M-Alabama 2012 Officially Official
Press release:
U-M to Open 2012 Season vs. Alabama at Cowboys Stadium
DALLAS, Texas -- The University of Michigan football team will face the University Alabama in the 2012 College Football Kick-off Event at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Sept. 1, 2012. The game will be televised nationally in primetime.
“This is a great way to kickoff the 2012 season with two of the nation’s winningest college football programs,” said Athletic Director Dave Brandon. “We are excited about playing a regular season game in the state of Texas, a region of the country where we have traditionally recruited. Our goal is to get as many Michigan fans to the game as possible to witness this match-up of traditional powers.”
The Wolverines will be the away team with the Crimson Tide designated the home team. The game officials will be a crew from the Big 12 Conference. This will be the fourth time that Michigan faces Alabama in school history, and the first contest played during the regular season by the two programs.
All three previous games between the Wolverines and Crimson Tide were played in bowl games. Michigan defeated Alabama by a 28-24 score in the initial meeting, the 1988 Hall of Fame Bowl held in Tampa Stadium. The Crimson Tide got the better of the Wolverines in the second meeting in Tampa, winning a closely contested 17-14 game in the 1997 Outback Bowl.
The most recent match-up between the two schools is arguably the most exciting bowl game in Michigan history. The eighth-ranked Wolverines edged the fifth-ranked Crimson Tide, 35-34, in overtime to claim the 2000 Orange Bowl title. Tom Brady completed 34-of-46 passes for 369 yards and four touchdowns in the winning effort. He tossed a 25-yard TD pass to tight end Shawn Thompson and Hayden Epstein converted the PAT as Alabama scored but was unable to convert the PAT in the first overtime session. It was the first-ever overtime game in school history.
With the addition of the Crimson Tide, the Wolverines are looking to fill two slots on their 2012 schedule. Both open dates are scheduled to be played at Michigan Stadium on Sept. 8, Sept. 15 or Sept. 29. The other previously scheduled non-conference game is Sept. 22 at Notre Dame.
Ticket details will be announced at a later date.
Following is Michigan’s current 2012 schedule:
Sept. 1 vs. Alabama (Arlington, Texas)
Sept. 22 at Notre Dame
Oct. 6 at Purdue
Oct. 13 Illinois
Oct. 20 Michigan State
Oct. 27 at Nebraska
Nov. 3 at Minnesota
Nov. 10 Northwestern
Nov. 17 Iowa
Nov. 24 at Ohio State
Off Schedule: Indiana, Penn State, Wisconsin
October 14th, 2010 at 6:04 PM ^
we will have ahella lot of seniors in that game from this years starting team...niiiice
October 14th, 2010 at 6:07 PM ^
I think we should throw appy in there on one of those open weeks and lay that horse to rest.
October 14th, 2010 at 9:31 PM ^
you really placed both of these comments?
October 15th, 2010 at 9:22 AM ^
It was the best double-post coverup I've ever seen, until you ruined it.
October 15th, 2010 at 11:26 AM ^
i was trying
October 14th, 2010 at 6:06 PM ^
...that the 2012 game is as compelling as those three previous UM-Alabama matchups. Hey, maybe in another 2 years, RichRod gets his defensive (stuff) together. It could happen.
Either way, I'm glad to see Michigan stepping up to play a name opponent early in the season. It's been a while since we've been in a truly big time non-conference tussle.
October 14th, 2010 at 6:07 PM ^
I have a feeling Brandon may be trying to get ND to switch home games. The way he has talked I don't think anything is set in stone with all the upheaval with conference alignment and such and I would say we have some leverage with ND. I think we make some concessions and get that game moved for 2012. Just a guess. That way we don't have ND OSU and Neb all home or all away. That way we have MSU and ND at home 1 year and Neb OSU the next year and it's a little more balanced for our fans to see "rivals" games.
October 14th, 2010 at 7:21 PM ^
As in, the 2011 game would probably have to be in South Bend. Kelly would not be too happy about losing a home game in '12 when he's still trying to get some momentum going.
October 14th, 2010 at 9:22 PM ^
the 2011 ND game is the first night football game in the history of Michigan Stadium. I thought ND was off the schedule in 2012 and 2013 as part of the deal for the night game.
October 15th, 2010 at 12:20 AM ^
ND, OSU, and Neb all on the road. That's murder.
We were stuck in this pattern with ND, OSU, and PSU. All we succeeded in doing is replacing PSU with Neb.
