Michigan-Alabama In Dallas In 2012 Comment Count

Brian

michigan-alabama-2000You probably dismissed the idea of Michigan playing a huge nonconference game against Alabama in two years in Jerryworld as crackpot rumor-mongering of the sort the internet specializes in. Michigan's on the road against ND, leaving a maximum of six home games, it's transparently silly to play a college football game thousands of miles from either college, and Michigan hasn't played a neutral-site OOC game basically ever. It seemed instantly implausible.

But apparently it is happening. The contract is being signed Monday. Which is tomorrow.

The following details are unconfirmed but of interest since they come from an established source:

  • Game is happening because a desperate Jerry Jones "overpaid."
  • Michigan will be the nominal home team (important mostly for TV rights) and receive more money.
  • There's no additional game scheduled and there may not be.
  • Jones might be well-positioned to provide some advice on HD scoreboards.

This comes with a set of crazy conflicting emotions. Hurray awesome nonconference game, boo that it's in fricking Dallas in a corporate death star of an NFL stadium and not a home-and-home in Ann Arbor and Tuscaloosa. I guess that's what it takes for a lot of actual nonconference games to get done these days, but awesomeness of trip to Dallas to see M play 'Bama <<<<<< awesomeness of M-Bama home-and-home. On the other hand, awesomeness of M-Bama Dallas >>>>>>> awesomeness of M-BGSU anywhere.

[Note on sourcing: in this case I am going with one source, but he is a very established one.]

Comments

Laveranues

August 8th, 2010 at 11:36 AM ^

This is interesting.  Hopefully the program has improved enough by then to make it a game.  Win or lose, though, it'll be more of an event than a game against another MAC team.

the Bray

August 8th, 2010 at 11:39 AM ^

Scholarship death-match!!

If Michigan wins, Alabama should be held to 10 recruits the following year. 

If Alabama wins, we're allowed to oversign by 17!

MGoBender

August 8th, 2010 at 11:42 AM ^

So I'm interested in what Jerry Jones is paying.

If Michigan regularly rakes in  > $5.5M in attendance, parking and concessions (averaging $50 per 109,000 seats, anyone know the actual numbers?) for a home game, what are they getting to play down there?

What would make it profitble?  Will it be more profitable than a BGSU game?  If not, then kudos to the AD for not being money mongering whores.

mmc22

August 8th, 2010 at 8:45 PM ^

The question is a neutral game against Alabama plus a home game against a MAC team will make you more money than a home and away against Alabama? Remember they will have an open spot the second year. Since J. Jones will overpay to get them there, I think they will at least make the same amount of money.

Credit812

August 8th, 2010 at 11:49 AM ^

I love that they're playing a real game, but why do it in a neutral field that's no where near either campus?  They'll be no students at the game from either school, and there will be maybe 20k fans from each school.  Traveling in September is a lot harder for anybody with kids in school than traveling for a bowl game.  I'd almost rather see them play BGSU at home than watch them play in a half empty stadium halfway across the country.  Almost.  At least they could do it in a city that's interesting to visit.

Jones overpaid?  That's gotta be what, 4 or 5 million for each team?  Is he really gonna break even on that game?  How expensive will the tickets have to be? 

Zone Left

August 8th, 2010 at 2:31 PM ^

I hear you guys, but neutral site games are really tricky.  The annual game in Atlanta is between ACC and SEC teams, so it's a relatively short trip.  Dallas is just a long way from either school.  The old Kickoff Classic games always seemed to have lots of empty seats.  

I hope my feelings don't matter and Michigan is coming off of a great 2011.

HelloHeisman91

August 8th, 2010 at 9:42 PM ^

Actually, an alumnus can be a person who has attended or has graduated.

Main Entry: alum·nus
Pronunciation: \ə-ˈləm-nəs\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural alum·ni
\-ˌnī\
Etymology: Latin, foster son, pupil, from alere to nourish — more at old
Date: 1645

1 : a person who has attended or has graduated from a particular school, college, or university

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alumnus

Rasmus

August 9th, 2010 at 9:08 AM ^

wouldn't the university with the largest enrollment for the last 20-30 years or so have the largest living alumni base in the country?

