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 15th, 2010 at 7:58 AM ^
As a season ticket holder, I'm not looking forward to the "off" years where ND, NU and OSU are road games. I'm hoping Brandon gets these flip-flopped. ideally to have NU and OSU alternate as road and home in the season and let ND fall where they may. NU and OSU road games in the same year will be tough. Tougher than ND IMO. (at least in the near future, until we see how Kelley grows ND's team)
October 15th, 2010 at 10:01 AM ^
With Nebraska joining the B10, ND can stay on the current schedule, but just switch up Nebraska to have them in AA on even years.
October 15th, 2010 at 12:37 AM ^
I so can't wait for that game so I can say "Bet you wish you had RR now don't you fuckers?"
October 15th, 2010 at 1:20 AM ^
Kudos to Brian for being the first one to break this a while back.
October 15th, 2010 at 1:36 AM ^
Thank God the Big Ten didn't push for 9 conference games in 2012 as well. This is looks to be one of the toughest schedules already.
October 15th, 2010 at 5:47 AM ^
Toughest?
Without playing Penn State nor Wisky?
October 15th, 2010 at 4:50 AM ^
Boy, I'm so looking forward to this that I decided to attend the Oregon - LSU game in 2011 as a test run so the experience in 2012 will be perfect!
October 15th, 2010 at 6:18 AM ^
Why all the fuss about ND on the road???
Seriously?
ND has sucked for 20 years... getting by on reputation from the Holtz era alone.
Currently ND is a middle of the road Big 10 at best and their track record proves it.
I do believe Kelly is a good coach but he's got more work to do than RR to steer that freighter through that fog bank.
October 15th, 2010 at 7:53 AM ^
We've won the last two via very close games. Kelley will definitely get that program more competitive - as will RR with Michigan. Fact is, it's a rivalry game and they can and have given us very close games.
October 15th, 2010 at 12:52 PM ^
I respect your post. But Michigan isn't very good right now. Improving, but all these weeks of 500+ yards given up sucks. So Notre Dame team has played Michigan close -- like you mentioned. That's more of an indictment (given the 500+ ypg) of how bad Michigan is rather than ND good.
Perhaps you missed that part about "other than the Lou Holtz" era.
Prior to RR, in the last decade Michigan has shut ND out. Twice. Last trip to South Bend in the same period, U-M 45, ND 17.
Sure ND deserves to be respected but they honestly aren't any better than going on the road to a middle of the pack Big 10 team right now -- who all get up for when the Wolverines come to town and who all play Michigan close.
Had Michigan beat Moo U. last weekend, all of ND's loses certainly wouldn't be helping us out in the figures which go into the BCS formula either.
Sorry, just not drinking the ND Kool-Aid right now.
October 16th, 2010 at 10:30 AM ^
We've won down in South Bend 3 times, including this year? (And they've won up here a couple of times).
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<br>ND has a couple of games that define their season. Us early; USC late. They're always up for those games. Which is what he was saying.
October 15th, 2010 at 9:11 AM ^
oops. Double post
October 15th, 2010 at 9:09 AM ^
That we have a couple games that Desmond , Herbie & Lee will be at? 2011 ND game under lights and Alabama at Jerry World. Me Like Dave Brandon!
October 15th, 2010 at 9:20 AM ^
Home and home, would have been cool, but this will be fun too.
October 15th, 2010 at 9:34 AM ^
The Spartans could never put this game together, as it would have very little national interest. UM remains Big Brother. I can't wait for this game to commence!
October 15th, 2010 at 10:12 AM ^
MSU and Alabama have signed a contract for a home-and-home in 2016 and 2017.
http://www.rolltide.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/042709aac.html
Unless you think playing in Jerry Jones Palace is what makes our game so special, which, fine if you do. Frankly, I would MUCH rather have had the home-and-home.
October 15th, 2010 at 10:06 AM ^
Why the hell is everyone so geeked about this? I'm pretty excited about the marquee matchup. But screw this neutral site bullshit. This will mean only 6 home games in 2012 (boo!) and a big hit to my local economy. I'm sure the folks that make a chunk of change parking cars in their yards are none too happy about this. Good for recruiting/exposure?? Bullshit. The only thing you need for that is 6 weeks of über-hype by the WWL, a spot in prime-time TV, and the Gameday crew showing up.
October 15th, 2010 at 1:04 PM ^
Even with 2 cupcakes, that schedule will be one of the toughest in CFB. That's assuming Alabama nor Brian Kelly's ND squad poop their beds before 2012.
With senior Shoelace, this could be an epic run for a MNC. Hey, a guy can dream, can't he?
October 15th, 2010 at 1:25 PM ^
I don't see any team being able to survive that gauntlet undefeated. Plus, Karsch has hinted at another name opponent.
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<br>People who love it now will hate it once UM gets beat up trying to surmount that mountain of a schedule.
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<br>If we have a playoff by then, I'll love it. But under the current system, I hate it. You simply cannot put that many 50-50 games on your schedule and expect to be rewarded for it.
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<br>I love the mentality of taking on all challengers, but that schedule is insane. At least get rid of ND for chrissakes!
October 15th, 2010 at 1:32 PM ^
If they open up the best seats to season ticket holders and anyone on here is sure they won't be able to go PLEASE sell them to me!! I can see the stadium from my house and, due to the cost associated with flying to MI, the only other game I've been to was the Alamo Bowl against Nebraska (painful memories).
October 15th, 2010 at 1:41 PM ^
OUCH!! I know we will be able to handle it but it is going to be a heart burn season! This schedule sucks for us season ticket holders but in al fairness 2011 is going to be a sweet season to have tickets for. I'll take the hit in 2012.
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