By Gregory Childress

gchildress@heraldsun.com; 918-1046

CHAPEL HILL -- Over the years UNC officials have consistently rejected the idea of the Thursday night football game.

In addition to complaints about athletics corrupting academia, campus opponents of Thursday night games worried about the traffic nightmare they would create for UNC because the university's football stadium is located slam-up in the middle of campus.

They fear gridlock at every turn, with thousands of UNC employees attempting to leave at 5 p.m., and thousands of fans streaming into Chapel Hill for the game.

Well, get ready for a little gridlock.

On Thursday, UNC is hosting its first-ever Thursday night game. The Tar Heels play the Florida State Seminoles in an 8 p.m. game that will be televised nationally by ESPN.

To attempt to ease traffic congestion, many UNC employees will work a modified schedule from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. instead of their regular 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule.

Kathy Bryant, communications director for UNC's Human Resources Department, said about 11,500 first-shift university workers will be affected by the modified schedule.

"That's why having a well-thought-out strategy to allow employees to exit campus was important," Bryant said.

She said the department has received both negative and positive comments about the decision to send employees home early. She said the negative comments centered on when employees can make up the time missed due to the came.

With their managers' approval, employees can work the additional hours during the week by either coming in early, staying late, working a reduced lunch break or some combination of the above.

The can also use can use available flexible furlough hours to cover the leave or use any accrued compensatory time, or available vacation or bonus leave, to cover the hours if they prefer.

In a letter to the Carolina staff, Chancellor Holden said he supports the university's resistance to hosting a Thursday night game, which UNC and other Atlantic Coast Conference schools are required to do under a contract with ESPN.

"This year, however, we proposed the idea of holding the game during fall break," Thorp wrote. "I am grateful that this idea was met with enthusiasm."

Thorp acknowledged that the game will create logistical challenges for the university and town and for UNC employees who must make up the two hours they miss by leaving at 3 p.m. Thursday.

"I realize that this creates an inconvenience for many of you," Thorp said. "I am writing to express my heartfelt thanks to you for accommodating this adjustment."

Meanwhile, McKay Coble, chairwoman of the faculty at UNC, said she hasn't heard any complaints from colleagues about the game interfering with academics.

"In the scheduling they took that into consideration," said Coble, noting that the game is taking place during the university's two-day fall break. "That way, students and our student athletes won't have to worry about going to class after being up late for the game.

Coble said some faculty members are a little worried about finding parking spaces, but the fact that its fall break should minimize that problem.

"I hope the faculty won't be searching for parking spaces," Coble said. "I hope they'll be taking a well-deserved break."

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

What time is the game?

8 p.m.

What time do the gates open at Kenan Stadium?

6:30 p.m.

What time will the parking lots open to fans with permits?

There are no classes that day because of fall break, but staff and faculty will be working and will occupy those lots during the day. The lots will be cleared and available for football parking at 5:30 p.m. Limited public parking in the Manning Lot, Jackson Deck and Cardinal Deck also will become available at 5:30 p.m. for $10.

Is Tar Heel Express operating and at what times?

Tar Heel Express will operate as normal. Shuttles will begin from University Mall, Friday Center Park and Ride and "Touch DownTown" Lots three hours before game time (5 p.m.). Shuttles will begin from Jones Ferry Park and Ride and Southern Village Park and Ride 1.5 hours prior to game time (6:30 p.m.).

Is UNC operating on a normal Thursday schedule?

UNC will alter the time at which the workday ends to allow all university staff and faculty ample time to leave campus and avoid the expected traffic congestion. The regular workday hours will be changed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. By moving the end of the workday to 3 p.m., those leaving campus should encounter significantly less traffic and experience reduced inconvenience.

Is UNC Hospitals operating on a normal schedule?

UNC Hospitals will operate as normal, with the exception of campus clinics. To help alleviate traffic congestion and provide the best customer service possible, the on-campus clinics will close at 3 p.m.

Will residential streets in Chapel Hill be affected?

To help fire, rescue and police vehicles, several roadways will be restricted from about 3 to 8:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Local residents in the areas will be contacted in advance and provided special instructions. On game night, residents may be asked to show access permits or valid driver's licenses for the restricted access neighborhoods.

Chapel Hill Transit will provide additional afternoon bus service Thursday to assist with the 3 p.m. closing of the university and clinics.