Will Michigan host a night game in 2015?

Submitted by umbig11 on

Will Michigan host a night game in 2015? Signs are now pointing to no. I know the late starts generate a lot of debate, but I actually like at least one night game a year. This article was created in part because lately there have been doubts about whether or not Michigan will host a night game this year. 

On Tuesday, Rivals mods posted in a thread that they are hearing from the administration that Michigan has backed away from having MSU as a night game and are now hearing that BYU or any other team for that matter may be ruled out as well. The AD doesn't want a November night game or a home opener night game. That leaves UNLV (not really an option, BYU (a very good option in my opinion), Northwestern and Rutgers. Count Rutgers out for the November cold and Northwestern may not move the needle much.

Personally, I would be disappointed to miss a night game at the Big House this year? How does everyone else feel about this?

http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2015/04/night_game_or_no_night_game_ei.html

Edit: I did email the Athletic Department on this subject Tuesday and the response I received was that they were waiting on ABC/ESPN to finalize some TV times before an announcement was made. So, maybe this isn't over just yet.

mgobluth

April 16th, 2015 at 8:41 AM ^

I just read the title as "night game or no michigan football"   which made me think I had to choose between having a night game or not having a football team. I really need another cup of coffee (or three)

Hannibal.

April 16th, 2015 at 8:46 AM ^

I don't understand why BYU wasn't the #1 choice to begin with.  The MSU game is probably not a good idea and November games are out.  That leaves Oregon State and BYU as your most attractive home games.  Oregon State is the home opener -- I don't know if you want that to be your night game.  Which leaves BYU as the best option. 

Brandywine

April 16th, 2015 at 1:24 PM ^

There are routinely many, many more that come to AA than that 10,000 in the stadium.

Personally, I have a much worse opinion of spartys than what I imagine of Auburn or Texas A&M fans in the context of their rivalries with Bama and UT, respectively. Then again, I'm from out of state and have not the slightest connection to anything MSU.

Brandywine

April 16th, 2015 at 1:23 PM ^

Of course I don't believe that, because yes, I've spent many fall saturdays on Hoover, at the golf course, at fraternities and other house parties as a student and alum.

I know it's a rash generalization but hey it's my admittedly narrow opinion - I'm talking about an economic disparity, not a disparity in how people tailgate. I could argue that "haves vs have-nots", and not just in terms of wealth but also the general status of UM relative to MSU, fuels some portion of the bitterness from both sides that I've seen come out when the two sides are drunk and in the same vicinity.

I guess it's the same concept that's driven a lot of the discussion this year about lower-income and in-staters feeling marginalized on campus. Sadly, I think it's a real thing.

But yes, I'm definitely generalizing so I can understand people discounting this opinion.

Michigan4Life

April 16th, 2015 at 11:29 AM ^

with Alabama/Auburn, LSU/Alabama and to name a few because they all have night games. Stating this reason is presumptuous IMO. If they can handle it, then Michigan/MSU or MIchigan/OSU can handle it as well. 

Hannibal.

April 16th, 2015 at 1:07 PM ^

I dunno -- I just don't like it.  I think that the reason that I don't like it is becuase I don't want them to schedule night home games against us.  I also have us as a serious underdog in this year's game and I'd rather not have losing to MSU be the premier event on Disney networks that weekend.

mastodon

April 16th, 2015 at 3:00 PM ^

I hope that Harbaugh & Co. don't share this play-not-to-lose mentality - it almost always results in losing.

Cowering from prime-time exposure to avoid the loss you're already conceding isn't exactly attacking that game with EUTM now, is it?

'Whether you think you can, or you think you can't - you're right.' -Henry Ford

Best quote ever. Choosing to play a favored rival on center-stage, before the most viewers possible, conveys a vote of confidence to your team stronger than any words, that "you can" beat them.

These are the things that enable upsets.

Mr. Yost

April 16th, 2015 at 8:46 AM ^

I've said this since Rich Rod was hired and everyone thought we'd go all Oregon/Boise St.

Play one premier non-conference game each year. Make it the 2nd or 3rd non-conference game, never the 1st or 4th --- if we go to 9 conference games, always make it the 2nd non-conference game.

Schedule it at night and this is the ONLY game where we wear UNIFORMZ. This game is for the young crowd, kids and especially the students. Cater to them, market to them, the whole 9.

EVERY other game, with NO exception is traditional Michigan. This includes the bowl game. UNIFORMZ for one game and a night game one time per year...all on the same night. No exceptions.

 

mastodon

April 16th, 2015 at 11:29 AM ^

How about two premier 00C games? Better for fans and better for the playoff committee. Instead of thinking how bad a loss would be, think how great a big win would be. Those are tie-breaking wins come playoff selection time. Not to mention increased relevance, and a plus for recruiting. OSU's going to continue at a high level. We need to adapt a badass attitude, and start walkin' the walk. Take all comers! It's OK, we're going to be good, and fearlessness is a much more desirable trait in a football program than timidity.

So sorry if, after that diatribe, this is not where you're coming from, but that's the most common argument I hear against scheduling tough games, and I hate it!

