When will Game Times for Remainder of Season be Set?

Submitted by StephenRKass on

They still haven't scheduled any start times for the remainder of the schedule. I gather that start times are only announced 6 or 12 days prior to the game. I assume this means that we will hear the start time for MSU sometime today (or possibly, hear sometime a week from now.)

Is it also the case that they wait to schedule game times to see which of the day's possible matchups are between winning (and hence,) more interesting teams? I guess I get that, but it is a bit frustrating that we are now completely held hostage by TV execs who decide what time of day we'll play the game. There isn't a single remaining game with a settled start time.

I Have A Gnarly Face

October 21st, 2013 at 12:31 PM ^

So many of MSU's idiot fans on RCMB have been saying for a while that their athletic director should just make it a night game even though Dave Brandon doesn't want it. Well, it doesn't work that way. One AD cannot just say to the other, "Hey, I am making this a night game whether you like it or not." The UM/MSU game will likely never be a night game and if it is, it would be played in Ann Arbor and surely not East Lansing. I prefer all games with M and MSU in East Lansing to be noon starts.

Bando Calrissian

October 21st, 2013 at 12:54 PM ^

For the millionth time: There is no formal rule prohibiting November night games in the Big Ten. TV contracts and other considerations make it unlikely, not the least of which is the conference preferring it not happen, but it is still a possibility. 

If you ask me, this really needs to be in the MGoBlog FAQ section already. It gets trotted out just about every month, if not more often, and it simply isn't true.

I Have A Gnarly Face

October 21st, 2013 at 12:57 PM ^

correct

It's just a matter of preference, but if, say, M and Ohio had another huge game a la 2006 and they wanted it to be an 8:00 start, they just have to talk to the big whigs in the Big Ten home office, tell them they really want it to be a night game, and they would be able to get it done. Even the conference commissioner and several athletic directors stated that there is no official rule prohibiting November night games.

Alton

October 21st, 2013 at 12:20 PM ^

An educated guess from somebody who generally knows what he's talking about:

Wisconsn at Iowa (ESPN, noon)

Nebraska at Northwestern (ESPN2, noon)

Illinois at Penn State (ESPNU, noon)

Ohio State at Purdue (BTN, noon)

Michigan at Michigan State (ABC/ESPN reverse mirror, 3:30)

Indiana at Minnesota (BTN, 3:30)

Indiana/Minnesota must be at 3:30 (it's homecoming for Minnesota, which means Minnesota gets to pick the time slot before the season).  Both Minnesota and Ohio State must be on BTN one more time this season; it's probably as good a week as any for ESPN to give up the OSU game.  If ABC is going to pick a game from the other 4, I would think that Michigan/Michigan State is the right one to pick.

Remember, though, this is just a guess right now.

LSAClassOf2000

October 21st, 2013 at 1:00 PM ^

The 3:30 PM slate on 11/2 is not a bad one really, and that includes our game now, of course. Other ones at that time, if anyone is interested:

- Clemson vs. Virginia

- Florida vs. Georgia.

The only other Big Ten Game right now that is slated for 3:30 is Indiana vs. Minnesota. Northwestern plays Nebraska and Illinois plays Penn State that day as well, but no times for those as yet. 

I Have A Gnarly Face

October 21st, 2013 at 2:23 PM ^

LOL

 

"How many assholes do we have on this ship?"

<they all stand> "ya ho!"

"I knew it. I'm surrounded by assholes."

 

I wish they made a sequel to that movie that was about episodes 1-3. A bonus funny fact. My wife, who never saw Star Wars before she met me (she finally watched all six with me), saw Space Balls years ago and thought it was hilarious. When she told me she saw Space Balls prior to any Star Wars, I was confused. Most of the humor in Space Balls is only funny if you've seen Star Wars 4-6 (obviously, that's what a parody is).

BeatOSU52

October 21st, 2013 at 1:06 PM ^

I am already getting nervous for the MSU game.  It's going to be a loud atmosphere (duh) playing at 3:30pm in Spartan Stadium.   I guess I have pretty much  been nervous for this game every year in my life  other than the 2002 and 2006 game.  Cannot take a year of hearing their awful fanbase talk trash for a year.

UMgradMSUdad

October 21st, 2013 at 1:31 PM ^

In one of the threads about the UConn game, there was a poster complaining about having television dictate the start times (and whether this practice is considered new or not is dependent on age--when you get to be StephenRKass's and my age, events that are less than 10-15 years old are sometimes considered to be new).  For people who have to travel to a game, the time sometimes means the difference between a hotel stay or not, and can also be complicated by work schedules, children, and other obligations.  In some cases, depending on the time of the game, people might not be able to make the game, especially with only a week or so to make plans.

 

MaizeXCraze

October 21st, 2013 at 1:50 PM ^

Any predictions on what time the Nebraska game will be? I have tickets and I'm trying to plan my 4 hour drive to properly participate in the pregame festivities.

I Have A Gnarly Face

October 21st, 2013 at 2:06 PM ^

3:30

In recent years, M has had a bunch of 3:30 games for conference teams, which is fine with me because I hate noon starts. 3:30 is a good slot because you can watch Game Day until noon, relax for a few hours by watching other games in the noon slot, and come 3:00, it's time to get pumped. Night games are great, but I'd prefer M to not play those. Don't get me wrong, I'm super excited whenever M plays, but night games make me extra nervous.

2Blue4You

October 21st, 2013 at 2:06 PM ^

Anyone else find it laughable if you go onto ESPN.com and look at teams' schedules they have the amount of tickets available and the lowest price and Sparty's looks like $36 (For NEBRASKA!!!), $10, $24, then $185 (For Michigan). 

Michigan's looks like $70, $85, $185, $200, etc.  I guess it sucks as somone who goes to a lot of games but the proof is in the pudding that Michigan is a hot ticket no matter where you are.  It would be nice to go to a road game and pick up a ticket for like $20 to the game but I will pay more if we just WIN.

MGoblu8

October 21st, 2013 at 3:37 PM ^

Gotcha. I was asking did anyone post a link so all of MGoBlogdom could vote? I'm at work, and on my phone. I know there might be others who may be readily available to do so. Sorry if it was already posted.

StephenRKass

October 21st, 2013 at 3:02 PM ^

My OP on the start time of games is largely selfish. My son's football team, on which he is a starting OLB & FB, will be in the playoffs shortly, and has done a great job. Any scheduling conflict between Michigan games and my son's games dictates for me where I will be. And gladly so. I'd miss an early season game of my son's, but not the playoffs. Regardless, I want to have my cake and eat it too! As long as my son's game and the MSU game are off a couple hours, I can watch both. With the MSU game at 3:30pm, now I know that with the DVR, there's a good chance I'll be able to make it all work.

The other thing is I am a pastor in the Chicago area, so I mostly want to go to noon games, if my schedule isn't already full. Going to a game at 3:30pm means that I'm not home til 11pm or so, which I try to avoid. Normally I catch a game or two live, but this year it just hasn't worked out. I can't plan things out until I know start times. C'est la vie.

pinkfloyd2000

October 21st, 2013 at 3:24 PM ^

I'll be in the Philippines, meaning that this game will either kick for me at midnight or 3:30 AM on Sunday the 3rd. I'd like to plan on either staying up really, really late on Saturday night/Sunday morning, or going to bed on Saturday really, really early and getting up at 3:30.

 

E. Gordon Gee

October 21st, 2013 at 10:19 PM ^

All game times will be announced a week in advance, on monday afternoon. So next week around the same time, you'll know the game time for the next Michigan game following the MSU game.