2015 Schedule: The Western Front
I just realized that in 2015, our out-of-conference schedule is at Utah, then hosting Oregon State, UNLV, and BYU. The furthest east (and closest) team we will play is BYU, which is 1,639 miles from Ann Arbor.
http://www.fbschedules.com/ncaa-15/big-ten/2015-michigan-wolverines-football-schedule.php
Have we ever played such a strange nonconference schedule before?
August 26th, 2014 at 9:20 AM ^
I really like our 2015 schedule. Definitely like seeing Oregon State on the schedule, have always liked both Oregon teams for some reason. Also kinda cool seeing UNLV and BYU, yeah they're not your flashy powerhouse programs, but very solid. All those teams have been making frequent trips to bowl games the past few years. I'm excited.
August 26th, 2014 at 9:55 AM ^
Louis Elbel was prescient when he wrote, "Hail! Hail! To Michigan, the champions of the West!". Go Blue!
August 26th, 2014 at 10:02 AM ^
Only on MGoBlog will you see "prescient" dropped before 10AM.
August 26th, 2014 at 12:33 PM ^
That's quite perspicacious of you.
August 26th, 2014 at 12:56 PM ^
You're welcome for that.
August 26th, 2014 at 11:18 AM ^
Last year was the first time they had a winning record since 2000. Between 2000 and 2013 they had a losing record every year except 2003 when they went 6-6.
August 26th, 2014 at 12:02 PM ^
but they are part of an intriguing, and not overly threatening, non-conference schedule. This will be seen as an ideal non-conference schedule in the CF playoff era.
August 26th, 2014 at 9:22 AM ^
I agree. That schedule has the potential to be four bowl teams yet it isn't something we shouldn't be able to handle. I like that the visit to Utah is first so the team can focus and not get caught by surprise.
August 26th, 2014 at 10:47 AM ^
August 26th, 2014 at 3:02 PM ^
August 26th, 2014 at 3:20 PM ^
I would be surprised if they don't find a way to squeeze it into 8:30 or 9:00. ESPN will probably have a 7:00 SEC contest so maybe we'll end up on ESPN2 before that one ends.
August 26th, 2014 at 9:23 AM ^
August 26th, 2014 at 9:24 AM ^
but...shouldn't you be in CLASS or something????
August 26th, 2014 at 9:26 AM ^
August 26th, 2014 at 9:27 AM ^
Well...then read a book or something.
August 26th, 2014 at 9:50 AM ^
*While pointing a motherly finger
Leave the boy alone, GoWIngs2008, when you were a freshman in college you were lucky to be out of bed by 11am. Now, Wolverine Devotee, go comb your hair and don't forget your lunch.. it's on the counter.
August 26th, 2014 at 9:53 AM ^
I went to Air Force, so I was lucky to be IN bed at 6am as a freshman.... but, yeah I see what you're saying. Young-ins need their sleep....
August 26th, 2014 at 11:09 AM ^
...and brush your teeth.
August 26th, 2014 at 11:22 AM ^
I didn't go to any classes until after Labor Day.
August 26th, 2014 at 9:28 AM ^
as a freshman?
August 26th, 2014 at 10:08 AM ^
and appreciate that kind of schedule while it lasts.
August 26th, 2014 at 10:23 AM ^
"...when Mivhigan played..."
I guess they changed their name for a year. Maybe that was the equivalent of "uniformz" back in the day.
August 26th, 2014 at 9:26 AM ^
about our 2015 schedule, getting a good slate of OOC games and the favorable conference schedule, namely sparty and bucky at home. And Nuss' second year with the offense. And Jabrill starting all season at CB. And one more year of seasoning for the young OL. Feels like UM football is on the upswing for the next number of years, starting with a breakout season on our immediate horizon.
August 26th, 2014 at 9:30 AM ^
That first game of the 2015 Schedule against Utah is a Thursday game, when was the last time we opened the season on another day other than Saturday?
August 26th, 2014 at 9:35 AM ^
When?
