Thursday Night Games
Just like you all, I'm really excited that we have a night game Saturday. It is gonna suck during the day to wait for night, but it will be well worth it at kickoff. The one letdown for me is that Florida and LSU play at the same time.
Watching the Nebraska Missouri game tonight was great because there was nothing else to watch. I would really like our boys to be the main attraction on a Thursday night. What are the chances we get one next year or possibly the year after, any insight?
October 9th, 2009 at 12:45 AM ^
The UM administration has made it pretty clear that they aren't interested in night games in general, so we won't be scheduling one at home.
I suppose could see one on the road, but I can't remember anyone in the Big Ten playing a weekday game in the recent past, and the only nonconference road game for the foreseeable future will be Notre Dame, who I'm pretty sure is required to play home games on Saturday afternoon to suit NBC's schedule.
In short, it won't be happening anytime soon.
October 9th, 2009 at 9:58 AM ^
They are ussually very good games, ranked teams under the lights. I think the Big Ten could really benefit from that kind of exposure. But hey, modern, out of the box and inclusionary, not the Big Ten's MO. But really, I sat down and watched Missouri-Nebraska like it was the frickin Super Bowl. How about Iowa v. Ohio State, Penn State v. MSU on so on. If not Michigan, a game with conference interests would be nice. OT-Big Ten v. SEC again in Gator Bowl, I like another Big Ten game but mix it up a little bit....
October 9th, 2009 at 12:49 AM ^
I do not see Michigan every agreeing to a Thursday Night game, I honestly think we will see a Saturday night game in the next couple of years.
October 9th, 2009 at 12:20 PM ^
A Thursday night game would mean I have to endure eight full days devoid of Michigan football the following week. I have a hard enough time dealing with six.
Happy now, sad later.
October 9th, 2009 at 12:49 AM ^
This topic always comes up like every 2-3 months. Perhaps we'll have away night games, but don't look forward to having any home night games in the near future. There is a lot involved with home night games including proper lighting, traffic, tailgating, player preparation, not to mention all the fans coming into the game with a days worth of alcohol in them. There's definitely a lot to consider beforehand.
October 9th, 2009 at 1:05 AM ^
http://www.umich.edu/stadium/faq/
Q: Will you add lights?
Yes, our plans call for the installation of lighting platforms on the top of the proposed sideline structures. It will be the responsibility of the TV networks to bring in temporary light racks for late afternoon games where lights are required.
So, it sounds like no night games just yet, if they are asking TV networks to bring in extra lighting. I dislike the extra lighting / trucks but I guess if they put in enough lighting to have a game without them they'd be opening themselves up to hosting night games.
October 9th, 2009 at 11:08 AM ^
How are any of those issues substantially different for a 7 p.m. kickoff versus a 4 p.m. kickoff? You've got 110,000 fans to deal with in any situation.
October 9th, 2009 at 1:13 AM ^
We drive almost 3 hours every week from Holland to Ann Arbor to watch Michigan football. Thursday night games would involve taking time off from work on Thursday, and getting home very early on Friday morning, so more missed time there too. I love the idea of night games at Michigan Stadium in the future, just not on Thursdays.
October 9th, 2009 at 1:44 AM ^
Ever since Virginia dealt FSU its first-ever ACC loss in '95, it seems like the upset-rate on Thursday night games is probably double or triple the usual percentage. The short week for preparation may have something to do with it, or maybe it's just that the underdogs get especially up for a national TV game. Whatever it is, I don't want to see Michigan on Thursday night because we'll probably wind up in a 4th-quarter death-match against some MAC team or worse.
Then again, Big Ten Network seems to be even more of a jinx and their coverage is awful.
October 9th, 2009 at 3:27 AM ^
good for one person......the TV viewer.
I never, ever want to see Michigan playing on a Thursday night, unless its the BCS title game.
....by the way I think the Big10 is completely against midweek games, just as they're opposed to November night games.
October 9th, 2009 at 4:32 AM ^
i was going to say, but someone beat me to it... Thursday Night ESPN games seem to be where emerging contenders go to die.
has michigan EVER played on a non-saturday during the regular season?
October 9th, 2009 at 6:45 AM ^
In 2003 against Minnesota. It was moved to Friday night because the Twins had the dome on Saturday. Bill Martin was so pissed he "donated" $100 or something to Minnesota toward their own stadium (story on MVictors about this). This ended up being the infamous comeback game where we won on a late Rivas field goal.
