The future has been created, today we find out: Open Thread

Submitted by Thorin on

The current rumor is Ohio game moved to October, MSU game moved to last Saturday in November thus destroying the MSU - Indiana protected rivalry. Other rumors include to hell with Notre Dame, and Michigan to the Big East (OK, I made that one up). What say you?

UPDATE: Kelvin Grady, en route to New Orleans, doesn't seem too bothered.

hvsiii

December 28th, 2011 at 9:12 AM ^

I think many people would be against Michigan and Ohio playing in back to back weeks.  This makes sense, not saying I like it but it does make sense. 

UMaD

December 28th, 2011 at 12:07 PM ^

People are very hung up about playing The Game in November, but it hardly matters anymore.  The big mistake was putting U-M and OSU in seperate divisions.  The damage is already done.

The game is more interesting without the potential of a rematch occuring a week later.  Moving MSU to the end, when it is more likely to be a winner-takes-all situation, makes sense.  The potential for a (defacto) division championship game to end the season is more dramatic and interesting than maintaining a diminished rivalry.

[And just to pre-empt anyone arguing that it hasn't been diminished - it has.  To what degree, you can argue, but it is a fact that a) it's in Michigan's interests for teams in the Leaders (including Ohio State) to beat teams in the Legends and b) the finality and potential whats-at-stake of the November OSU game is marginalized by a potentiall rematch.  The above will have a long-term effect.  Things wil never be the same, unless OSU and UM are in the same division.]

ijohnb

December 28th, 2011 at 12:57 PM ^

would not even be the same if they were in the same division.  You cannot go home again.  But really, at this point, do we want it to be the same.  The Michigan v. Ohio rivalry is strong enough that it will not diminish even if it changes in form.  In fact, at this point, I think it could actually benefit from it.  I know I am in the minority, but put it in October, put it at night.  Screw it, open up the season with it like Miami v. FSU did for a couple years.  The rivalry will survive change, it may only get stronger.

In reply to by ijohnb

UMaD

December 28th, 2011 at 3:35 PM ^

Just my opinion, but many (most?) years it seemed to be the functional Championship game for the conference, with at least one side having a conference title on the line.  You can't top that.  And the current situation, where a best case scenario results in a rematch, is indeed diminished.  It has diminished and it will continue to be diminished in the future as Michigan fans are forced to root for Ohio State to beat MSU, Nebraska, etc.  In-division games simply matter more unless the tie-breaking system is altered.

But besides that, I agree with your point.  Things have fundamentally changed, so there is no good reason to stick late November other than strict adherence to tradition, which seems silly in light of all the other changes going on.

In this case, change is good.

willywill9

December 28th, 2011 at 9:19 AM ^

New Mascot and/or pausing ND for 4 years... to battle with Georgia Tech for a 1 and 1.  The other two....fans decide!

Either that or Slippery Rock is playing a home game at the Big House.

The Barwis Effect

December 28th, 2011 at 10:15 AM ^

The final seat was reserved in honor of Fritz Crisler, not Yost....

According to a newspaper article quoting an Athletic Department staff member, "Fritz wanted to end up with a figure of 100,001, but he came up with a thousand seats too many. But he still got that 001 at the end." This began a tradition of ending all Michigan Stadium capacity numbers with the digit 1. The final seat was later said to be reserved in honor of Fritz Crisler.

http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/stadium/stadtext/stadexp.htm