special to play in memorial stadium, the field is 100 yards long just like any other typical football field. North Platte brings say 50 fans, quite the drive for most and whatever Lincoln team they are playing hopefully brings in some fans, you are basically playing in a empty stadium and what is so special about that. it isn't like these kids get to go into the main locker room and play on the IPADS and sit in the ice baths and eat the same grub the Huskers players get. I just don't see the appeal to this and as far as that goes they ought to move the finals away from there as well, play it at Seacrest or Kearney or Norfolk, anywhere where it would have a atmosphere.

Even if the stadium is "empty" its always special to play in the home of the Huskers.

 

[northeastNebraska]

Even if the stadium is "empty" its always special to play in the home of the Huskers.

Exactly. It's better than playing in Kearney. Memorial stadium should always host state title games.

 

[JET20]

I don't disagree that the kids love playing in Memorial Stadium and work towards that as a goal, but there is a aura or mystique about the championship games that were played at home sites. Standing room only crowds, opposing fans standing shoulder to shoulder, parked cars jammed on lawns and side streets, and usually the turf was well worn from from a season of play. Some satisfaction in saying your team went into the opposing teams town and brought home the trophy or the home town team defended its own turf.

 

[Alum-Ni]

I don't disagree that the kids love playing in Memorial Stadium and work towards that as a goal, but there is a aura or mystique about the championship games that were played at home sites. Standing room only crowds, opposing fans standing shoulder to shoulder, parked cars jammed on lawns and side streets, and usually the turf was well worn from from a season of play. Some satisfaction in saying your team went into the opposing teams town and brought home the trophy or the home town team defended its own turf.

I can see that argument

 

[SPbObRT]

nutjob and NEN, i'm talking about atmosphere for these games, if nobody is there what the hell does it matter where it is played, I have been on that field and you look around and it's a very big aweinspiring venue, but at the end of the day it's still 100 yards long and the goal posts are 10 ft high. basically just another field with lots of empty seats in it. i'm all for playing anywhere other then there, you need to have some butts in the stands to get the game right. jmo

 

[highschoolfootballnut]

I don't disagree that the kids love playing in Memorial Stadium and work towards that as a goal, but there is a aura or mystique about the championship games that were played at home sites. Standing room only crowds, opposing fans standing shoulder to shoulder, parked cars jammed on lawns and side streets, and usually the turf was well worn from from a season of play. Some satisfaction in saying your team went into the opposing teams town and brought home the trophy or the home town team defended its own turf.

And yet for the player playing in

nutjob and NEN, i'm talking about atmosphere for these games, if nobody is there what the hell does it matter where it is played, I have been on that field and you look around and it's a very big aweinspiring venue, but at the end of the day it's still 100 yards long and the goal posts are 10 ft high. basically just another field with lots of empty seats in it. i'm all for playing anywhere other then there, you need to have some butts in the stands to get the game right. jmo

Sportyspice I am betting if they polled the players they would pick memorial stadium by a lot.

 

[northeastNebraska]

nutjob and NEN, i'm talking about atmosphere for these games, if nobody is there what the hell does it matter where it is played, I have been on that field and you look around and it's a very big aweinspiring venue, but at the end of the day it's still 100 yards long and the goal posts are 10 ft high. basically just another field with lots of empty seats in it. i'm all for playing anywhere other then there, you need to have some butts in the stands to get the game right. jmo

I get it you wan an atmosphere but the atmosphere isn't going to be better somewhere else. More people aren't going to travel to Kearney or Norfolk to watch a state title game. You won't get more butts in the seats unless it's Norfolk Catholic vs Pierce for the C1 title in Norfolk. But the likelihood of that happening is slim.

Memorial stadium is a great place. Especially for Classes A and B. The crowds get juiced for those games. Sure there aren't a lot of butts in the seats for 8 man title games, but there isn't a lot for 8 man games at a teams home site either.

 

[runningback43]

I've been to several state championship games at Memorial Stadium, and the atmosphere is great. I do agree that the atmosphere for a state final would be great no matter where it is played though. Before UNO dropped football I always thought that Caniglia Field would be an awesome venue for state football finals.

 

[JET20]

And yet for the player playing in

What does this mean?

 

[highschoolfootballnut]

What does this mean?

nothing dont know why it has that, I was just pointing out if you asked players they would overwhelming choose to play at Lincoln and thats all that should matter

 

[SPbObRT]

i'm saying Seacrest would be a great venue. it would look and feel more like championship games are supposed to look like, it's got field turf, the field is 100 yards long, goal post 10 ft high, if you have 3000 there it would look and feel more like a state championship game should feel like not having 88,000 seats open would really help the atmosphere. it was good for the game back in the day but I just feel it has run it's welcome out a bit . not saying i'm right or wrong i'm just voicing an opinion. if that is ok with nutty and nenfella.

 

[SPbObRT]

by the way loved back in the day when they played those games at home sites, the crowd, the chill, the brandy or schnapps in the hot chocolate, now those were the good ole days.

 

[highschoolfootballnut]

by the way loved back in the day when they played those games at home sites, the crowd, the chill, the brandy or schnapps in the hot chocolate, now those were the good ole days.

Yeah I am not arguing a bit the atmosphere was great at home sites I just know the players love playing at Lincoln and yes a crowd of 5000 even looks like a empty stadium

 

[SPbObRT]

wow it took a very long time in your lifetime to agree with me nutter.

 

[highschoolfootballnut]

wow it took a very long time in your lifetime to agree with me nutter.

LOL

 

[huskerfan1414]

It should never be at a home site.
Semi finals are there, thats enough.