Notre Dame at Night Next Year
Here is a section of the press release:
Michigan to Face Notre Dame in Primetime, Honor Tom Harmon as Michigan Football Legend
Ann Arbor, Mich. – The University of Michigan football team will face the University of Notre Dame in a nationally-televised primetime game at Michigan Stadium, it was announced Tuesday (Dec. 11) in a joint announcement with ESPN. The athletic department will honor 1940 Heisman Trophy winner Tom Harmon, installing him as a Michigan Football Legend during a pre-game ceremony.
…
“Our athletic department is looking forward to recreating the night game magic from two years ago,” said Dave Brandon, the Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics. “We have more in store for this game than the initial night game and will work hard to create many WOW moments. One of those magical moments will be the honoring of Tom Harmon. He is one of the greatest athletes in school history and we are excited to celebrate all that he accomplished at Michigan. Having Tom’s ‘Old 98’ back on the field will be special. This will be a memorable evening for everyone at Michigan Stadium or watching the game on TV. This will be the final match-up with Notre Dame at the Big House for the foreseeable future.”
Rumor is they will retroactively change Denard's number to 98.
December 12th, 2012 at 2:56 PM ^
of this press release is you making a joke, right? I mean, the man doesn't actually say "WOW moments," does he?
December 12th, 2012 at 2:58 PM ^
that is the first Wow moment that was created. "Recreating the magic" and "wow moments." How about just a night game with a team likely ranked in the top 3 in country. Just that would be fine. Man, awesome becomes way less awesome when you specifically identify the awesomeness of it. It is like somebody explaining why their joke was funny.
December 12th, 2012 at 3:23 PM ^
There's a radio station in Chicago, XRT, that's the cool station, but in the early 90's, they started to advertise, and their slogan was "Move someplace cooler." They immediately went down a notch in coolness. To your point, you shouldn't have to tell people this is a Wow moment.
December 12th, 2012 at 4:50 PM ^
I'm glad the athletic department has told us that, just like two years ago, we are going to win on a list minute touchdown. I now feel much better about them playing a night game because Michigan usually does not do well at 8:00 recently. I will be sure to say "WOW" at the appropriate times also. However, just to be sure, I hope that they let us know when to say wow by putting it up on the screen like laugh tracks for TV shows.
Rccreate the magic, WOW moments, I have never taken a PR course, but I am sure those would would be used day one of PR 101.
Aren't these just buzzwords that dumb people use to sound important?
(Guess the simpsons episode)
December 12th, 2012 at 6:26 PM ^
"Billions and Billions..." ... of points.
December 12th, 2012 at 7:36 PM ^
Thank you for this.
December 12th, 2012 at 3:09 PM ^
That would a WOW moment for half the population at least.
December 12th, 2012 at 3:48 PM ^
Don't even bother to hide the MBA-speak.
December 13th, 2012 at 8:33 AM ^
December 13th, 2012 at 8:39 AM ^
December 12th, 2012 at 2:57 PM ^
Those are some big shoes to fill. Arguably, the best player to ever wear the maize and blue. Would the player who gets 98 have to kick, catch, throw and play d-back as well?
December 12th, 2012 at 3:11 PM ^
Why Norfleet was playing safety.
December 12th, 2012 at 3:48 PM ^
And sire a litter of actors.
December 12th, 2012 at 7:23 PM ^
has made you runner up for one of my high mileage kidneys should you ever require it.
December 12th, 2012 at 4:12 PM ^
None of the legend jersey's sans Howard have been given based on position. In fact they aren't really based on skill either.
December 12th, 2012 at 2:57 PM ^
I love night games..
Big House >>>>>>>>>>> Ricks
December 12th, 2012 at 2:59 PM ^
because beating the crap out of ND isn't "wow" enough. We need Flair!
December 12th, 2012 at 3:11 PM ^
"To be the man, you've got to beat the man! WOOOOOO!!! "
December 12th, 2012 at 3:00 PM ^
Devin Funchess to number 98.
December 12th, 2012 at 3:04 PM ^
I had a good feeling about springing for that UTL #98 jersey last year...
December 12th, 2012 at 10:50 PM ^
But your utl jersey has maize and blue stripes running vertically down the shoulder...surely next year they will either not be maize and blue or will run horizontally across the shoulder.
No reason to have another UTL vs ND unless we can sell a whole new batch of swag!
December 12th, 2012 at 3:06 PM ^
they are changing Harmon's number to 16.
December 12th, 2012 at 3:09 PM ^
So we have had flyovers and jetpack man landing in the stadium... Sorry DB, the only thing that would "WOW" me now is if a Harrier jet lands at midfield.
