Why Clemson Football Game is not on TV

From CollegeFanz Sports Reports

The Clemson/TCU football game will not be covered by a television network this weekend. Instead, the Tigers contest against the 15th ranked Horned Frogs will only be available through ESPN360. This will be the first time that a Clemson football game featuring a ranked opponent is not televised. ABC decided to show the Miami vs. Virginia Tech game at 3:30 and Raycom picked up the UNC vs. Georgia Tech game, leaving the Clemson vs. TCU match up not televised. ESPNU had the option to pick up the game, but had already committed to show Pittsburgh vs. NC State during the 3:30 time slot.  The ACC’s associate commissioner for football, Michael Kelly, stated that the recent contract that ESPN made with the SEC had no bearing on whether the game would have been televised or not. Kelly stated that, “The only thing we really lose, based on the SEC contract this year, is the nighttime ESPNU window. It was rare that we had three ACC games on ESPNU last year."

The Clemson fan base does not seem to be happy about this snub from television, but are mostly taking it as a challenge. Players and fans seem to be thinking this is their chance to prove to the nation that Clemson should be televised. The game was originally slated for a noon kickoff, but was actually pushed back to a 3:30 kickoff because of a compromise for fans. Many fans think the noon kickoff is too early and leaves less time to engage in tailgating festivities, so they prefer a night game. Others think noon is the ideal time for a game so traffic can be coordinated and the tailgating can be done afterwards. The compromise looks like it pushed the Clemson/TCU game out of a television spot. Hopefully this weekend Clemson can prove to the nation that they deserve a television spot, especially if they are competing against a ranked opponent.