October 9th, 2009 at 11:35 AM ^
How was it infamous? You didn't like the comeback?
October 9th, 2009 at 4:47 PM ^
Infamous for Minnesota perhaps.
October 9th, 2009 at 6:04 AM ^
Administration is probably against football playing in general.
I live in Nebraska--and a small, division 2 commuter school in the heart of town had fucking permanent lights. I mean, it does get kind of dark and'or really cloudy on some of those late October/November autumn days. And who would want the PLAYERS to be able to see better--expecially with he shadows the new structures cast on those rare Michigan days when the sun is actually out?
I like how Michigan says, "The networks will bring in lights. Fuck them. We're Michigan"--How funny would it be if the networks said, "Hey, the economy sucks, and we are not brining in lights, and unless all your games are at noon, you won't be on TV!" Ah fuck it. I guess people love having to get up at 6:30 AM on a saturday, start drinking by 9:00 AM, then watch a game and be passed out by 3:00.
I don't get the hoity-toity attitude of people around here, either. You know, Saturday night games, Thursday night games, nation watching, RECRUITS watching--who the hell needs all that positive publicity? Especially nowadays, with the media loving Rich Rod and things going so smoothly for him in Ann Arbor?
All for Michigan Tradition! Yahoo! We don't play at night--we're too fucking good for that. WE don't play on Thursday--we'e too fucking good for that.
You want to watch Michigan football? DO it at NOON you fucking loser! We're Michigan we just KNOW the nation wants to watch us EARLY!
Jackoffs who don't want night games or Thursday night games--then make fun of the "Down in Front" crowd? What a Jekyll and Hyde, stuffed shirt, holier than thou, unimaginative fan base this school has.
October 9th, 2009 at 9:41 AM ^
The TV times are set by whichever network broadcasts the game. If UM had a choice it would always be a noon kickoff.
October 9th, 2009 at 8:34 AM ^
I think that it's possible we could play a Thursday night game if it were the first game of the year, before classes begin.
October 9th, 2009 at 8:55 AM ^
Played last night--pretty sure their players are in class right now.
October 9th, 2009 at 9:33 AM ^
i don't understand this crusade you're on.
this isn't just a Michigan thing. The Big Ten as a unit doesn't play weekday night games. who cares? what's so special about Thursday night? To me, weekday night games are usually just a nice little warmup of football-filler games for the weekend.
it seems that those games are reserved for ACC/Big East/WAC/MAC teams that otherwise don't get much television exposure on the weekends with the ABC/ESPN network (obviously, the Mizzou-Nebraska game is an exception). If you think about it, the Big Ten is WELL represented on ABC/ESPN on Saturdays, as is the SEC with its CBS contract.
As for UM getting lights...I'm fine with Saturday Night games, whenever we do get the lights. Personally, though, I don't care what time the games are, as long as there's an option to watch them. Living in Arizona, I'm used to getting up at 9 and watching the games.
and I'm sure UM's admin could care less if a network, as you suggested, said "fuck you, we're not bringing the lights" (which, I really don't see happening if UM and the team they are playing are both highly ranked... it's about ratings, not an arm-wrestling match with one of the top Universities in the world.)
call it 'hoity-toity' or whatever you want, but there's simply NOT a problem right now to warrant your muckraking...
October 9th, 2009 at 10:17 AM ^
Crusade?
"Not a problem to warrant your muckraking?"
Sheesh, this is the first time I've commented on what has to be the 90 billionth thread on this topic.
A "crusade" is a holy war between factions supporting different mythologies. This is what's called an "opinion"
UM fans treat change and Thursday night games as if they are gimmicks. Thursday night games are part of the fabric of college football now. They may have been reserved, or a vehicle for exposure for lesser conferences or teams, but now they are part of the college football experience as a whole.
Rich Rodriguez and WVU benefitted from them. They help with exposure, marketing. I don' believe in this "Michigan brand sells itself" bullshit. Ask all the other Big Timers how that worked out for various stretches over the last 40 years. If Rich Rod was hired to bring uM into the 21st century, then UM can go there with him.
And now I don't know if this is a Big Ten thing or a UM scheduling thing, and it probably will never happen, but to see it dismissed with the seeming attitude that UM is above it all or something--the fan base which rails agains Blue Hairs, yet rejects some modern innovations--it' bullshit.
