The Two Man Game – September 3, 2026 – Deep dive into the schedule

The first home football game of the season kicked off at 7 p.m. under the lights, and UNC head basketball coach Steve Smiley was there to watch. He noticed something unusual: the students stayed. In past years, with 2:30 p.m. kickoffs in 98-degree heat, the student section would empty at halftime. This time, they remained through a heartbreaking last-second loss to Weber State. For Smiley, that was the real litmus test. The night game changed everything—not just the temperature, but the energy, the attendance, and the entire feel of the program.

Why Night Games Matter for Attendance and Family Life

Smiley explained that the shift to night games is not just about aesthetics. It solves a practical problem for local families. On Saturday afternoons, Greeley is packed with youth sports—soccer, baseball, volleyball. Parents are at Montford Park or other fields with their kids. A 2 p.m. kickoff forces a choice between supporting the Bears and supporting your own child. A 6 or 7 p.m. start removes that conflict. Families can bring their kids to the game after their own activities are done. The result is a fuller, more engaged crowd that stays until the final whistle.