Petition for MSU night game next season

Submitted by TXWolverine44 on

Saw this petition getting kicked around on the interwebs and thought I'd post to see what the board thinks. Personally, as awesome as the night game was against Notre Dame, I don't really want an entire day for sparty juggaloes to get drunk and destroy our beautiful campus. Thoughts?

 

Link:

 

https://www.msa.umich.edu/upetition/p/msu-night-game/

M-Wolverine

February 15th, 2012 at 10:35 PM ^

Priorities man, priorities.

When did young people start needing so much sleep? I think I spent all of October and November my sophomore year up past 4 am. And I had classes earlier than kickoff. Y'all are getting soft.

rbgoblue

February 15th, 2012 at 12:17 PM ^

I don't believe there is any guarantee that the Nebraska game will always take place in November.  In fact, I would be in favor of moving it up in the schedule, especially in years where we take road trips to both Lincoln and Colombus.

M-Wolverine

February 15th, 2012 at 4:07 PM ^

With annual back to back finishes of Nebraska and OSU.  Particularly on years where they're both on the road. Not liking that concept so much. (Though it didn't work out too bady this last year).

Skapanza

February 15th, 2012 at 12:08 PM ^

Night games vs. PAC teams is a smart move, increases ratings as people are able to tune in from the West Coast. Musch smarter than giving Sparties a whole day to work themselves into a drunken frenzy. If the most recent home game vs MSU is any indication, we need to keep them where we can see them, with the lights on.

ScruffyTheJanitor

February 15th, 2012 at 12:00 PM ^

If we are going to play OSU at noon for the rest of eternity, and only get ND every other year, why not add a couple of games to the night slate? MSU would be the best candidate. Next in line would be Wisconsin and Nebraska-- I would love these games under the lights.  I mean, its not like people are going to demand a night game for the UMass rematch or the crummy directional Michigan schools. 

sarto1g

February 15th, 2012 at 12:09 PM ^

DB essentially said a night game would never happen vs MSU because of crowd control and public safety.  That said, I wouldn't mind seeing Wisconsin, Nebraska, or Iowa over the next few years

rbgoblue

February 15th, 2012 at 12:19 PM ^

Agree.  Since MSU and Ohio are out for the obvious reasons, I don't think we should limit the discussion to "rivals only" - which means we will only have night games against ND.  In the past few years, Penn State, Iowa, and Northwestern have scheduled us for night games.  I wouldn't be against returning the favor against any of them.

lhglrkwg

February 15th, 2012 at 12:17 PM ^

I don't think anyone could stand it if there were 5-10 thousand Sparty brahs walking around campus after having a 12ish hours to get wasted before the game. It sounds like a terrible idea.

MSU is the fanbase I'd least like to have in town for a night game

cozy200

February 15th, 2012 at 2:39 PM ^

Bro i would definitely like to see the situation there at night bro.. Im 99% certain that bro is as gay as the day is long bro.  I would definitely have him at the tailgate, get him super wasted bro, then film him blowing guys in the porta potty bro.  Carson Daly maybe?  All good bro!  Bring on their bro's bro.

ChiCityWolverine

February 15th, 2012 at 12:42 PM ^

I don't understand the anti-night game crowd. It would be a great atmosphere and a spotlight night for the program. Recruits are still talking about the ND game and the energy of the crowd. Hoke might prefer noon games, but they don't move the needle the same way. I just don't see the downside of playing Sparty under the lights. Hoke has ended quite a few streaks already and done things we haven't done in years. This should be the year we return to form against State, and this game is probably the most important one to get to Indy and finally return to the top of the conference.

sarto1g

February 15th, 2012 at 1:06 PM ^

The game itself against State under the lights would be great.  But whatever the outcome, there seems to be more bad blood between Sparty and UM fans which, given a whole day to drink, puts a lot of pressure on the police force and the city itself to maintain peace between both fanbases.  I am not saying ND fans aren't passionate, but it's a different kind of passion when it comes to MSU-UM.  

ChiCityWolverine

February 15th, 2012 at 1:42 PM ^

it's not like rival SEC fanbases are very polite with each other, yet they play at night all the time. I bet our new friend RDT would back me up on that. I can see that I'm outnumbered on this in these parts, but I still don't understand why Sparty fans will be so much more bearable at 3:30 than 7 or 8. Doesn't seem worth skipping a night game next year to me.

CRISPed in the DIAG

February 15th, 2012 at 2:48 PM ^

This.  Right here.  There's no way the AAPD or DPS can cope with the shitstorm STAEE and Ohio fans bring to town for night game.  

Based on my impressions, Nebraska fans carried themselves as well as any opposing fans I've ever seen in AA this past year.  I suspect PAC fans would be ok - I remember UCLA fans as tolerable in '96.

RBWolverine

February 15th, 2012 at 12:52 PM ^

I like the idea for the game itself.  It's going to be a huge game next year, could basically determine the Big Ten champion, and would be an amazing environment under the lights.

The problem, as has been said above, is that Ann Arbor might not survive an all day into the night visit from drunken STAEE fans.  It would be a disaster, with tons of property damage, drunk driving, and fighting.  Horrible idea.  Have the game at noon or 3:30 and get them the hell out of Ann Arbor asap.

magnus_caerulus (not verified)

February 15th, 2012 at 1:20 PM ^

Were you there, weren't ya watching?  2004 had pretty much a full half of football under the lights -- with tears of Sparty fallen! 

