Tater

July 28th, 2015 at 3:06 PM ^

Nobody wins a National Championship without playing a tomato can or two.  If you play four tough games before conference play, there really isn't much to gain.  You are at increased risk for injuries, you don't get to develop depth and the fatigue factor can kick in later in the season.  

Michigan could easily be 2-2 this year going into conference play.  If they played all tomato cans, they would be a guaranteed 4-0.  While the media preach "competition," if two teams are equal but one has two more losses because of their schedule, they will rank the team with fewer losses higher.

Until the playoffs are champions only, there is no reason to play four tough non-conference games.  I would settle for a mix of one big game, one good game and two tomato cans every year.

James Burrill Angell

July 28th, 2015 at 2:29 PM ^

Army is one of only five teams Michigan has a losing record to so it might be nice to scratch one of those teams off the list. 

http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/042109aaa.html 

Technically we can take another off the list when we play Utah. If we win we go to even with them.

Yeah we should probably beat them silly but I grew up going to Army games at Michie Stadium. Excited to see the Cadets come up to the Big House.

 

Papa Perk

July 28th, 2015 at 2:02 PM ^

Already have a tough game (@ Arkansas) scheduled for that season. If there's going to be a cupcake on the schedule, it might as well be one that we haven't played in a long time and a team that has some tradition. This is far superior to knocking Tennessee-Chattanooga around.

Wolverine Devotee

July 28th, 2015 at 2:02 PM ^

Michigan opens that season on 8/31 at Arkansas.

This will be a chance to even the series record as Michigan is 4-5 against Army. They last played way back in 1962, with Michigan winning 17-7.

Army goes by "Army West Point" now.

No, seriously.

Hagen

July 28th, 2015 at 2:36 PM ^

I'm with ya.  I'd much rather play the US Military Academies than play Eastern Michigan and the likes.  It's cool to have those who will be putting their lives on the line for our own safety be able to play at historic stadiums, including their own, Munchie.  

WolverineHistorian

July 28th, 2015 at 2:47 PM ^

Agree. I'll take Army, Air Force and Navy over the MAC schools or 1-AA schools any time. Navy was a pretty common opponent during the Schembechler years.

It's also the only time you'll hear the big house crowd cheer for the opponent. During pregame of the Air Force game a couple years ago, it was weird to hear the cheers but at the same time, it made sense. You're not going to boo the Air Force.

lilpenny1316

July 28th, 2015 at 2:04 PM ^

And they need an easy opponent after the Arkansas game.  But they have to reward the home folks with a good opponent for their third non-conference game.

South Bend Wolverine

July 28th, 2015 at 2:16 PM ^

Not really understanding the disappointment with this scheduling move.  Army is a historic team with a lot of tradition, a team that it's easy to respect, and a team that - well, if Harbaugh doesn't have us easily beating teams of Army's caliber by 2019, things will have gone badly wrong.  Every team has one or two easier opponents on the non-conference schedule, and this is about as good of one as you can ask for.

BlueVball8

July 28th, 2015 at 2:18 PM ^

At least we're not playing Directional MU. Army pretty consistently goes to bowl games and has name recognition compared to Directional State University. I wouldn't mind a power 5 game or two and then home games against teams like Tulsa, Army, Navy, Houstan, UCONN, Temple type programs. Solid teams that would compete at the bottom of the B1G but are beatable.

Blue_sophie

July 28th, 2015 at 2:35 PM ^

I think we can all agree that this one will probably be a cupcake.

And I see the need for having a cupcake or 2 on the schedule.

If we need a cupcake, it may as well be a team with great historical significance; plus, the service academies are fantastic and unique institutions. 

Compared to some of the other cupcakes we have scheduled I think this game will be fun. Army may not move the needle for the selection committee, but I bet they have a good marching band. 

Still, it's too bad we couldn't schedule Navy.