NASHUA – When the Nashua School District administration asked for community feedback about moving the traditional Thanksgiving Day football game between Nashua North and South, they got an earful – more than 1,500 responses.

Many of those replies were included in a cache of emails the district turned over to The Telegraph as part of a Right-to-Know request for all emails between the Nashua Board of Education and school district administration for the first six months of this year. They were included because the administration relayed them to school board members.

With the community split between tradition and spending time with family, Nashua school officials ultimately agreed to move the game from Thursday – Thanksgiving Day – to the Wednesday before the holiday.

Superintendent of Schools Mark Conrad said the decision stemmed from the results of the school community survey and declining participation in previous Thanksgiving Day games.

More than 60 percent of survey participants were in favor of moving the game time. The majority of other responders preferred the game on Thanksgiving, and a small percentage, or about 15 people, said they wanted the game canceled altogether.

“It’s crazy to require students to attend a football game on Thanksgiving Day when they should be spending time with family. It also prevent students from going out of town to visit and have Thanksgiving dinner with extended family,” said one survey participant, who identified as a “North or South band member.” Participants did not list their names, but identified as football players, cheerleaders, band members, Nashua district alumni, staff or family members of students involved in the game.

Another participant, who identified as a North/South parent, derided the contest as a “meaningless game that doesn’t count in the standings.”

Dozens of respondents wanted to keep the game on Thanksgiving to keep with a longstanding tradition, though the two schools have only been playing each other since after the turn of the 21st century.

“This has been a tradition forever and I love waking up early in the morning to play on Thanksgiving. It won’t feel the same if it’s the night before and I’m sure many other people agree,” said a North/South football player.

“I believe the game is fine the way it is. People like coming on Thanksgiving Day to watch. It’s a mini-reunion for football alumni and it’s great to watch. The game has been altered enough. It is a decades-old tradition to have it on Thanksgiving Day,” said a Nashua graduate and district employee.

“Changing the time would be the dumbest decision,” said a North/South football player. “It’s simply tradition!” said a Nashua graduate.

“It’s a turkey day tradition,” said a Nashua graduate. “Thanksgiving morning wouldn’t feel complete without a football game,” said a North/South parent.

Those hoping to see a change in schedule said attending a game on the holiday can be complicated. “I have been going to Thanksgiving games forever. The past five years or so I noticed a huge decline in fans. When I speak to people and ask them why they didn’t go, they usually say they are traveling for Thanksgiving. It’s a holiday. The night before would be great,” said a North/South parent.

“I think the night before would have a huge turnout,” said a Nashua staff member.

“Either time would be good for me, but it might be good to see if a change improves attendance,” said a Nashua graduate.

Several other comments recommended not only changing the schedule, but bringing Bishop Guertin’s team back to compete. “Would like to see BG included again if possible,” said a Nashua graduate. Others wanted the game on Thanksgiving with Bishop Guertin included. “I feel bad that BG is out of the Turkey Bowl. In my opinion, North, South and BG should all be part of it,” said a Nashua graduate.

On announcing the decision to change the game schedule, Conrad said the district administration will reexamine the move in two years to give the community time to adjust to the new schedule.

Tina Forbes can be reached at 594-6402, tforbes@nashuatelegraph.com or @Telegraph_TinaF.

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