LIZARD4141

February 15th, 2012 at 1:30 PM ^

A night game against Sparty would be awesome.  Anyone that is worried about it being to cold is a pussy.  I bet Hoke would still wear a short sleeved shirt.

DrewGOBLUE

February 15th, 2012 at 1:48 PM ^

I love how the MSU/Ohio fans are essentially being described as a bunch of wild dogs that when get let lose, upheavel ensues. It's very true though and these folks need to be kept in check. No night game for them. 

Section 1

February 15th, 2012 at 2:02 PM ^

And if anyone has any good ideas on how to sabotage and/or otherwise undermine this petition/campaign, I'd like to hear them.

ChiCityWolverine

February 15th, 2012 at 2:12 PM ^

Looks like we'll have maybe one night game from 2012 to 2014. Brandon continues to disappoint recently. His resistance to a 4-team playoff, night games, and scheduling home-and-homes is irritating. As interesting as the one-off in Dallas will be, our 2013-2016 schedules up until the Pac-12 relationship begins in 2017 are probably going to be very bland. I hope we don't just play unranked ND teams at night every two years. That is exactly what night games should not be used for.

sarto1g

February 15th, 2012 at 4:01 PM ^

I don't see how you can be disappointed in his resistance to night games when he was responsible for scheduling one up in the first place.  He just wants the night games to be special.  Brandon is not the only AD in the country, either, who schedules neutral site games (LSU-Oregon last year).  

StephenRKass

February 15th, 2012 at 3:31 PM ^

I don't care what time of day the game is scheduled. I'll watch it no matter when.

My preference for MSU is a day game, but my preference isn't strong enough that I would sign a petition against a night game.

There is one thing being forgotten . . . Michigan plays in numerous night games, they just aren't all in Ann Arbor. This year, ND, Northwestern, and the Sugar Bowl were all at night, and Illinois could half be called a night game. In past years, Michigan has played at ND at night, as well as Penn State.

I still track with a night game being kind of special. More than that, I'd like to hear the opinion of anyone in public safety or law enforcement regarding a night game against Ohio or Michigan State. Just a bad idea. The violence, fueled and exacerbated by alcohol excess, isn't worth it.

 

Tater

February 15th, 2012 at 3:55 PM ^

The darkness and the sheer amount of partying time would practially be begging Sparty "fans" to engage in various felonies, misdemeanors, and acts of thuggery.  The fire department doesn't have enough extra people for all of the furniture burning that would take place.  

No X 1,000.

MSHOT92

February 15th, 2012 at 4:40 PM ^

not a chance in the world...Nebraska? sure...those folks were great, awesome fans, Iowa sure, MSU OR ohio....NOO WAY IN HELL would I consider that reasonable or possible...the fan base that comes with it...I don't trust in daylight hours half the time...and no that doesn't speak for all of them but one bad apple...yeah well. Doubt weather would be a major deciding factor, we've sat through day games that were bitter cold/damp/both...Purdue a few years back with sideways sleet and rain brings back some rough memories...ND last year was just absolutely perfect. Weather, rivalry, fan base, excitement. It was the perfect storm capped by the perfect finish.

ChopBlock

February 15th, 2012 at 10:04 PM ^

You should really go easy on the ellipses; this is not MGoSteamofConciousness here.

I think the problem next year is that we really don't have any games to choose from if we don't make the STAEE game a UTL affair. Air Force at night? That's not exactly awe-inspiring. So MSU might be a bad choice, but I'm not sure there's a better one if Brandon is committed to playing a UTL game in 2012

Perkis-Size Me

February 15th, 2012 at 5:41 PM ^

As amazing as a night game atmosphere against State or Ohio would be, its definitely not the best idea, and Brandon will never let it happen. Ohio's for obvious reasons, in November, but I feel like the campus would be absolutely trashed after a full day and night of drinking and fighting between UM and MSU fans. I do support Brandon's decision on that one.

However, I hope Brandon is smart enough to not only schedule Notre Dame for night games. Nebraska would be great, maybe Iowa (if they're good that year), Wisconsin, and USC/Stanford/Oregon when we start playing the PAC-12.

Maybe throw in an SEC home-and-home in there somewhere. Just saying.....

StephenRKass

February 15th, 2012 at 5:48 PM ^

I'd do a night game vs. ND, and Iowa, and Nebraska, and Penn State, and also against the Pac 10 teams. I'm not as sure about Wisconsin . . . I know they put away their beer. I'm also not sure I'd do a night game vs. Illinois. They really don't like Michigan, even if they're not rivals on the same level as Ohio or MSU. Oh, and until we convincingly win against MSU, for say, 10 years, can we put away the "MSU isn't a rival" meme? I don't like them, and they're not on the same level as Ohio, but the fact they've beat us four years in a row certainly makes them a rival.

Ben from SF

February 15th, 2012 at 6:02 PM ^

Seriously, the MSU game should be played annually in Ford Field.  We don't want EL-types in AA wreaking havoc, and we can't get a fair shake when we play in EL.  There are plenty of empty houses MSU fans can burn in Detroit.

ND and the PAC-12 team should be night games, and that's it.

BlueHills

February 15th, 2012 at 9:13 PM ^

I don't see it really being about the rowdy fan issue.

A night game at Michigan is going to get a lot of coverage and national TV attention. It's an edge for recruiting. When kids see a game like that, they get fired up to go Blue.

I don't think Dave Brandon will EVER share that spotlight with our in-state rival.He'd never even consider it. There's no upside, and plenty of downside.