Two Bye Weeks in Future Schedules
I'm perusing the schedules for 2013 and 2014. The 2014 schedule definitively lists two bye weeks, even with two open dates still to be filled. It appears the 2013 schedule would include two bye weeks if the final non-conference opponent is slotted into the August 31 open date.
I don't like this. I wait all year for Michigan football. One bye week is all I can take once they start playing. I don't remember two bye weeks in any previous season, but I haven't done an exhaustive analysis.
September 15th, 2011 at 5:24 PM ^
and our first bye week this year is in between MSU and Purdue. Normally, our second bye week would be after the OSU game, but if/when we make it to the Big Ten Championship, that'll replace the bye week. So years without a Big Ten Championship, 2 bye weeks. Years with a Big Ten Championship, 1 bye week. In all likelihood, they just haven't scheduled a game yet, which sounds correct.
September 15th, 2011 at 5:22 PM ^
quit your bitching. You get the same number of games, spread over more weeks.
September 15th, 2011 at 5:28 PM ^
September 15th, 2011 at 5:25 PM ^
has a bye week(s). I believe 1997 season did not have one.
September 15th, 2011 at 5:25 PM ^
Bye weeks aren't so bad. You get a stress free day and still get to watch a ton of college football. Nothing wrong with that.
Our bye weeks over the years haven't exactly been that great schedule wise anyway. We always seemed to get an extra week to prepare for teams like Indiana and Northwestern. Never against a highly ranked opponent.
MSU is always the ones who have got it good in this department. 3 times in the 90's, they got a bye week before the Michigan game and they have a bye week before playing us this year too.
September 15th, 2011 at 7:03 PM ^
and WTKA replays a Ufer broadcast
September 16th, 2011 at 9:03 AM ^
On the plus side, MSU hasn't played all that well after a layoff (bye-weeks and bowl game prep) under Dantonio. Sparty is just 1-5 after a layoff under St. Mark of EL.
September 15th, 2011 at 5:25 PM ^
Could be a good thing for the guys to get some rest and heal injuries.
September 15th, 2011 at 5:27 PM ^
The first day that a game can be played is the Thursday before Labor Day. The last day that a game can be played is the Saturday that is 9 days after Thanksgiving, and that is reserved for the Big Ten Championship. The Army-Navy game gets an exemption.
If Labor Day is on September 1 or September 2 (as it is in 2013 and 2014), the season has 14 weeks for regular-season games. If Labor Day is between September 3 and September 7, the season has 13 weeks for regular season games.
The result? 2 bye weeks in years when Labor Day is on September 1 or September 2, and 1 bye week in all other years.
September 15th, 2011 at 5:40 PM ^
I knew that it went between 13 and 14 week regular seasons, but I had never done the math before. There was a school or two lobbying for the regular season to always have 14 weeks, but I don't think that went anywhere.
September 15th, 2011 at 6:47 PM ^
Bye weeks are usually when my blood pressure can go back to normal. I'm stressed all game week. I was even stressed for delaware state in 2009.
September 15th, 2011 at 6:55 PM ^
Judging by this post, your MGoUsername is apt.
September 15th, 2011 at 8:07 PM ^
finally a weekend (before bowl season) where I can just watch football and not be:
a. stressed for the upcoming Michigan game
b. stressed during the Michigan game
c. depressed after the Michigan game
d. sitting on MGoBlog celebrating for 4 hours after a W where I totally forget to watch other football games
September 15th, 2011 at 8:29 PM ^
...they are usually good for the team (if there are injuries) and the team is more important than my own entertainment. I would be fine with two bye weeks. As long as they win, that's all that matters.
September 15th, 2011 at 9:28 PM ^
'97 bye week was the first week, if i'm not mistaken, and that was key b/c the bye week didn't interrupt our momentum.
September 15th, 2011 at 9:33 PM ^
These are student athletes. They need a break every now and then. Its not all about us.
September 16th, 2011 at 1:22 AM ^
I got really tired of seeing teams like usc seeming to get a bye every month (hyperbole), and still be playing 2 weeks after us, with plenty of time to get healthy during the season, while UM ground away week after week, with no chance for Hart, Henne, etc. to heal up.
September 16th, 2011 at 10:34 AM ^
I think that 2 bye weeks could be really beneficial. Having more time through the season to get healthy could never be bad. Given my choice I would like them to come right before a week that we play someone like a Mac team or a lower level B1G team like Indiana so that we don't per se need the momentum.
September 16th, 2011 at 10:52 AM ^
I'll be damned; this is the first that I have seen of that.
What an awful decision; essentially moving the season back a week, to stretch things through Thanksgiving and place the B1G Championship in a prime spot. At least that is my presumption.
What a stupid goddamned idea; pushing our last November game one week deeper into winter weather, so as to accomodate -- what? -- a bye week?
This is like the fucking NFL. What an idiotic, craven, money-grubbing decision. Shame on everyone who was a part of it.
September 16th, 2011 at 11:41 AM ^
Bye weeks are great. I plan on using these bye weeks to go to games at other stadiums.