StephenRKass

May 13th, 2014 at 10:49 AM ^

Regardless of what uberfans think, Michigan is regarded as a good football team, regularly in the top 25. There are only so many games weekly with top teams, and there are more TV networks looking for attractive teams than there are slots available. In the Big 10, I'm hard pressed to think that any team other than possibly Ohio that is so highly coveted for viewership. (PSU is down, and is much more tied to the state, where Michigan has tons of grads all over, especially in the Chicago market.)

When talking with Dave Brandon last year, I asked about having at least a few 12noon games. (I'm a pastor in the Chicago area, and a noon game allows me to be back home by 7 or 8pm Sat. night.) Brandon told me directly at the Chicago meet and greet earlier this year that it wasn't going to happen. Why? Well, students and many others like late starts. Night games and late afternoon games are where marquee games are slotted. Viewership for late and night games is significantly higher. I'm guessing that games between teams in the lower half of the Big 10 more typically are scheduled for 12 noon. Brandon said that with few exceptions, networks dictate start times (it's all about money and contracts,) and they will almost always want Michigan scheduled later.

Looking at the Indiana game on Nov. 1, that is already half a night game, as it will be dark by the 4th quarter. If a cloudy day, it will definitely be "under the lights." I loved game day mornings when a student, but with the exception of real stinker games, or Ohio or very late season games, I think 12 noon starts are largely a think of the past for Michigan. I'm hoping that maybe Utah or Minnesota are a noon start. However, the reality is that with my 8th grader playing ball, things will have to line up perfectly for me to catch even one game this year, as I will be at his games before I'll go to a Michigan game. (Northwestern in Evanston might be my best chance this season.)

Wolverine Devotee

May 13th, 2014 at 11:22 AM ^

The only games I see being at Noon are the opener, vs MU and The Game. 

1985 was the first time "TBA" began appearing on the tickets for the kickoff time. For the two biggest home game against notre dame and ohio. 

1999 was when they removed "Time: ____" from the tickets. 

Black Socks

May 13th, 2014 at 10:52 AM ^

Being on the west coast, I do not watch 3:30 games. They take up too much time. Now rolling out of bed for a 12:00 is great.

JayMo4

May 13th, 2014 at 10:55 AM ^

Unless we're playing a total cream puff, I'd rather see us play at 3:30 or in prime time.  The later time slot is more exposure for us.  The noon games are a good appetizer, anyway.  It's a bit of a bummer if there's a really great game on elsewhere at the same time, but that is always going to be true if we're in a good spot - sometimes it's even the case at 12.

Wolverine Devotee

May 13th, 2014 at 11:12 AM ^

The only Noon game other than ohio last year which is always at Noon, was the game against that creampuff akron.

Boy, that sure went well. What an easy cream puff. 

I'm so confused as to how any Michigan fan can use that word anymore. Has the trauma from 2007, 2008 and nearly 2013 losses wore off?

maize-blue

May 13th, 2014 at 12:19 PM ^

3:30pm is good. I'm estimating that by 4:30-5:00pm we'll be crushing those damned Hoosiers!!