August 26th, 2014 at 9:49 AM ^
I have no idea, I was asking?
August 26th, 2014 at 9:52 AM ^
I was just being a smart ass. I'm trying to look it up, but finding it difficult to find at the moment.
August 26th, 2014 at 9:49 AM ^
I have no idea, I was asking?
August 26th, 2014 at 11:15 AM ^
The first game in 1879 was against Racine on a Friday (in May by the way). Michigan won 1-0.
In 1880 we beat Toronto 13-6 on a Friday.
In 1881 we lost to Harvard on a Monday season opener.
August 26th, 2014 at 11:51 AM ^
August 26th, 2014 at 10:13 AM ^
...Michigan played at Minnesota on a Friday night in 2003.
August 26th, 2014 at 12:49 PM ^
August 26th, 2014 at 1:04 PM ^
Yes, played MN on a Friday night due to the WS.
August 26th, 2014 at 10:24 AM ^
Have we ever even played on a Thursday?
August 26th, 2014 at 11:49 AM ^
Going back a hundred years -- excluding bowl games -- it looks like the only times Michigan hasn't played on a Saturday were the two instances where the Minnesota game at the Metrodome was moved to Friday because it conflicted with the Twins' postseason (1991 World Series, 2003 ALDS).
August 26th, 2014 at 12:52 PM ^
August 26th, 2014 at 3:27 PM ^
You might have more time between game 1 and game 2, but aren't there limits on how much practice time players can have each week? Not sure how that works with a 'mid' week game though. Of course, the players can spend more time on their own looking at film, etc.
August 26th, 2014 at 9:30 AM ^
That first game of the 2015 Schedule against Utah is a Thursday game, when was the last time we opened the season on another day other than Saturday?
August 26th, 2014 at 9:33 AM ^
More like Dual Wolverine.
August 26th, 2014 at 9:40 AM ^
August 26th, 2014 at 11:27 AM ^
...Jerry!
August 26th, 2014 at 9:43 AM ^
It's a weird schedule that could vary wildly in its difficulty. All three of the relatively big programs have had some really good teams in the past decade. They have had some crummy ones too.
I absolutely love the Thursday night game. Morris in his first start. It will be tough.
UNLV will be a complete tomato can.
August 26th, 2014 at 9:54 AM ^
August 26th, 2014 at 10:31 AM ^
Oh yeah, forgot about that.
Might as well be his first start though. I expect that he'll be running a full playbook. Or at least I hope so.
August 26th, 2014 at 10:31 AM ^
Even in 2016, I don't think we play anyone particularly close by either - Hawaii, UCF and Colorado to town that year. What I do rather like about how the OOC schedules are shaping up in the future is that the quality does seem to be trending upward a bit, at least based on what is available in the way of future schedules to day. To me, the slide into a three-game OOC slate should compel schools in the conference to consider who they put on the schedule a little more carefully.
August 26th, 2014 at 10:33 AM ^
ND dropping us opened up a world of possibilities. I still wish that we could play them once every two years, but all of those open dates have given us the opportunity for some interesting OOC games.
August 26th, 2014 at 10:57 AM ^
Va Tech and Washington in the same years is very encouraging. I hope we can somehow do the same in the Arkansas years, a road game in 2018 and home in 2019. An ACC team would be nice. I really want a road game at Pittsburgh, the closest real non-conf team to Ann Arbor and even closer to my home in Cleveland. Pitt has Penn State in that arrangement (in Pittsburgh in 2018, at Penn State in 2019) so that probably won't happen. I see they're hosting Delaware to start 2019, so they must not mind the helmets.
August 26th, 2014 at 11:00 AM ^
Every other year I agree would be good, but I could see AD's taking the Saban approach and requiring a neutral site. I could go for Lambeau...
August 26th, 2014 at 10:54 AM ^
August 26th, 2014 at 11:22 AM ^
other than ND or Bama once, have you seen our OOC schedule over the last several years? 2015 is an across the board improvement that has no cupcakes. Enthused or not, this is a solid schedule.