By Mackenzie Prince

This story may be updated with future comments from the university’s Department of Transportation Services.

On Friday, Oct. 11, the University of Maryland football team will host the Northwestern University Wildcats in a fiery matchup between Big Ten teams.  

However, in light of the expected volume of fans on campus, students and families are concerned that the Friday night atmosphere will lead to complications. 

From high volumes of traffic to parking difficulties, the UMD community has voiced its worries, though the administration is doing its best to calm them. 

In an email sent on Sept. 27, Assistant Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Rythee Lambert-Jones addressed possible concerns regarding this Friday’s game. 

“We are excited to welcome many alumni, fans and other guests to our campus, and given the expected increase in visitors, we wanted to provide our community with some additional guidance,” Lambert-Jones said. 

Lambert-Jones continued, claiming the campus will remain open for instruction, though faculty have been advised to consider virtual or hybrid instruction options. 

While the administration seems to have little worry about the event, some students are less optimistic due to the large amount of people that will be present on campus.  

Eliana Abrahams, a freshman majoring in Jewish studies, is concerned about crowd management with the volume of fans attending. 

“It’s going to be a nightmare,” Abrahams said. “It’s easier to crowd control during the day, and I feel like it’s going to be tougher to tailgate and enjoy the game.” 

Some students have fewer concerns, having already experienced Friday night games in previous years. 

Sam Cohen, a sophomore communications major, attended last year’s Friday night football game and said she had a positive experience. 

Despite this, Cohen further explained that she believes Saturday games harbor more school pride. 

“I really like the spirit and energy that comes with Saturday games since there’s generally more spirit on campus,” Cohen said. “With a Friday game, students still have to go to class, then all of a sudden, it’s game day.” 

Aside from student opinions, concerns are spreading to UMD fans and tailgaters, including Adam Schwartz, freshman Katherine Schwartz’s father. 

On Friday, fans are encouraged to arrive at campus around 2 p.m. for certain parking lots. The football game begins at 8 p.m. 

While Schwartz has tailgated with his family throughout the season so far, he is worried about fans’ safety. 

“The parking lot is always a high-traffic area,” Schwartz said. “People are all over the place and I would be worried about the lack of lighting. Some people might not see fans, and they might hit a pedestrian.”

While worries and excitement continue to brew amongst the UMD community, fans are ready to cheer on their football team and defeat the Wildcats.