UM could use a boost like this; any team could. There is an added excitement to games like this--it can be a recruiting tool.
The reasons people don't like it seem to be well, nothing more than arrogance and blindness to how college football is a fluid lanscape where "tradition" often becomes nostalgia--which is quicksand for those who confuse the two.
October 9th, 2009 at 11:40 AM ^
Edited for being moronic and unfunny by me
October 9th, 2009 at 9:37 AM ^
Ick. No. Never.
October 9th, 2009 at 9:38 AM ^
Hmmmm it double posted me. Must have sensed my hatred of this idea.
October 9th, 2009 at 10:26 AM ^
If you think certain members of the student section have substandard dedication on Saturday afternoon, Thursday nights would be much worse.
October 9th, 2009 at 11:26 AM ^
I was meh about Thursday night games before I began working at Virginia Tech. Now, they are the one ticket I definitely try to get. The atmosphere is amazing, far different from even a Saturday night game.
I'm not buying the difficulties of logistics. That is nothing more than "we hate change" worded differently. Blacksburg is a tiny town that doubles in size on game day, and it works out fine. The University offices close at 4pm so employees can clear out/join the tailgaters, and everyone has a great time.
I think it helps recruiting a great deal, because of the national focus and lack of competition for eyeballs-on-TVs. While in the past this has only been a big boost for contenders (VT, WVU, etc.) I think that there is still a bump available for the storied programs who may have stumbled (coughcough*ahem) and need to stand up straight again.
October 9th, 2009 at 11:37 AM ^
Why would we want to play a game on a school/work night? How is that better than playing on Saturday?
October 9th, 2009 at 11:44 AM ^
1. the attention of every sports fan and recruit in the country focused solely on Michigan, and for the recruits, at least, the lure of that future exposure
2. a great fall weekend to do whatever you like, especially if you take Friday off
3. genial party atmosphere that seems to bring out the best in everybody--even the blue-hairs are more relaxed on Thursday nights
October 9th, 2009 at 10:58 PM ^
1. First, we hardly are in need of more exposure. But even if there is a temporary uptick on Thursday, it's lost as the weekend goes on. By the end of the weekend, no one's talking about the game that happened three days earlier. The Saturday games are more fresh in peoples' minds.
2. A lot of fans can't get Friday off from work, and even more, I imagine, can't get Thursday off, which means pregame activities have to be drastically cut short for them. That's a pretty steep sacrifice, given how few home games there are.
3. The same party atmosphere can be found on a Saturday night. In fact, it's probably better then, since few people have to go into work the next day.
October 9th, 2009 at 12:10 PM ^
What the FUCK does school or work have to do with it? If it's gameday, it's GAMEDAY.
And no one is saying Thursday is "better" or that UM is doomed if they don't do it. Just that it is a good option and one that can benefit the program.
October 9th, 2009 at 4:00 PM ^
I don't like the idea of having to go into work on gameday - and then getting up early (after a game that might have ended around 11:30) and going to work the next day. That sucks. I can't imagine how this could be preferable to the average fan to having a game on Saturday.
October 9th, 2009 at 9:21 PM ^
That's why I said "no one is saying Thursday night games are better."
And I'm not suggesting that you do it regularly--just that it could be considered as an option and not wholly debunked. Lots of people go to work and school the next day. But they manage.
October 9th, 2009 at 10:51 PM ^
No, it can be dismissed easily. The "exposure" argument hardly is relevant to us (being the most televised football program in history), and there is no other plausible argument.
Saturday games are far more convenient for the fanbase than Thursday games. That's not debatable. The tradeoff for a Thursday game is far too steep.
October 9th, 2009 at 9:21 PM ^
That's why I said "no one is saying Thursday night games are better."
And I'm not suggesting that you do it regularly--just that it could be considered as an option and not wholly debunked. Lots of people go to work and school the next day. But they manage.
October 9th, 2009 at 2:55 PM ^
At the expense of sounding arrogant, we are Michigan. We've got all the exposure we can possibly use . Show me one recruit who dropped us because he'd never heard of Michigan.
October 9th, 2009 at 9:11 PM ^
Yeah, you ARE Michigan. We KNOW you and who you are.
Signed,
2010 recruiting class
October 9th, 2009 at 10:54 PM ^
I kind of doubt TV appearances are a sticking point with any 2010 recruits.