Saturdays are better for college football because you have more time to tailgate, sophomore biology major Courtney Trytek said.

A random survey of 40 students, 20 men and 20 women, was conducted to find out whether or not NIU students preferred going to a football game on weeknights or the traditional Saturdays.

“Definitely week night games,” junior geology major Vince DeVivo said. “Especially if the games were on TV more often.”

Of the 30 students who weren’t undecided, 17 said they’d rather go to a weeknight game, while the other 13 preferred Saturday games.

However, with one side beating the the other by four votes, it bodes well for the football team to know that NIU’s reputation as a suitcase college could be dwindling.

Of the 40 students surveyed, 26 said they don’t regularly go home on the weekends. The more students that don’t go home for the weekend, the more there are to fill Huskie Stadium on Saturdays.

“I like both,” senior history major Justin Geobel said. “But on Friday nights, you don’t pass-out too early.”

The game against Bowling Green at 6:05 p.m. Friday at Huskie Stadium will be the first weeknight game for the Huskies since last year’s season opener against Maryland on Aug. 28.

For those who don’t remember, NIU won that game 20-13 in overtime against the then-No. 13 Terrapins. The victory began a seven-game winning streak that was ended by a 34-18 loss on ESPN to Friday’s opponent.

The loss to BGSU was the first time NIU was featured on ESPN’s College GameDay, and Friday marks the first time an ESPN crew will set up shop at Huskie Stadium.

Of the students surveyed, 25 said they would attend the game, which will also be on ESPN2.

NIU has another weeknight game Oct. 9 against Toledo, which will be broadcast on ESPN2 as well.

However, the game against Toledo doesn’t necessarily mean there can’t be another weekday game. If NIU wins the MAC West, the conference title game is set for Dec. 2.

Game time

A random survey of 40 NIU students.

Are you going to the game?

Yes: 25 No: 15 Undecided: 0

Do you like weeknight games?

Yes: 17 No: 13 Undecided: 10

Do you go home on the weekends?

Yes: 14 No: 26