October 14th, 2010 at 6:08 PM ^
Per the new NCAA rule that allows both teams to wear their home uniforms if they are not too similar, I hope we see the blue and crimson unis. They are both so iconic, and our home unis are much better than the road ones.
October 14th, 2010 at 6:49 PM ^
October 14th, 2010 at 7:04 PM ^
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
October 14th, 2010 at 7:12 PM ^
I didn't say I was for it.
October 14th, 2010 at 7:18 PM ^
I don't think Adidas will make anything special. Seriously, when is the last time Michigan wore anything other than the standard home and away jerseys? Making an alternate for this game is a Nike thing to do ... and what would it be? Yellow? Sick...
October 15th, 2010 at 10:37 AM ^
Haven't our away jersey's changed a little bit? I think the piping on the sides is new after switch to Adidas?
October 15th, 2010 at 11:04 AM ^
The away jerseys have changed a number of times over the years. The most obvious was the change to Adidas and the maize inlay on the sides. But piping and stripes on the shoulders has changes from time to time. And possibly the surround on the numbers.
The away jersey is not iconic.
October 14th, 2010 at 8:44 PM ^
The Jerrydome would be the perfect place to showcase MAIZE JERSEYS! You know there will be rock music blaring, lasers coming out of the jumbotron, and since it's indoors it won't matter if it's at night or not. Perfect!
October 15th, 2010 at 6:05 AM ^
Just as long as it isn't something like the combat Nike unis.
October 14th, 2010 at 7:14 PM ^
Pretty sure our away uniforms are going to look better by the end of this season. Theres a thread a page back that has a pretty nice mock-up of what we're about to see starting maybe this week with the new adidas jerseys.
October 15th, 2010 at 12:15 AM ^
Our blue will stand out just fine against the Alabama crimson.
Both teams used to wear their home uniforms until the late 50's/early 60's. They switched to white away uniforms so that it would read better on balck and white TV.
Now that we all have color, for like the last 40 years, it's appropriate that they changed the rule back to how it used to be.
Soooooo . . . how about our home blue unis at the 'Shoe this year? Why not? It would be epic.
October 15th, 2010 at 5:57 AM ^
what the boys wear, just as long as we win the damn game! Go Blue!
October 14th, 2010 at 6:23 PM ^
BRUTAL!!! Gonna be exciting though.
October 14th, 2010 at 6:28 PM ^
have errors. Unless it's actually called University Alabama, that is
October 14th, 2010 at 6:37 PM ^
This pretty well confirms that Brandon has no intention whatsoever to fire Rodriguez, barring something catastrophic off the field, and should pretty well confirm Brandon's trust in Rodriguez. I just can't comprehend a scenario where Brandon would schedule this game if he were even remotely thinking that the game would be played with a new coach (either in their first or second year). No way.
October 15th, 2010 at 5:55 AM ^
that is the case. I'm ready to put this "Get rid of Rodriguez" mentality to rest. The guy can coach and I believe once we get some help on defense we'll be pretty damn hard to beat in a few years. Remember, Bo turned out to be one of the best, if not THE best, coach we've ever had in Ann Arbor and that firey ol' boy was from Ohio for God's sake! Rich will work out great for U of M...he just needs more time...you'll see.
October 14th, 2010 at 6:37 PM ^
RR will have his system completely in place and we'll hopefully have the right amount of experience on the defensive two-deep that we need. Should be a fun game.
October 14th, 2010 at 6:58 PM ^
This is going to be such an insane schedule, but it's going to be my last year at UM, so bring it on! Whether we've hot Dilithium, Tate or DG in there, it's going to be one of the toughest — if not the toughest — schedule in the nation. Let's get Boise State to try a schedule like this, see if they can hold up, no?
October 15th, 2010 at 6:03 AM ^
Enough of the Boise State bashing. It's not like their AD lined up Delaware State or App State or Toledo.
Boise State beat Oregon the last two years in a row. Michigan couldn't manage that.
Boise State has done nothing but do everything asked of them; they absolutely bring it in big games.
What more do people want? This arguemnt is like trying to reason with a girlfriend that is never satisfied no matter what one does or how hard they try.
No matter though. Conference expansion is not dead. A couple of coaches I know truly believe that 4, 16 team, conferences will happen within the next few years. BSU will most likely be in the Pac - 10 and while doubtful, hopefully the bitching about BSU will stop.
October 14th, 2010 at 7:06 PM ^
So does "home" and "away" mean anything at all other than who wears what uniform? I hope not, especially from a revenue standpoint.