Well, yes, if you only count people under the age of 50-something! People do actually live longer than that. As of 2009, Michigan's 460,000 living alumni outnumbered, for example, Ohio State's 425,000, even though OSU's 53,000 current students in Columbus outnumber M's 42,000 in Ann Arbor.

It is true, however, that the Alumni Association has very recently ratcheted down the claim about the number of living alumni from "the largest" base to "one of the largest" -- a sign of the times.

the Bray

August 8th, 2010 at 12:39 PM ^

That game will sell out if Michigan goes 0-12 in 2011.  It'll be the first game of the season.  Optimism for two storied programs will be high, no matter what happens the year before.  This game will be a sell out the second tickets go on sale.  And there won't be an empty/unused seat in the house.

funkywolve

August 8th, 2010 at 11:53 AM ^

 "but why do it in a neutral field that's no where near either campus?"

One word:  Money.  If Jerry Jones overpaid, I'm guessing both schools will be making a lot of money.  Keeping in mind that both of these schools could schedule a Baby Seal and still sell out their stadiums, I'm guessing it's a lot of money for both schools. 

Jivas

August 8th, 2010 at 11:51 AM ^

I love high-end, cross-sectional nonconference games, a la the Texas-OSU home-and-home a few years back.  If we improve over the next two years the way a lot of us think we will, that game has a chance to be phenomenal.

If we don't improve the way we expect to ... yikes.  But at this point I'm far more excited for a great matchup than nervous about a butt-whupping.

Moe Greene

August 8th, 2010 at 11:51 AM ^

Brandon = thinking outside the box in multiple dimensions.

Not sure how I feel personally about  a neutral site - (hell, if it had to be one I'd prefer NYC, so as to be close to the olive oil import and export business) - but as Socrates put it, it's all about the benjamins.....

funkywolve

August 8th, 2010 at 11:55 AM ^

Texas is one of the top recruiting states in the country.  Hopefully in two years UM will be back where we expect them to be - a fixture in the Top 10/Top 15.  This will be a great opportunity to get a ton of exposure for UM in front of all the Texas high school recruits.

MCalibur

August 8th, 2010 at 11:58 AM ^

This game can be used as a recruiting tool in the southwest. Plus the hype going into the game will be ludicrous and will be like a pre-season bowl. Despite the cons, I loves me some this.

This might also indicate some bullishness on Brandon's part, he's got to see how strong a foundation Rich Rod has laid down over the last couple recruiting cycles. Sprinkle in a little bit of victory mojo and kaBlammo! 

In short, WOOT!

Vasav

August 8th, 2010 at 11:57 AM ^

I'm happy because, if I'm still in West Texas, I'm going to that game. I'm angry because I'd still rather have Michigan play a home-and-home. We must be getting a buttload of money to do this.

We better win. Start the season at the Cotton Bowl, end it at the Rose Bowl. 2012. Make it happen, Blue.

the Bray

August 8th, 2010 at 12:01 PM ^

Think we'll be playing 9 conference games by then?  Probably not.  But if we are... that schedule is going to be brutal (I guess with 8, it's still going to be brutal).  At Notre Dame.  vs. Alabama.  at Ohio State.  home for MSU, Wisconsin.  Maybe Nebraska?

bacon1431

August 8th, 2010 at 12:11 PM ^

Mark Ingram will be gone. Bama will probably be replacing their starting QB. Michigan should have a ton of leadership and hopefully RR gets the team going by then. Could be a coming out party for a national contender. Or a we could be in the midst of another transition. But I'm excited about this.

Bleedin9Blue

August 8th, 2010 at 12:11 PM ^

Obviously it's early to be thinking about this, but would anyone be interested in trying to buy a block of tickets to create MGoSection?

This will be a huge game and I fully plan on going, I'm sure others will.  Since I don't think I'll be able to go with my usual football friends, maybe it would be a good time to meet up with some MGoUsers and watch it together.

At the very least we can have MGoTailgate.

 

Note: "MGo..." makes any phrase better.

HurryUpYost

August 8th, 2010 at 12:12 PM ^

I will be at that game even if the ticket is $100 a seat. Living down here in Houston ( a lot of Michigan fans in this area btw) I rarely get a chance to go back for a game.