Friday Night Lights

Larry Tougas (middle) hopes to be left in the dark on the sidelines of the football field next fall. Photo by Chris Dawson.

Larry Tougas loves to watch football at night and he’s hoping that North Bay will learn to enjoy it as well.

The West Ferris Trojans football coach is hoping to start something good in North Bay by creating Friday Night Football in North Bay. Tougas has been looking into the idea for a couple of years now but the cost of permanent lighting is just too expensive. However, Tougas believes portable lights will do the job at the Trojans Sports Complex next fall.

“It’s a great opportunity for the school and for football in the city and naturally we have some red tape to go through with the NDA to make sure everything is okay with them,” said Tougas noting that Friday night high school football is a big deal in the United States.

“We are hoping that we are going to create the same aura (as US high school football) even though football is already popular it is going to be even more popular I think and eventually I think you’ll see the whole NDA adapt to that because the referees are demanding it the parents are demanding it.”

Tougas adds the night concept will also make it easier for parents to watch their kids play after work and make it easier to find officials to work games at night. Cogeco has already been in negotiations with West Ferris about broadcasting the night games on the local community channel next fall.