October 15th, 2010 at 6:44 AM ^
My guess is that if home and away has any bearing on anything besides the uniforms, it would be television broadcasting. I'll wager this game, if not broadcast on ESPN/ABC, is far more likely to be on CBS than BTN.
October 14th, 2010 at 7:06 PM ^
When do we start getting guesses as to when we season ticket holders can buy our seats? I want to spend my money now!
October 14th, 2010 at 7:21 PM ^
Alabama should be under some type of NCAA sanctioning.
October 14th, 2010 at 7:22 PM ^
But I'd rather see Alabama at a neutral site any year, especially if they replace any of the FCS teams we might play.
October 14th, 2010 at 7:42 PM ^
and his entire extended family to sing The Victors. TRob and Hopkins as well
October 14th, 2010 at 7:46 PM ^
So, if we draw Texas in a bowl game we will play numbers 2-6 on the all time winningest list?
Too bad we miss PSU, we could have played 2-7 (i'm assuming we'll play Texas for the MNC -- unless the youth on defense is too much to overcome)
"1. Michigan: 877-304-38
2. Texas: 845-321-34
3. Notre Dame: 837-291-42
4. Nebraska: 827-341-41
5. Ohio State: 819-308-53
6. Alabama: 813-316-43
7. Penn State 812-351-43
8. Oklahoma: 796-305-53
9. Tennessee: 783-333-55
10. USC: 774-307-54"
October 14th, 2010 at 9:26 PM ^
Mother of God! Well based on THIS schedule we must believe we are going to be crazy good in two years (which i really like by the way) cause this reads like a murders row of opponents.
Time to bust out the all white uni's baby! Go maize n blue piping!!!!!!
October 14th, 2010 at 10:29 PM ^
Hey - at least PSU and Wisconsin are off the 2012 schedule.
October 15th, 2010 at 5:52 AM ^
All whites? Bring back numerals on the sides of the helmets too then. Bama nation would freak...
and helmet stickers.
If they were good enough when Bo was around, they should be good enough now.
October 14th, 2010 at 8:49 PM ^
If Alabama is the home team, does that mean their season ticket holders will get most of the tickets?
October 14th, 2010 at 9:30 PM ^
With the games already scheduled no one would blame us if we brought back our friends from Delaware State (our traditional "rivals") and the power of Slippery Rock to the other weeks. Although Appy State would be interesting...... but what IF we lost? No chance of the horror 2, please.
October 15th, 2010 at 12:08 AM ^
It will look like the Spring game.
October 14th, 2010 at 10:17 PM ^
Well this will make living in Texas for the next three years of my life not seem quite so bad. Also, if you're planning on coming to the game get ready for $75 parking (thanks uncle Jerry!). The stadium is just conveniently placed far enough away from any hotel you'd want to stay at that a cab ride would cost just about as much...
October 14th, 2010 at 10:18 PM ^
I hope Jerry Jones understands that Denard Robinson is probably going to break the sound barrier a couple of times and will probably destroy his giant HD screens. On a more serious note, hopefully Trent Richardson goes into the NFL and Bama is breaking in a new QB and Nick Saban is too busy looking for his player's pimps to coach them in this gamr. God I hope our defense is better.
October 15th, 2010 at 2:56 AM ^
by the time Saban puts all the guys he has now on a medical scholarship he'll have a completely new team by then...frickin' cheatin' bastard!
October 14th, 2010 at 10:18 PM ^
but they can never take away our helmets. on an unrelated note, though, we'll have senior denard for this game, which just makes me silly with excitement. it might be the last (and maybe the only) pro field he ever plays on, though, since we all know where the 2012 NC will be held... ahahahahaha i just hope i can get tickets
October 14th, 2010 at 10:33 PM ^
epic program collapses, thats gotta be the toughest schedule in the country
at* alabama, at nebraska, at notre dame, at ohio state
at least PSU and wisconsin are off
October 14th, 2010 at 10:52 PM ^
There's no way we'll be considered a contender with that type of cupcake schedule. I say add USC and a trip to the Swamp or LSU if you want to give UM an opportunity to really make a statement.
October 15th, 2010 at 2:53 AM ^
and play Ohio State an extra time during the 'bye' week just to make sure that we make a statement by golly. Shit, throw in Auburn just for the hell of it...Go Blue!
October 15th, 2010 at 12:10 AM ^
They really need to switch the ND game around at some point, this seems like a good time.
They really need to break up Notre Dame, Nebraska and Ohio State all rotating on and off the schedule the same years.
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