Coach Tuke: SEMO FB should be a Saturday night program

The greats write songs about Saturday nights.

“It's getting late, have you seen my mates,” the legendary Sir Elton John screamed. “Ma, tell me when the boys get here…”

Iconic films are made about Saturday nights, including “Saturday Night Fever,” which is one of the most brilliant films ever splashed across the cinematic screen.

No one pens their notable thoughts about weekend afternoons.

“Saturday night’s alright for fighting,” according to that iconic song performed by John, that we all are humming in our heads right now. And it turns out, Saturday nights are also pretty damn good for football, as well.

“We need to be a Saturday night football program,” veteran Southeast Missouri State football coach Tom Matukewicz said.

The No. 13-ranked Redhawks (1-1) will host bitter rival, Southern Illinois (2-0), on Saturday, and with the kickoff set for 6 p.m. at Houck Field, the atmosphere will just have a different vibe, a better vibe, than an afternoon game.

“At the end of the day,” Matukewicz continued, “it’s about creating a fan experience, a true game day.

“There are just not as many distractions at 6 p.m. as there would be at 1 p.m., with families at sporting events, and all of those types of things.”

Let’s be honest, here. Would you rather spend the day chilling on the couch watching college football, chasing your kids around with all of their activities, or out running errands until early afternoon, and THEN head over to campus and begin the fun of tailgating and partying? Or do so at 10 o’clock on a Saturday morning?

No-brainer.

SEMO opened its 2023 season last weekend with a night game at Houck in front of 7,000-plus fans, and the atmosphere, as well as the outcome, was fantastic, according to Matukewicz.

“I was a fan from the attendance, and the energy, and all of that stuff,” Matukewicz said.

Matukewicz, who given his miraculous production with this program, should receive whatever he wants, was a “fan” of the Saturday night event, even though, it is personally inconvenient for him and his staff.

“I’m doing official visits late at night,” Matukewicz said of his postgame duties. “I got home around midnight. I was doing meetings with recruits at 7:30 in the morning (Sunday), and then rolled right into (preparing for) SIU.

“So, the problem with night games is that it is a never-ending week.”

Matukewicz acknowledged that the scheduling should have nothing to do with his convenience, it should be about the big picture.

The newly-renovated Houck Field will only host two more games this season, with both being afternoon contests.

Eastern Illinois will visit for the Redhawks’ Homecoming game on Oct. 14 at 2 p.m. while Robert Morris visits on Nov. 4 at 1 p.m., so for a festive battle under the lights, this weekend is it until 2024.

“As a coach,” Matukewicz said, “I wouldn’t choose (a night game), but it’s not about me or the coaches. It’s about the program, and it is by far what we should be doing.

“We’ve just got to manage the other stuff and make sure that we don’t get worn out by the end of the year.”