A Night Game In The Big House
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."
Follow the line of posts. I was razzin Section1. Read some of your posts. You have some good thoughts.
Sorry it's hard when the 3rd reply jumps down 15 spots. Not your fault but it's hard to figure out.
Are gonna be really pissed
someday you will be an old timer.
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."
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.
On the contrary, i like thursday night football as long as it's not Michigan. Gives me the opportunity to drink beer, WATCH FOOTBALL", grill out, AAANNNDDDD be hungover for work on Friday.
Tues night = MAC
Wed night = C-USA
Thurs night = Big East
Fri night = MWC/WAC
Sat night = Mich, finally
My high school played all of its games on Saturday afternoons the entire time I was there, and had been doing that for many years prior to my time there.
Anyone else think that this would be an awesome time to wear the "Maize-Out" alternate yellow uniforms?
you're not serious.
eeer maybe the all whites but ya if changed our home Unis people would throw fits but all maize doesnt sound too good
Just invert the normal uniform colors. Maize jerseys with blue numbers and blue pants.
Michigan is not WV or Cal.
Most good experiments will only change one variable at a time.
Besides Maize uniforms would be an epically bad experiment.
Do you prefer automatics?
or revolvers?
oh and also we can do some sweet inverted helmets.
or just, you know, not
... Pacman.
I read through the inital report wondering when I would read the first Maize Jersey question! Way to go! I do believe that the fear has to be real that they make an appearence - I know I'm fearful! PLEASE NO MAIZE JERSEYS - PLEASE!
It should be exciting and different.
It also, hopefully, shows we have an AD who is willing to do stuff.
The nation shall be watching.
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.
Co-signing onto this statement. Real light fixtures would be fantastic.
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.
as a trial run, don't you think?
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.
Q: Will you add lights?
Yes, our plans call for the installation of lighting platforms on the top of the proposed sideline structures. It will be the responsibility of the TV networks to bring in temporary light racks for late afternoon games where lights are required.
That sounds like they're installing permanent lighting platforms and "it will be the responsibility of the TV networks to bring in temporary light racks..."
Not sure if I misinterpreted that you're saying U of M will install permanent lights or just answering the guy aboce that was asking.
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...
I bet they weren't complaining after the 3OT-MSU game in '04 that finished in the dark... Or after the Penn St. game when Mario had the gamewinning catch - also finished in the dark.
Serious buzz created -
I've already received emails from friends about this saying "mark it down we're going".
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.
the ever-elusive 12 hour tailgate is no longer myth. never too early to get a leg up on it.
Will Ashley's let me reserve a bar stool 18 months in advance?
All time record breaking crowd?
Put me down for 112,455.
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.
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).
* How exactly does this even vaguely reek of desperation to get on TV? I don't think UMich has to worry about marketability in the short term. I think you're reaching there.
* Did Bo break with tradition when the team went 6-6 in 1984?
I don't think this is about Michigan. It's about recruiting. The recruits only care about there exposure.
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.
We're still talking about the two winningest, most storied college football programs in primetime. This isn't Michigan vs. Fresno St under the lights. What's not to like?
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.
Michigan vs. Texas under the lights would be amazing!
It would take a home and home agreement to get an elite program here but I hope Brandon is a little more willing than our last AD.
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.
but I don't think we have the exposure problems where getting a national audience means as much as you make it out to be.
And Michigan needs to do more with it.
here's to 0-4 in 2011, =)
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...
Uhh...he's an Irish fan. It doesn't have to do with anything, he's just saying ND will win.
Michigan is 0-3 in night games vs. Notre Dame. A fourth loss in 2011 would make us 0-4.
It's cuter now that I've had to explain it.
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