M To Play Virginia Tech In 2020, 2021 Comment Count

Brian

L_100311-lanestadium[1]

I don't know if Beamer is still going to be around for this but hey look an honest to god legit opponent in a home and home:

Michigan & Virginia Tech will play a home-and-home series during the 2020 & 2021 seasons; 2020 (Michigan Stadium), 2021 (Lane Stadium).

Da'Shawn Hand will be out of school for multiple years at that point, and the 2020 game is a home anchor for a year when Michigan plays OSU on the road. Thumbs up.

Comments

MichiganMan2424

May 9th, 2013 at 1:49 PM ^

 

I'd definitely be down to go to Lane Stadium, especially if the atmosphere is like this.

Sons of Louis Elbel

May 9th, 2013 at 2:11 PM ^

Between this and games against Maryland, DC is suddenly a great place for UM alums. Speaking of which, perhaps this suggests that our games at Maryland will be in even numbered years, since presumably we wouldn't want 2 games out here in the same season. (And yes, I know that by 2020 the B10 will have 87 teams and a totally different schedule. How silly of me to mention it.)

MGoShoe

May 10th, 2013 at 10:45 AM ^

...fanbase can make the 5 hr trek from NOVA and Hampton Roads, I think Michigan alumni in state (Commonwealth?) can do the same. I know I will (knock on wood).

I tweeted that my son (current VT student) will surely be at both games to which he replied: Can't guarantee that. I'm sure to be busy with work [as a sports journalist] on Saturdays in 2020/21. To which I replied: I like your confidence. Make it happen, son.

M-Wolverine

May 10th, 2013 at 1:41 PM ^

I'm not sure there will be newspapers by 2020. It's either tv or Internet (which also might be approaching the same thing by 2020). Seems like the best way to do that now is to start your own thing and make it popular enough someone else wants you.

eamus_caeruli (not verified)

May 9th, 2013 at 5:16 PM ^

Just for those who will forget what I am about to write...just so there is no misconceptions about where Blacksburg, VA location in the mid-Atlantic. It is no, and I mean no where near DC (5hrs) Richmond (2hrs) or Norfolk(4hrs). You would be better off getting a flight to Knoxville,TN, renting a car and driving up 81. Blacksburg has a very small regional airport and really won't accommodate anything more than a private plane situation.

MGoShoe

May 10th, 2013 at 10:48 AM ^

...5 hrs from NOVA to Blacksburg? If the answer is no, fly into Roanoke, only 21 miles from Blacksburg along I-81.

For those folks in SE MI, Blacksburg is an 8.5 hr drive and is essentially due south (you do have to drive past Columbus, though). Easily doable road trip.

cutter

May 9th, 2013 at 9:02 PM ^

One thing to keep in mind is that Virginia Tech has played at Fedex Field outside Washigton, DC on three occasions (2004-USC, 2010-Boise State, 2012-Cincinnati).  Fedex Field has a seating capacity of 85,000 while Lane Stadium is 65,632.  

Is there any possibility the game is moed to the DC area because of higher attendance?  The USC game had 91,665 spectators (Fedex Field had a larger capacity back then) and the BSU contest had 86,587.  OTOH, the game with the UC Bearcats last year only had 46,026.

The other interesting thing about his annoucement is the possiblity Michigan will play alternating seasons of 8 and 6 home games.  According to the Big Ten, the teams in the Eastern Division will be hosting five conference games during the even-numbered years (2016, 2018, 2020) once the nine game coference schedule is adopted in 2016.

But Michigan's future non-conference home and homes with Arkansa and Virginia Tech as UM hosting those teams in Ann Arbor during the even numbered years (Ark-2018, VaTech-2020).  During the odd numbered years (2019, 2021) when the Wolverines are slated to have only four home conference games, UM is going on the road to play the Razorback and the Hokies.

If everything remains unchanged, Michigan should have eight home games in 2016.  Five will be in conference and the three non-conference games (Hawaii, Ball State, Colorado) are in Ann Arbor.

In 2017, Michigan has four home conference games with one home non-conference game with CIncinnati on 9/9 scheduled to date.  If UM has a home-and-home non-conference games that year, it means only six home dates.  If not, then it could mean a second consecutive season with eight home games.

I expect the future coference schedules will be put out later this month. I suspect the rotation with Ohio State and Michigan State will stay in place in terms of home or away locations.  If Penn State is coupled with MSU and Rutgers/Maryland are one-home-one away, then the rotation of Eastern Division games for the even/odd years could look like this:

2014/16/18/20

Home:  Michigan State, Penn State, Rutgers, 2 Western Teams

Away:  at Ohio State, at Maryland, at Indiana, 1 Western Team

2015/17/19/21

Home:  Ohio State, Maryland, Indiana, 1 Western Team

Away:  at Michigan State, at Penn State, at Rutgers, 2 Western Teams

With Nebraska and Wisconsin likely to be on the schedule more often than not due to the weighted scheduling the conference plans on doing, it could be a situation whereby UM plays both OSU and one of UN-L/UW either at home or on the road going forward.  

If that were the case, it would make some sense for the timing of the major non-conference games.  We could be looking at something like this:

2018 (5 Home Conference games)

Home:  Arkansas, Michigan State, Penn State, Rutgers, 2 Western Teams

Away:  at Ohio State, at Maryland, at Indiana, at either Nebraska or Wisconsin

2019 (4 Home Conference games)

Home:  Ohio State, Maryland, Indiana, either Nebraska or Wisconsin

Away:  at Arkansas, at Michigan State, at Penn State, at Rutgers, at 2 Western Teams

2020 and 2021 would be just like 2018 and 2019, except replace Arkansas with Virgiia Tech.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

bronxblue

May 10th, 2013 at 1:20 AM ^

Should be a fun game, though 7-8 years from now I'll be so busy fixing my pod racer that I'll have to mindtrap the videofeed from my home pod and replay them on my Google contacts.  That's right, future boy!

VaUMWolverine

May 10th, 2013 at 6:23 AM ^

2 things:

You can fly into Roanoke and drive to Blacksburg (more expensive). It's about a 40 minute drive or you can fly into Charlotte NC (less expensive) and drive 3 hours.



I've been to several Hokie games and I can honestly say they are sooooo annoying. You will hate the Hokies when you leave...guaranteed! It's a great atmosphere though. The stadium is built straight up. It gets really loud.