Today is 12 days from the game, so I would expect an announcement today. I didn't realize this previously, but the last two weeks, there has been a MAC game at noon on ESPNU. Considering that we and Kent will be favored this week, I think we will be chosen for that slot assuming that noon on ESPNU is an official arrangement. Also, we have a home volleyball match at 6:00. I think 2:00 is the absolute latest the football game will start, with noon or 1:00 more likely.

Normally noon is tough because of the drive....but for that game 4 of my buddies and I have 2 RVs and will be spending the weekend at Lake Snowden.....noon should be doable....of course depending on the night before....lol.

Slight mistake. Two weeks ago, UB/Miami was the noon ESPNU game. This week will be Miami/WMU. This past week, that slot went to Kent/Wisconsin.

Good looking out! I was in the minority hoping for a late afternoon start as I have a morning meeting in Columbus, but at least I'll be able to find it at a local sports pub when my meeting lets out!

The plaza in the north endzone is a great place to run around. Keep in mind his normal nap time.

I have a lot of experience in this field and feel today's parents are terrible at this. I'd take it even a step further and say parents being terrible at this is a factor in declining sports attendance.

The biggest mistake you can make is to throw all the distractions and breaks at him right away. People buy a bucket of bucket, take them to the bounce house and let them run around somewhere before the first pitch is even thrown...you're screwed and you just spent a bunch of money to do the same thing you could've done at the mall for free.

Your days of arriving early and hanging out are over for a couple decades. It is a Noon game, you are walking in at 11:55. You're a fool if you get there an hour early and make it a 5 hour endeavor.

Sit down in your seat right away. You may be surprised, usually kids are interested and enamored by the game for a bit. Take every minute of this he gives you, barely even talk to him at this point.

When he starts to get a little wiggly, that is when you ramp up talking to him, pointing things out, making things fun. Ramp up the interaction and tie it into the game as much as possible. First down....OHIO!

Do NOT let him on his feet. If he gets the idea that he can roam around while watching a sporting event, you're screwed for the next decade. Teach early that sporting events mean sitting in your seat and respecting those around you.

If and when he gets more wiggly, suggest a bathroom break and popcorn. Notice I say specifically popcorn and not just any old snack. A hot dog buys you maybe a series...a pretzel maybe 1 full drive. But popcorn? That could be a whole quarter. One tactic when they get a little older is tie other snack purchases to the Bobcats performance. I still make my kids wait to get a frozen lemonade until the Bobcats score a touchdown...Boy do they really become hardcore Bobcat fans then.

Bring some small toys if you feel they will help. Anything you think could keep him entertained without it being a big production. Don't bury his face in a damn screen though. You want to raise a future sports fan, not a YouTube "influencer."

Hopefully these tactics carry you deep into the game, but if you have a feisty one and still a lot of clock left, you could make the trip to the hill...but understand you're probably done then. You may be able to sort of watch while he runs around, but I wouldn't count on it. You've turned your football game into a park playdate, and also put at risk future games in which that is all he will want to do. My kids never went to the hill until they were about 10 when I could trust them to visit by themselves for a finite amount of time and report back to the seats.

Most kids really enjoy the band. Stay for the postgame show. Let him climb around the bleachers a bit once the game is over as you wait for the band. Then when the band is done, go down on the field...usually they allow it. Let him run the whole field. It is a great lasting memory for him to experience and connect with the game to remember for next time.

Most importantly don't give up when it gets a little difficult. You'll live, he'll live...Just because he fusses a bit does not mean it was a mistake. This is a way better way to spend your Saturday than sitting at home watching Peppa Pig. Good luck.

Dr. Spock is a Bobcat.

Thanks a million - you just wrote the Bible on this topic. His nap time usually begins around 1-1:30, but we'll be driving in from Cincinnati that morning. I hope he can get back to sleep at some point during that drive before hopefully getting a bite somewhere while still getting decent parking. We have a hotel so if he is just DONE at some point during the game, we'll check in and have a snooze. Would like to check out the volleyball match that evening as well if he's up for it.

OT: People crap on Peppa Pig, but it honestly has some of the best comedic setup and timing of any kids show.

Post of the year. I laughed for 5 minutes.

My dad took me to my first football game - a high school game - when I was 5. Instead of going to our seats, he positioned us by the gate where the uniformed players ran onto the field. To this 5-year-old, they looked like giants. I was hooked - and knew that one day I would play football. Decades later I used that experience in a scene in my Fate of the Warriors.

Decades later Dad told me that as his first two sons played in the high school band he was hoping that son Number 3 would take the field at some point other than half time. He got his wish.

I have 2 tickets and green parking pass for Kent game. PM me if you need for $25

We took our at the time just 1 year old twins to the UMASS game last year. We sat in the corner of the GA bleachers closest to the hill, it allowed them to watch the game/band, go over in the grass some, they got to see Rufus and pet a police dog which they both loved, it wasn’t too bad.

We’re coming down this weekend but that damned 3:30 kick interferes with naps so I’ve committed to nothing