September 24th, 2009 at 12:04 PM ^
Is there any chance you're Slightly FREAKING OUT?
EDIT: To watch the game, go to Buffalo Billiards in DuPont Circle (just to the right when you exit the Metro to the South). Michigan is in the back room, with some mediocre drink and food specials. Get there early enough to get a table near the speakers (11:20ish for a 12:00 game) as it can sometimes be hard to hear if you're relegated to the pool tables.
September 24th, 2009 at 12:15 PM ^
Depending upon where you are staying in DC, there are a number of places where the alumni club watches games.
Tommy Joe's in Bethesda also hosts the Michigan alumni club and features a slightly younger (and more Bethesda-y) crowd.
EDIT: I wasn't aware of the Michigan room at Buffalo Billiards that chally mentioned above, but I've watched a lot of sports there, and it is always a good time.
The Pourhouse/Top of the Hill are upstairs/downstairs bars in DC that historically have hosted the alumni group in DC (EDIT: But judging by bsb2002's comments below, it appears that they may no longer be an alumni group viewing location. Sad, if true.)
September 24th, 2009 at 12:18 PM ^
I will be in D.C. for the Sparty game, do you know if any of those places have the BTN? Thanks.
September 24th, 2009 at 12:20 PM ^
All of the Alumni Club locations will be playing every game, regardless of network. The Sparty game will definitely be on, and you'll need to get there early to get a seat. Alumni Club viewings of rivalry games are heavily attended in DC.
BTW, to clarify, you do not need to be a member of the Alumni Club to attend one of the games sponsored by the group.
September 24th, 2009 at 12:22 PM ^
Awesome. I appreciate the info!
September 24th, 2009 at 2:25 PM ^
Bailey's, in Arlington, also is a DC-Alumni Club viewing location, and probably second to Buffalo Billiards in the size of the crowd (usually 50-100 strong). And it is true that the Pour House is no longer an alumni club location.
September 24th, 2009 at 12:10 PM ^
buffalo billiards is the main dc gamewatch now. i think pour house was eliminated completely this year - at least as an official alumni club venue
September 24th, 2009 at 12:12 PM ^
ESPN.com suggests the game will be on ESPN2 and ESPN360 (i.e. the internet). You should be fine.
Having said that, can someone explain the ABC/ESPN/BTN relationship to me? I know that one of the three stations will carry every game, but how do I know which network it will be on (I believe it varies geographically, right?)?
September 24th, 2009 at 12:16 PM ^
ABC always has first pick. ESPN and the BTN switch off having the next pick in some fashion.
There are coverage maps that show where games will be shown on the networks. I can't find the ESPN2 coverage map for this week for some reason.
September 24th, 2009 at 12:24 PM ^
The game is on ESPN2, there is no coverage map b/c everyone will get it. Here is a good site that aggregates the entire college football schedule and will have all relevant coverage maps when they are available:
http://www.lsufootball.net/tvschedule.htm
September 24th, 2009 at 12:47 PM ^
I think the reason there is no coverage map for ESPN 2 is because Michigan vs. Indiana is the only 12pm game on that channel. So I would guess that it will be on ESPN 2 nation wide.
http://espn.go.com/college-football/schedule
September 24th, 2009 at 12:20 PM ^
From what I understand ABC/ESPN gets first pick and if it's on ABC it'll be simulcast on ESPN for everybody who doesn't get it on ABC (i.e. not a whole lot of UM games get on ABC in Texas so they'll be on ESPN if they are on ABC in Michigan). Past that I think ESPN gets the next pick and then it's ESPN2 vs BTN with alternating picks (although ESPN and ESPN2 might alternate with BTN).
The best part about all of this is that we Big Ten fans have a situation unique in all of college sports - every game is always televised nationally and is never on Pay Per View*
* You may need Dish, DirecTV or U-Verse if living in a non-Big 10 state but it's still a national channel (and one of the main reasons I went w/ DirecTV in the first place).
September 24th, 2009 at 1:23 PM ^
are not necessarily available nationwide w/o pay per vies. The TV rights belong to the home team and it and its conference don't have the same deal as the Big Ten (eg BTN does not have any rights to the game and the ABC regional/ESPN or ESPN2 guarantee does not apply). For example, the Ohio State - Toledo game was not available on regular cable or satellite here in DC last week, because Toledo was the home team. I think it might have been on ESPN plus and/or ESPN 360 if one wanted to pay or watch on computer.
September 24th, 2009 at 2:42 PM ^
Even more reason not to schedule any away games w/ schools that aren't always on TV! ;) (cough, UConn, cough)
September 24th, 2009 at 3:36 PM ^
is a conference night game that receives Regional coverage from ABC/ESPN. The "guarantee" only applies to day games.
September 24th, 2009 at 12:27 PM ^
1) If it is an ABC National game, then the whole country will get the game on ABC, like the recent ND game. (These are usually at noon EST, and sometimes at night at 8:00 PM EST.)
2) If it is an ABC Regional game, then the Midwest gets the game on ABC, and the rest of the country gets it on ESPN2. (These are usually at 3:30 EST.)
3) If it is not an ABC National/Regional game, then ABC Corp. will show it on ESPN. (These are usually at noon EST, and sometimes at night at 7:30 PM EST.)
4) If ABC does not pick the game, then the BTN gets to pick it. If it is the BTN's flagship game for that Saturday, it will be on the main BTN channel. If not, it will be on a BTN "overflow" channel.
September 24th, 2009 at 1:03 PM ^
Very helpful--thanks.
September 24th, 2009 at 12:21 PM ^
This new invention called a "TV Guide." Yeah, they actually have publications that tell you what is going to be on TV in your area! WOW!
Also, "TV Guides," or some fascimile of them, are vailable right there on any television you might be plopped in front of!
Also, there are these things called "Sports Bars" that have lots of TV's, and are tuned to many different games. You can check with the concierge at the five-star hotel you are staying at to find out about these "sports bars"--like where they are and stuff.
And when you get there, if the game you want is not on, but you are near a "TV"--you might just ask the "bartender" if he can change the channel to a game you want to watch!
If you need any other tips, such as how to tie your shoes or something, let me know.
September 24th, 2009 at 12:30 PM ^
necessary.
September 24th, 2009 at 12:52 PM ^
Not unnecessary when there are dozens of posts each week of people "FREAKING OUT" about the game not being on TV when they could just as easily look at either:
A. The UofM Football schedule: lists the channel
B. TVGuide.com - Search Local Listings
C. ESPN.com - TV Listings
D. Bigtennetwork.com - TV Listings or GameFinder
September 24th, 2009 at 1:20 PM ^
Buffalo Billiards is expensive.
If you want to watch the game, and spend less than 80 dollars on Corona, watch it at home.
ACC games only get a preference on rare occassion to BigTen, but this week is definitely UM-IU, usually ACC only blocks out Michigan, especially a ranked Michigan, if UMD is playing.
September 24th, 2009 at 2:00 PM ^
Until the recent regional trade-off with ESPN2 and the emergence of the BTN, DC frequently received some awful ACC "rivalry" game (usually featuring Clemson) while the rest of the country was watching The Game. Those were dark days.