December 12th, 2012 at 6:50 PM ^
From midfield might qualify in my book, too...
December 12th, 2012 at 3:12 PM ^
Should have been Ohio State?
They'd be the minority this time, but it would have been cool to have Ohio fans give a standing O to the same player, twice.
December 12th, 2012 at 3:14 PM ^
Nebraska made their two biggest home games this season at night. Why can't we do the same? Obviously you can't play OSU at night but let's have the Huskers have to play a night game at the big house in addition to our game with ND.
Also for the ND game, can our guys please wear their normal kick ass uniforms instead of those stupid "legacy" jerseys they wore for UTL?
December 12th, 2012 at 3:21 PM ^
What if we wore the "legacy" uniforms without the shoulder stripes? I think those would be awesome. I loved the block M.
December 12th, 2012 at 3:28 PM ^
Meh. The shoulder stripes were the thing I hated most about those uniforms but I'd still rather have the normal thing under the lights. Braylonfest was played under a night sky for the 4th quarter and 3 overtimes. Those jerseys looked pretty cool under the portable lights.
December 12th, 2012 at 4:21 PM ^
I've never been a fan of this move. Michigan has great legacy/throwback uniforms already: The ones they wear every normal Saturday. How can you improve on perfection?
December 12th, 2012 at 6:12 PM ^
Comic Sans font?
December 12th, 2012 at 7:26 PM ^
For that exotic, antique look.
December 12th, 2012 at 4:44 PM ^
No, because that wouldn't be WOW enough.
December 12th, 2012 at 3:20 PM ^
There is a chance we could play the defending National Champions two years in a row. Notre Dame is always a big game, but it will be even better as they are coming off a good season (and should be nearly as good next year) and it is the last time they will be playing in Ann Arbor for at least 5 years.
December 12th, 2012 at 3:22 PM ^
Did I read that correctly? Has Dave Brandon sold HIIMSELF?
I guess we can't complain if he sells anything else.
December 12th, 2012 at 3:40 PM ^
I like to complain about Brandon as much as the next guy, but the AD being endowed by Mr. Shepherd goes back at least to Bill Martin, if not further.
December 12th, 2012 at 8:32 PM ^
December 12th, 2012 at 3:29 PM ^
December 12th, 2012 at 3:33 PM ^
Sweet, night games rule
#FunchessFor98
December 12th, 2012 at 3:34 PM ^
I really applaud the originality of this decision.
December 12th, 2012 at 3:35 PM ^
Under the Lights was great because we won the damn game. The place felt like a morgue from about five minutes after Desmond Howard's ceremony until the middle of the third quarter.
My favorite WOW moments were the last two touchdowns. The start time, glittering scoreboards, and pumped in music change nothing. I'd rather win at 10am than lose at midnight.
December 12th, 2012 at 3:38 PM ^
They *could* give him the jersey... and considering the free-for-all that was jersey numbers this year, it might make sense. especially since I'm not sure if tight ends can wear jerseys in the 90s anymore.
Or just say screw it and give it to Jake Ryan also. give him all the numbers.
December 12th, 2012 at 3:40 PM ^
I think I have an easier time remembering the teams in the Leaders/Legends divisions than I do remembering all of the "Legends" jerseys. Wait, I just confused myself...are we in Leaders or Legends. Oh, hold on...I got it...we're in "Legends"; I remember by thinking, "We aren't in the division cited in The Victors". WOW. Confusing. Mission accomplished, DB.
December 12th, 2012 at 3:41 PM ^
This is why I don't like the Legends Jerseys. Tom Harmon was "Ol' 98." Now he'll be "One of several guys who wore #98."
December 12th, 2012 at 3:45 PM ^
But whoever wears that number must play both ways and go on to win the Heisman
December 12th, 2012 at 3:51 PM ^
I will plan on going to next years UTL and watch some revengeful things happen against ND after they were gifted the win this year with those 6 TO's, mostly just mistakes by us.
With Devin at the helm and a formidable defense I'm thinking, I like our chances, especially sans Te'o.
December 12th, 2012 at 3:54 PM ^
December 12th, 2012 at 4:19 PM ^
"if it is to be given out, this should be the kind of jersey that is given out to a player maybe once every 15-20 years to a truly special, unique, and most importantly, an utterly dominant player that can take over games and win them by himself."
And when such a player comes along, he will have staked his claim to being a "Legend" in the number he's already wearing, which is why he should keep it. Can you imagine if, after his breakout sophomore year, Denard had been given a "Legends" jersey? F--- that. Now #16 at Michigan will always remind people of Denard. It pissed me off to see Kovacs running around the last couple games in #11 -- dude is #32!
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