A Night Game In The Big House Comment Count

Tim

michigan_stadium_big_house_2_small.jpg

Now pretend it's a lot darker

It's been rumored over the past couple days that the Michigan v. Notre Dame game in Ann Arbor on September 10, 2011 would take place under lights in the Big House, but the real serious smoke came this afternoon from the official Athletic Department twitter account:

HUGE Michigan football scheduling announcement today at 2:30pm. Check MGoBlue.com for details later this afternoon.

So, now we know: there will be a night game in The Big House within the next two years. Here's how Michigan has fared in night games, including those against the Irish:

  • Michigan is 22-11 all-time in night games. They are 19-5 in away night games, 3-6 in neutral site night games. This will be the first home night game in Michigan history.
  • The Wolverines are 0-3 in night games against Notre Dame. They lost 17-23 in 1982, 17-19 in 1988, and 24-28 in 1990. All three games took place in South Bend.
  • The first Michigan night game took part in was a 14-0 victory over MArquette on September 23, 1944.

Notes from the announcement press conference:

Coach Rich Rodriguez

Prepared Statement: "Our players have always enjoyed playing night games, and I think it's something that our fans will truly enjoy and embrace. I expect the atmosphere will be electric for this match-up at the Big House."

Night games provide great exposure for the players and the program. Players really like night games. Playing in front of a lot of people both in person and on television is exciting. National TV is great for the University, since games are like a 3.5-hour commercial for the school.

AD David Brandon

Prepared Statement: "This will be an unprecedented game day atmosphere that ours fans have not experienced at Michigan Stadium. It's a great opportunity to showcase out program, University, and Ann Arbor to a primetime viewing audience. This also adds a new chapter to the storied rivalry between our two great programs."

Brandon has been working on logistics for a couple weeks. We know how to string lights, work traffic, etc. The operations team has over a year to prepare to do this at night.Brandon didn't have to touch base with the city.

Michigan is familiar with the concept of playing under the lights (for 3:30 starts, and they've seen how other schools have handled night games. If this goes well, there will probably be one night game per year at Michigan Stadium.

Night games are part of what create a big exciting atmosphere in college football. Of the night game, Bo would say "That Brandon guy believes that change is good and I'm gonna support him."

Comments

Judge Smails

March 18th, 2010 at 3:12 PM ^

Welcome to the 21st century Michigan football. Thank you, David Brandon.

Let's just make sure one Saturday night per season doesn't morph into any Thursday night games, ever. Nothing screams Big East (small time) or C-USA more than "Thursday Night Football."

Sgt. Wolverine

March 18th, 2010 at 3:49 PM ^

I actually hate the entire idea of Thursday college football -- it's driven entirely by tv and the minor conferences' desire to get more coverage. High school football belongs on Thursday and Friday, and college football belongs on Saturday.

As for the night game...it's cool, I guess, but it's sort of an artificial and arbitrary cool. Again, it's driven by tv. I don't think a night game is inherently more exciting or better than a day game; I'm less concerned with the stuff around the game than I am with the game itself. But if it gets people excited, then it's a fine idea. Not revolutionary or anything, but fine nonetheless.

swdude12

March 18th, 2010 at 3:12 PM ^

Now are there gonna be lights permanently built in? or are they gonna be the portable lights? Portable lights look cheap after this huge renovation. Please build lights.

rtyler

March 18th, 2010 at 4:51 PM ^

Probably Musco lights, like they use at OSU, ND and PSU for night games. They're temporary, and usually paid for by the television crews, if I'm not mistaken. That removes any reason for UM to install lights on its own dime. If the bowl is someday extended to match the new addition, as I've read rumored around here, perhaps permanent lights would go in then.

Section 1

March 18th, 2010 at 4:58 PM ^

You think that the overall appearance of Michigan Stadium, used 7 or 8 times a year, would be enhanced by the placement of permanent lights that would be used once a year?

Share with us, if you will, the "beauty" of "permanent lights" as opposed to temporary lights that are, like, not even there except when you need them.

Twisted Martini

March 18th, 2010 at 3:13 PM ^

saying that "we have a lot of older fans who wouldn't want to drive home in the dark." What?

Then again this was the same guy whose decision-making process led him to erect the Halo...

MechEng97

March 18th, 2010 at 3:45 PM ^

Same here, I've received 2 strings calling the tailgate already. I think it's funny that I'm already excited and it's 1.5 years away... Smart move from UM, but I'm already tired of people worried that we are going to become WVU and be on Tuesday/Thursdays.. Relax, this is going to generate a lot of excitement.

JimBobTressel-0

March 18th, 2010 at 5:07 PM ^

Rich Rod vs. Brian Kelly.

Spread and Shred hitting its apex in Year 4, vs. Vertical Passing Game beginning to do the same in Kelly's Year 2. A seasoned Forcier, garnering Heisman hype, facing an upperclassman Dayne Crist at the helm of a rampaging Irish attack.

The multiheaded monster that is the Michigan backfield, taking on the Irish defense.... A secondary nicknamed "No Fly Zone", that might be the nation's best, facing every ace up Brian Kelly's sleeve.

Now take all that, and put it UNDER THE LIGHTS.

I am hyperventilating.

Laveranues

March 18th, 2010 at 3:22 PM ^

I don't have a problem with a night game, but it better not lead to us becoming West Virginia / Louisville / Whoever and playing any old time - like Thursdays - so we can get on TV.

Also, maybe this is not the best time for another break from tradition, given all of the other recent breaks from tradition (most notably: winning).

los barcos

March 18th, 2010 at 3:36 PM ^

this fear from a couple posters how a possible "one night game a year" leads to "michigan vs. akron tuesday night epsn2".

every school has a night game - we're finally joining the 21st century here. this does not mean we're selling our soul to the devil to be on espn's game of the mid-week.

cutter

March 18th, 2010 at 5:37 PM ^

I like the idea of having one night game per season at Michigan Stadium. With the current scheduling agreement with Notre Dame in place through 2031, that means it will be played against a conference opponent in the even numbered years (2012, 2014, 2016, etc.) because ND comes into Ann Arbor during the odd numbered years (2011, 2013, 2015, etc.).

The problem with the ND agreement is that it essentially precludes Michigan from playing a night game against any other quality non-conference opponent. How many people here would like to see the Wolverines play LSU or Texas or Miami-Florida at Michigan Stadium some future September evening? What about Alabama or Oklahoma or Florida State--those would be great matchups for a potential primetime broadcast live from Ann Arbor on ESPN or ABC.

I just see lots of opportunities here for future night game matchups that Michigan won't likely be able to follow up on because of the scheduling agreement with Notre Dame.

neoavatara

March 18th, 2010 at 3:20 PM ^

Look, all other power teams play at night at some point. This is a big deal. Primetime is when you get a national audience like no other. If you don't understand that, you don't understand how TV and publicity works.

bouje

March 18th, 2010 at 3:30 PM ^

Because I'm probably in the minority of fans but I want what is best for Michigan which means:
I want every team we play to be undefeated until we play them and then we give them their first loss.

Not sure what 0-4 has to do with anything honestly...