Stadium Opener Opponent
How much have you had to drink today?
Love the enthusiasm, hate the idea. Anything that takes away from the last game of the year, as in The Game, is a detriment to UM, OSU, and the Big 10.
I'd see an argument for playing Minnesota as a non-conference opponent that first game. They are off the schedule that year, Brown Jug, traditional matchup that goes back to the beginning of the Big House. Less of an argument for N'Western. Much less for playing a Big 10 team twice the same year.
..although I'm pretty sure they wouldn't want to open at Michigan, then home to USC.
While it wouldn't be the greatest game I wouldn't mind seeing them play Army for all the troops have done for the country. This would give the academy a nice payday and have a salute at halftime for all the work our soldiers have put in during these trying times. There could also be donation locations throughout for those injured or who died in war and their families.
For recruiting purposes I would love to see them play either The U or FSU, but don't see it happening.
But I'd rather see that game played at Yankee Stadium, which is where I think the two teams suited up last.
I'm going to my first Army/Navy game next year, and always get excited about the military school rivalries (though not to the degree of The Game, obviously). However, I think Michigan can come up with something a little more special given our own Big Ten traditions then to go the military route. Not to say it wouldn't be a cool game, maybe even a solid new tradition.
As for my preference, I'd like to see a Pac10 team. Maybe Stanford, Cal, ASU (the return of Threet)?
TENNESSEE
if this post is too serious, but I think the idea is interesting. Is it even legal to play a team twice in the same year. Obviously bowl games and conference championships are different, but is it legal to play a team twice in the same regular season?
Ummm. Yeah. Wow. Great idea. Now I need to somehow regain those two IQ points I just lost.
With our typical brand of non-conference foes, I will be happy with any BCS team that has, for at least the past two years, made a regular appearance in the polls.
Scheduling west virginia would sell a lot of tickets and get a ton of people to watch. Now that would that be a heated game...
Buuut it will never happen.
Any match-up will sell a lot of tickets. I'd like to have the ND game moved to the opener.
Are you the Marc from Novi who practically lives in the WTKA studio? If so - how do you stay so dedicated calling in every day like that?
ND as the opener would work, except we are scheduled to play AT ND in 2010.
....they've already got Coastal Carolina lined up for an opener, and they play at LSU.....
Minus points
What's more Important Winning the game versus the likes of CMU or EMU or some D II school or a great game versus a WVU Tenn Miami(FL) or Minn for the jug?
(somewhere around 6-6), in RR's first two seasons here, a win in the first game of 2010 is much more important to the program than any sentimental game.
Under different circumstances (like well into Bo or Carr's career), then yeah, bring on a special opponent. But now, no.
+1 i can't argue with this especially with our recent history of loosing the opener.
coach that will go down with the other all-time greats at Michigan. But after last season, he needs wins to get that full chance. I am sure Martin appreciates the situation, thus the UMass and BG games.
However, I do sympathize with the students who have a narrow window of seasons at UM, and wanting to see a Washington, UCLA or a Florida State while their as students. But hey, unlike me, they get to see Penn State just about every other year.
NEVER! The team that wins is supposed to have bragging rights for 364 days
Post is 100% serious, what better way to remember the opening of "new" Michigan Stadium. 40 years from now you wont remember at 18th ranked Tennessee team, or a 21st ranked Cal team. But you would say, "Wow, remember when we played Ohio State that 1 time in September, the only time ever in the 150 year history of Michigan football.
I feel that the game should be played against a good non-conference team. Playing Ohio State on the first weekend of the year diminishes the significance, has way less implications, and is just not how the game is. Playing them twice is worse than that. Besides, we're just done finishing a renovation, and Minnesota is opening their new stadium with Air Force. Changing the dynamic of the Michigan-OSU game even for one year is just silly. Especially if it is just for a renovation.
I doubt Tennessee would schedule an away game at a BCS program before a game (at home) against Oregon (I just read this.)
I find this proposition....weird.
I wouldn't mind seeing one of the following to open up the renovated Big House:
1. Texas A&M
2. Clemson
3. Washington
4. Rutgers
5. USF
6. Kansas St.
7. Arizona St.
8. Arizona
9. Vanderbilt
10. Nebraska
If we want a team with a reasonably big name, then we ought to man up and agree to a home and home. If not, then play a MAC team from MI.
I like this compromise and this list. Best suggestion yet. I would perhaps take out #6 and put in a Wash St.or somebody similar. Kstate has about as much appeal to me as a MAC team.
Or a different thought, what about Syracuse? Two renascent, storied programs, one of which should be much more beatable than the other. Though I am not sure how the Robinson-factor would, um, factor in here.
Ohio state is our huge rival. Why not play them in all 3 of our nonconference games? (I count ND as big ten game even though its not really)
What school is opening its football program in 2010? I forgot who is coaching it. Georgia Southern? Texas State? Can't remember.. Lets open them up in the big house.
give them a real welcome to I-A. May be a tomato can win, but it's a good experience for them, pits program with most wins vs program with least, good money in their pocket, and fun experience.
Ink it!
I believe it's Georgia Southern or something to that effect. But I think they're starting out in Division II.
USF would be interesting given the heated personal rivalry between Jim Leavitt and Rich Rodriguez. Not to mention I'm a USF alum and would love seeing them face Michigan.
revenge game. This would remove some of the bad taste from my mouth.
...if Michigan wins.