UMinSF

April 16th, 2015 at 2:31 PM ^

Our schedule is much more attractive this year than it's been in years.  

It's a little weird that all four noncon opponents are western, but I love that 3 of 4 are quality teams.

Playing tomato cans just to boost the W/L is ridiculous. One great advantage of having a gigantic stadium is that it's possible to lure mid-level big 5 teams without necessitating home-and-homes. 

Does anyone really enjoy a gross mismatch? Rather than focusing completely on W/L, I'd much rather we play a  real opponent every week - so much more entertaining!

Maize and Blue…

April 16th, 2015 at 7:31 PM ^

Why?

Because it is giving away an advantage that we have on them to play the game at night. Being from Utah, there is a two hour time diference in their biorythms from those of our team, in other words, they are conditioned physically and mentally to start to play their games between 5:30 pm and 10:00 pm EST and we are conditioned to start and play those games two hours earlier, therefore, it would be to our advantage to play the game as early in the day as possible. If we were to start the game at 12:00 pm, their minds and bodies would be telling them that it is 10:00 am, and they would likely play as such, giving us the reverse advantage that West coast teams have on us when we go out there and play.

To those who say that they would become acclimated during the week, ask any coach that has had to deal with West Coast games , and they will tell you that less than a week, with the travel involved, is just not enough time to get acclimated. This season, they have three night games scheduled already, playing us would be four so it would be easier for them to acclimate to playing later, than to playing earlier.

This year, the team seems to be looking for every single advantage that it can find, so it would be foolish to throw away any advantage, no matter how small one might think it to be. I would also like to see the MSU game played at night, for that might just give us the atmosphere, and kick in the ass, that we need to pull off the upset.

DonAZ

April 16th, 2015 at 8:47 AM ^

If true, then (a) a disappointment, and (b) I don't really understand the administration's thinking on this.

Re: (a) -- the UTL games have been great for Michigan's image.  People still talk about the UTL where Michigan beat ND on that last play.  Night games make for great TV, and the vast majority of the audience for college football is TV.

Re: (b) -- the stock answer is probably "safety concerns" but I'm not sure I buy that.  Somewhere deep in their thinking is cost.   It's always, ultimately, about cost.

umbig11

April 16th, 2015 at 9:15 AM ^

I am sure extra security would be needed for the MSU game. Not a complete knock on them, just the way it is. Close proximity, heated rival, and lots of fans in Ann Arbor that may not even attend the game. I am sure there would be extra costs associated with that game.

Honk if Ufer M…

April 16th, 2015 at 10:24 AM ^

On MSU weekend how ever many ticket holding fans come to see the game another 10,000 sparties come down for the partying and tailgating. There is no comparison to any other visiting group of fans. They are the rowdiest, most obnoxious, most provocative, most trouble making and most violent. Ask any local business owner, wait staff or anyone who has to deal with them.

In a day game at least a shitload of them will drive home after the game, but keep the whole crowd around starting in the morning & all day and night, getting more and more wasted... asking for trouble!

Buckeye's are terrible in Columbus on Michigan day, but the one's that come to A2 aren't that bad.

charblue.

April 16th, 2015 at 12:17 PM ^

the less likely you have daylong drinkingfests before evening kickoff. Michigan has played MSU at Michigan for late afternoon starts that have turned into night game finishes without major security issues in the past.

Can we look at those for guidance on how to handle this problem going forward. Look southern schools face this prospect over and over again from Baton Rouge to Tuscaloosa with huge rivalry games of national significance. If you assume the worst, then you probably will get what you expect. But if you assume you can handle it by taking the precautions and security measures that other schools have found useful, then I don't see why you couldn't schedule at night with MSU. At least try it.

I mean Bo used to say that no game should start after noon on Saturday for legitimate reasons, and that rationale was a university guiding post for a long time, until TV dictated or heavily influenced kickoff times by viewing windows, and college football became more popular than anyone could have imagined. Bo also thought Michigan ought not to schedule Notre Dame, which, of course it did for a long time, and now is no longer scheduling again. But not before two of its best games ever in recent years were played at night against them. I personally think the Forcier late afternoon game was the most entertaining home game of the Rodriguez era, although a few others come to mind as well.

The Mad Hatter

April 16th, 2015 at 8:56 AM ^

would certainly be interesting.  Probably a nightmare for campus and A2 police, but I think it would be one of those days that would be talked about for years to come.

A bunch of liquored up fans talking shit to each other all day, pissing in bushes, screwing in public, burning couches, it would be a sight to behold.

I would totally go to that game, alone.  No place for the wife and kids in that scene.

Brandywine

April 16th, 2015 at 12:29 PM ^

I'm assuming you're from Michigan, but obviously correct me if I'm wrong. You haven't ever heard MSU-focused sports radio or seen their blogs? I know it's not completely representative, but those generally aren't student voices and there is some serious anger towards UM and the fact that it receives the attention that it does.

I get this comical sense it's a feeling of oppression and the only means they have at this point is force.