2012 Non Conference Schedule
I don't remember where I saw this, but it was to the fact that UM was working on still another big time opponent to fill one of the empty slots in the non-conference schedule for 2012 at home. Does anyone remember seeing this or have any further insight?
November 19th, 2010 at 11:21 AM ^
We're already playing Alabama and Notre [L]ame, doesn't that grant us a "One-Free Cupcake" coupon?
November 19th, 2010 at 11:23 AM ^
What if @ND gets replaced with a home game against a decent opponent.
November 19th, 2010 at 11:37 AM ^
with ND for the next few years so I dont think we can just replace them
November 19th, 2010 at 11:52 AM ^
Technically, there's no contract in place between Michigan and Notre Dame so we COULD take some time off from the series, however Dave Brandon said on WTKA that the Notre Dame game in 2012 was a definite.
November 19th, 2010 at 12:08 PM ^
Would you be surprised, though, if he came out and said that ND and Michigan agreed to take a 1 or 3 year hiatus? (I have the odd number so that ND would be on the opposite home/away schedule as OSU and Nebraska.)
November 19th, 2010 at 6:33 PM ^
Of course not, in fact I expect it. Just not in 2012.
November 19th, 2010 at 11:22 AM ^
Alabama, ND, Nebraska, and tOSU?
Non-conference snacky cake plz
November 19th, 2010 at 11:23 AM ^
a road game in Hawai'i?
November 19th, 2010 at 11:26 AM ^
Now that's a hell of a road trip.
November 19th, 2010 at 11:28 AM ^
would be fuuuuun in the suuun.
November 19th, 2010 at 11:25 AM ^
Well right now there are still 2 non conference openings.
November 19th, 2010 at 11:30 AM ^
filled with D-1AA and MAC opponent to counter act the Bama and ND non-conference games.
November 19th, 2010 at 11:45 AM ^
None of this highly ranked I-AA team nonsense.
November 19th, 2010 at 12:00 PM ^
comes out of playing against a highly ranked I-AA teams. Highly ranked I-AA teams are better than bottom feeder I-A teams, and can compete with most I-A teams. See the HORROR in '07, James Madison this season for example.
November 19th, 2010 at 1:54 PM ^
Not sure I'd include JMU (5-5 this year, unranked) as a highly-ranked FCS team, but point taken.
IMO, JMU (6-5 in 2009) upsetting #13 VT in Blacksburg trumps the two-time defending FCS national champion beating #5 U-M at the Big House.
November 19th, 2010 at 2:58 PM ^
How about no I-AA teams, period? UMass is not that highly ranked, but they gave us a game. There's just no upside to playing those games.
November 19th, 2010 at 11:26 AM ^
Crush Wisconsin!
November 19th, 2010 at 3:05 PM ^
the rest of the schedule is not filled out this week. This week being HARD EDGE week and all, the opponents would probably be the Patriots and the Steelers just to make sure the week stays HARD EDGE enough.
November 19th, 2010 at 11:26 AM ^
"Gotta beat the best to be the best. Wait, we have Alabama on the schedule? That would qualify as the 'the best' right? Oh, shit that is tough. Uhhh, lets give Baby Seal U a call again."
November 19th, 2010 at 11:27 AM ^
I would love to kick there ass. Plus we could say we beat O$u, Bama, U$c, Neb and ND in the same season.
November 19th, 2010 at 11:52 AM ^
Jay, you've got 99 problems but reasoning ain't one.
November 19th, 2010 at 11:56 AM ^
Whats wrong with wanting to play and beat sc?
November 19th, 2010 at 12:01 PM ^
Already playing:
@ ND
@ Nebraska
@ Ohio State
Alabama at a neutral site, but I would bet there will be a majority Bama contingent
I want to shoot for the stars and play a monster OOC opponent each year, too, but adding SC to that slate is just plain suicidal.
November 19th, 2010 at 12:08 PM ^
I would agree that it would be suicide, but Usc will be down by then. Look how much they have fallin this year. With 2 years of less recruits they could be a cupcake, but still a big name.
November 19th, 2010 at 11:35 AM ^
I haven't heard what the outcome is yet but DB did say they were working on another "interesting" matchup. Plus UN on the schedule, noone can question the W-L record with a schedule like that.
November 19th, 2010 at 11:40 AM ^
Yeah, that's what I was referring to. Not that anything is set in stone, but I thought I remember someone saying that the 2 openings remaining in 2012 won't necessarily be filled both by cupcakes.
November 19th, 2010 at 11:54 AM ^
Considering the already hellish schedule, my definition of interesting would be watching us kick the tar out of a podunk school by 72 points.
November 19th, 2010 at 11:49 AM ^
I wouldn't mind the team scheduling another UConn-type team - from a BCS conference but not an elite program. Like, I'm sure it would not ever happen, but maybe a team from the ACC like Virginia or a team from the BE like Rutgers. A good program, but still not a soul-crusher. Then the tastiest of snackcakes for the other game.
November 19th, 2010 at 11:57 AM ^
Anyone know what ever happened to FAU being on the schedule? There was a report a long time ago that the deal was almost done for a game in 2012 and then nothing has come out since.
November 19th, 2010 at 12:08 PM ^
I say, Bring It On. Enough of these cupcake games that cause us to increase our expectations to insurmountable levels. Let's see what we've really got at the start of the season against a couple of top-10 opponents.
