“If you play great on Friday nights, then you can play on Saturdays” (football adage)

American football has for many years consisted of high school football on Friday nights, college football on Saturdays, and professional NFL football on Sundays. Craig Thomas wrote on NCAA.com in 2015:
 
“There is an old saying used by high school football coaches all across America – ‘If you play great on Friday nights, then you can play on Saturdays. If you play great on Saturdays then you can play on Sundays.’ This phrase first came into vogue when high school football was played on Friday nights, college football was played on Saturday and the NFL was strictly a Sunday sport.”
   
It’s not known if the adage has any specific and original author. “Be great on Friday nights and get the chance to play on Saturdays. Be the best of the best on Saturdays and get a shot to play on Sundays!” was cited on Twitter on August 25, 2013.
 
   
Twitter
Coach Cox
‏@dcox82
Be great on Friday nights and get the chance to play on Saturdays. Be the best of the best on Saturdays and get a shot to play on Sundays! 🏈
1:30 PM - 25 Aug 2013
 
Twitter
clifton welch
‏@cliff_441
Play great on Fridays to play on Saturdays be the best on Saturdays to play on sundays
3:16 PM - 2 Feb 2014
 
NCAA.com
Interacive graphic: Colleges with most players on NFL teams
Craig Thomas | NCAA.com
Last Updated - Sep 7, 2015 16:24 EDT
There is an old saying used by high school football coaches all across America – “If you play great on Friday nights, then you can play on Saturdays. If you play great on Saturdays then you can play on Sundays.” This phrase first came into vogue when high school football was played on Friday nights, college football was played on Saturday and the NFL was strictly a Sunday sport.
 
This is a really, really old saying.