Brandon: Game times and Night Games

Submitted by NeilGoBlue on

http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/brandon/spec-rel/120211aaa.html

 

A blog by Brandon detailing who picks the game times, etc. 

 

Here is the most important quote: (My underlning)

 

Though our media partners have all the power in determining our kickoff times, the schools are allowed some autonomy when it comes to night games and which days of the week the game is played. The conference office and/or the network would have to ask us for permission if they felt a game would be better suited for its needs to be played at night or on another day.

If asked, the answer will be that Michigan regular-season home football games will always be played on Saturday and a night game will only be scheduled if it is a "special game" with significant fan interest. We are not going to schedule a home night game just to play a night game.

In addition, we have no plans to move Michigan State or Ohio State to a night game in Michigan Stadium.

 

MnB in Nashvegas

December 2nd, 2011 at 2:33 PM ^

Brandon says that only special games with significant fan interest will be scheduled at night. If Ohio and MSU does not meet those qualifications, what game will? I guess we can expect our next night game in two years when the Domers come to town?

Alton

December 2nd, 2011 at 2:47 PM ^

Even if they did allow it, it just makes sense not to play the OSU game at night.  Nobody wants a game where kickoff is 3 hours after sunset.  Tailgating in the cold & dark would not improve the atmosphere.  OSU at 3:30 is a different story, and would be just fine if the networks want it.

jmblue

December 2nd, 2011 at 4:25 PM ^

Brandon says that only special games with significant fan interest will be scheduled at night. If Ohio and MSU does not meet those qualifications, what game will?

The issue is not that those games lack fan interest, but that fans of those schools are drunken louts who can't handle a night kickoff.

Jskohl88

December 2nd, 2011 at 2:38 PM ^

What qualifies as "special?" Law school would certainly teach that "special" is a completely arbitrary term. So is it actually DB who decides what is "special?" Special could mean many different things to many different people. 

The game against Air Force could be "special" for some of the military community. The Horror 2 could be "special" for those of us that were there (AAARRGGHHH) who seek redemption. Not sure how I feel about this standard. 

Or maybe it's just a slow day and I'm really bored and feeling nitpicky. Ya, that's it

Le_Blue

December 2nd, 2011 at 2:39 PM ^

Is it just going to be Notre Dame every year we play them at home? I dont know how I feel about it.  I mean obviously we went how many years without a night game but still itd be nice to have them more often instead of just having those new lights sitting up there collecting dust.

JeepinBen

December 2nd, 2011 at 3:18 PM ^

That have already been planned on and used for 2 events (Big Chill, ND). I didn't make every home game this year, but the lights were on at OSU as well despite the noon kick (weather). If we had any other cloudy games (or 3:30 games later in the year) the lights would be on then as well.

I don't know what the giant light trucks cost when we used to bring them in (PSU 2005 comes to mind, 3:30 game late in the year, finished under the lights), but I think the lights have probably come close to paying for themselves, or will soon.

State Street

December 2nd, 2011 at 2:45 PM ^

Because Brandon has said he does not plan to schedule any more home and homes, we can only assume our nonconference schedule will be full of cupcakes going forward.

If that's the case, the ONLY possible night game could only possibly be ND, if OSU and MSU are out of the question.  Unless, of course, he decides he wants a B1G game at night, which could get chilly.

These policies aren't lining up for any exciting night game opponents in the future.

funkywolve

December 2nd, 2011 at 3:26 PM ^

I'm assuming ND will probably be a night game most years.  When ND is away, once PSU and/or Wisky hops back on the schedule that could serve as a night game if it's not to late in the year.

Let's face it - next year's home schedule is poop.  If Iowa or Illinois were projected to be pretty good, that might make sense but I kinda of like the idea that we're not going to do a night game just to do a night game. 

maizenbluedevil

December 2nd, 2011 at 8:50 PM ^

I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Iowa be a night game next year.

Our games against them the past 3 years have all been close nail-biters to a certain degree, although unfortunately we've lost all 3.

So we schedule them at night next year, and get our revenge under the lights.  Could be fun.  (Just as long as we wear our regular home jerseys.  No special ones please.)

Rabbit21

December 2nd, 2011 at 2:55 PM ^

This is incredibly disappointing as night games could be really fun and I'd hate for Notre Dame to be the only qualifying game, what's wrong with having a night game to have a night game?
<br>
<br>That said it would be nice if OSU and MSU fans had the ability to control themselves.

Needs

December 2nd, 2011 at 6:05 PM ^

Just a guess, but Tiger Stadium is flanked on one side by parking lots and open fields, and on the other by campus. There's little residential near the stadium and lots of open space for tailgating/parking. Our parking situation is 1/3 residential, 1/3 poorly lit golf course, 1/3 university surface parking. I'm sure that getting all the cars out of there in the dark requires substantial effort on the part of the AAPD, and the university and the city are already in a snit about the overtime required during gamedays. Our stadium's just not as well set up for night games as others.

LSAClassOf2000

December 2nd, 2011 at 6:08 PM ^

The parking situation around Michigan Stadium compared to other venues is, to say the least, haphazard, traffic control has always been a point of contention between the school and the city, and in any event, there might be sofas and coolers sitting around in west and south side neighborhoods that may tempt certain fanbases.