November 19th, 2010 at 12:12 PM ^
Lets see what we really have as a team.
November 19th, 2010 at 3:01 PM ^
Enough with the macho crap. Every team needs breathers in the schedule. You know what would happen if we were to play four tough, physical games out of conference? We'd enter conference play physically beaten up and emotionally drained.
November 19th, 2010 at 3:54 PM ^
Don't be a pussy. There will be plenty of bottom dweller big10 teams to feast on, plus a bye week here or there.
November 19th, 2010 at 12:15 PM ^
and you would probably be the first to start complaining about a poor W/L record
November 19th, 2010 at 12:24 PM ^
I think Michigan will be the best team whoever they play against in 2012. We are improving each year. By 2012 are offense will be even better and our defense should be above average. Please don't neg me because I have a negative point total. I'm all in for RR and Michigan Football.
November 19th, 2010 at 12:44 PM ^
because you say outlandish things and you replace "S" with "$" in OSU and USC, not because you have negative points.
November 19th, 2010 at 1:10 PM ^
With all the flack we pile on OSU, I've always wondered why this board is against the O$U sign. Care to enlighten me?
November 19th, 2010 at 4:16 PM ^
Because it doesn't make any sense. Woooooooo I h8 tO%U and U^C!!!!?!!
November 19th, 2010 at 12:52 PM ^
I did not give you a negative vote for this...but your grammar may be affecting your point total.
For example, it should be written as "our offense" instead of "are offense." And earlier you wrote, "there ass" instead of "their ass."
November 19th, 2010 at 12:58 PM ^
I know my grammar is poor.
/s
November 19th, 2010 at 12:17 PM ^
a couple top 10 teams would consist of @ Nebraska, @ OSU, neutral vs Bama. Not to mention we play MSU, Iowa at home. I would rather not play 3 top 10 and 6 top 25 teams in on season. 5 top 25 teams is enough, not to mention we will have to play the B10 championship game if we get that far. So potentially, if we schedule another OOC top 25 team, we could play 7 ranked opponents in one year, including 3 in the top 10 on the road or at a neutral site. No thank you, give me western kentucky and eastern michigan please.
November 19th, 2010 at 12:44 PM ^
My view is that a top-10 OOC schedule will elevate our big-10 play. I would much rather lose the OOC games if it meant we would be more competitive during big-10 play and especially during the later part of the season. There is no upside to scheduling cupcakes. If you win, then it was expected. If you don't win by 50, then people grumble. If you lose, then people write off your season. If we can show that we are competitive against the powerhouses early in the season, even if we lose, it will build confidence in our players and coaches at a crucial point in the season, and earn the respect of the media, recruits, analysts, and those who actually have a non-superficial view of football.
November 19th, 2010 at 12:50 PM ^
You also have to keep in mind that the goal every year is the Rose Bowl and Big Ten Championship. If our OOC schedule prepares us for that then it has done its job.
November 19th, 2010 at 3:34 PM ^
I see your point, but with a veteran group in 2012, I would love to have a shot at a national title. Lose 1 of these games and you are ok, but lose 2 and you are out of the picture. playing 5 top 25 opponents is enough to jack up your strength of schedule (especially with the road games and an additional road game @ ND who i am not counting in the top 25. Look at BSU, they play cupcakes all year and 2 top 25 opponents and they are #3 in the nation. Granted, they won't be playing for a Nat'l barring a miracle. Play 5 top 25 teams with a 6th in the B10 Championship game and you are almost guaranteed a spot in the Nat'l title with a B10 title win and 1 loss throughout the regular season. Another top 25 team does nothing for you if you lose, other than hurt you. Schedule a cuppy cake and get an additional easy win. Also, think about INJURIES that come from playing good physical teams. We could use a cuppy cake or 2 with the brutal schedule we have to REST.
November 19th, 2010 at 4:01 PM ^
I see your point too. The probability of us playing in the MNC game any year is very small, though. I'd rather the team just focus on getting better in big10 play first, and good way to do that is scheduling marquee OOC games. That kind of competition will make everyone work harder--players, coaches, recruiting, etc. and it will build confidence in young players.
There's so much parity nowadays in college football that a supposed "cupcake" may be more competitive than you expect. there's very little upside to scheduling them.
November 19th, 2010 at 7:24 PM ^
EMU? That's all I've got haha. PLZ no more competitive FCS schools.
November 19th, 2010 at 12:13 PM ^
I would love for Michigan to Boise State or TCU in their place. In 2012 they will have the skills to easily do it.
November 19th, 2010 at 12:18 PM ^
a few weeks ago when the Bama Game was made official that a source of his said that one of the home game non-conference opponents willl really surprise people, that it will NOT be a cupcake at all. didn't get specific with the type of team this could be, but i'm thinking it will be a UCONN type, perhaps a UTAH type from a few years ago, that sort of thing.
so that would make Bama in Dallas, @ND, Decent team like UCONN at HOme, and then Cupcake at home as our Nonconf. Then we'd head to @NEB, @OSU plus MSU and Iowa at home, amongst others......
it'll be interesting, wonder when we'll hear about it.....
November 19th, 2010 at 12:43 PM ^
November 19th, 2010 at 1:53 PM ^
I thought I remembered there being talks about adding BYU to the schedule?