Some states in the northeast still play Thanksgiving Day games. Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island all have regular games then and it is pretty cool, although that's a different topic for a different thread.

 

My question is, If your favorite school played a regular Thanksgiving Day game, who would you want it to be played against?

Bowling Green vs Warren Central!

Highlands vs. Bell County

 

 

...wait a minute

Highlands vs. NewCath

Not my favorite schools by any means, but if memory serves, in the days before the playoffs, Male v. Manual was a Thanksgiving tradition wasn't it?

I love the idea of certain rivalries having a game on Thanksgiving. 10:00 start would be perfect.

I love the idea of certain rivalries having a game on Thanksgiving. 10:00 start would be perfect.

 

That's when they play them in Massachusetts, although I think some are also played on Wednesday night.

Not my favorite schools by any means, but if memory serves, in the days before the playoffs, Male v. Manual was a Thanksgiving tradition wasn't it?

Yes, it was, and I think the tradition goes way back to at least the 1930s.

So are these teams that do play on Thanksgiving not in the playoffs?

So are these teams that do play on Thanksgiving not in the playoffs?

 

In Massachusetts it is somewhat complicated but very interesting. Basically they play an 8-game regular season. Eight teams make the playoffs in a particular region (there are four regions in each of the six classes, I believe). The teams that do not make the playoffs play two games against other non-playoff teams in Weeks 9 and 10. Those games are not determined until the playoffs are set. All efforts are made to avoid any regular season rematches and they try to assure each school one home and one road game.

 

If you make the playoffs, then lose the first or second round, you play something similar to consolation games against other playoff teams that lost. These games take place in Weeks 9 and 10 for playoff teams, just as the non-playoff teams were also playing. The first two playoff rounds are the two weeks before Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving week is for traditional rivalries, but as I said, even if you didn't "make the playoffs" you were still playing games so there was no long layoff. The week after Thanksgiving is the state championship games, just like Kentucky, played at the New England Patriots' stadium.

 

The process basically assures every school ten games plus a Thanksgiving game, and if a team makes the championship they are only playing twelve total games. Also, Massachusetts doesn't start their season until after Labor Day.

Holmes /Holy Cross FB/BBB/GBB triple header

Simon Kenton vs Colerain

Great thread.

 

I love how they have the set up; old school at its finest. The fact that they start Labor Day weekend or the weekenday after (as the NFL does) is equally just as cool IMO.

@gchs_uk9, I think Delaware is another that has a similar set up. I know they don't start their seasons until the week after Labor Day as well (start of practice somewhere around the 2nd Monday in August).

Like Thanksgiving Bowl games for the teams not playing anymore? That could be cool.

 

I'd like to see CovCath play another NKY school not on the schedule.

 

CovCath vs. Scott would probably be a great game this year.

Fulton City vs. Ashland Blazer :lol2: