Would you want to schedule Minnesota as a non-conference game?
At the risk of contributing to a toxic board state, I wanted to ask people's opinions. I started thinking about this after the game on "foreign soil" thread earlier this week.
I'm not excited about Rutgers, service academies or even Notre Dame in London. But the Little Brown Jug has a special place in my heart and I hate that we don't play for it every year.
Obviously, the first criteria would be that it isn't taking away a Michigan home game. After that, if scheduled, how would you want to see the other two non-conference games? I don't want to give up an already scheduled unique match-up against a P5 team. I also don't want to make the non-conference too difficulty as we are already playing tough conference schedules.
tl;dr - free The Brown Jug
September 13th, 2019 at 10:37 AM ^
Only if it's here in Minnesota.
September 13th, 2019 at 10:41 AM ^
Neutral site game in Duluth?
September 13th, 2019 at 10:44 AM ^
No, Brainerd.
September 13th, 2019 at 12:14 PM ^
We could take care of it right there.
September 13th, 2019 at 10:49 AM ^
100% endorse this.
In slightly more seriousness, it's something of a dream that a Michigan team would one day actually play a game here. I hold out some vague hope for hockey if the NCAA ever decides to scraps its current, disastrous regional structure or if there's an early-season tournament, but it's a faint hope.
September 13th, 2019 at 11:26 AM ^
Michigan vs Minnesota in the Yooper Dome.
September 13th, 2019 at 11:50 AM ^
Yes please. Largest wooden dome in the world. That would be tits on a pasty if they brought a game up here.
Longer drive for UM than Minnesota, but worth it!
September 13th, 2019 at 12:15 PM ^
+1 for a great non-PC metaphor.
September 13th, 2019 at 12:21 PM ^
What's a metaphor?
For posting about a topic that's about the blog.
September 13th, 2019 at 4:14 PM ^
Yup, that would work::
"Brown Jugs Bowl"
September 13th, 2019 at 5:29 PM ^
The Brown Jugs Bowl should be at the BBC
September 13th, 2019 at 10:38 AM ^
No, but I'd be okay with making them a permanent crossover, as long as they were home when MSU/OSU is away.
September 13th, 2019 at 11:14 AM ^
Yes, something like this. I like keeping the trophies and traditions alive, but have a hard time getting it up for Minnesota. Now, Minnehaha. . .
Could we ever play a game at--say--Soldier Field? I like the idea of encroaching on NW and Chicago. :)
September 13th, 2019 at 11:30 AM ^
I'm a big college atmospheres guy, and Minnesota's new stadium is nice, so I'd prefer it stay on campus, personally.
September 13th, 2019 at 11:51 AM ^
Had forgotten they have the new stadium, and generally agree. Was wondering about Soldier Field in regard not just to Minnesota but other games. I just love Chicago, for one thing!
September 13th, 2019 at 11:54 AM ^
Chicago is great. I wish there were Lou Malnatis everywhere.
September 13th, 2019 at 12:26 PM ^
Give it time?
September 13th, 2019 at 12:45 PM ^
Malnati 2020
September 13th, 2019 at 12:10 PM ^
Soldier Field 61,500
Big House 110,000+
Too much of a loss.
September 13th, 2019 at 10:39 AM ^
I believe this exact idea was also considered for the opener in 2010 when we ended up playing UConn. The big deal was that it was the first game after the stadium renovations.
Anyway, sure, I'm down with that. I guess it would have to be in Norway or Somalia.
Edit: Oh, you weren't suggesting to do it for the foreign game, you meant more generally. Well, then, not really interested as an every year thing but a home-and-home during some huge conference scheduling break would be okay.
September 13th, 2019 at 10:40 AM ^
If we are scheduling potential trap games against Mid range P5 teams, Michigan has the most wins against Minnesota out of everyone it's played over the years, so while the Lil' brown jug is great to have, I'd rather schedule USC or Stanford if that's our poison.
September 13th, 2019 at 10:40 AM ^
Hunh? I would rather schedule Wisconsin as a non-conference game, that way if M loses it doesn't count in the B1G standings - that would make much more sense.
September 13th, 2019 at 10:48 AM ^
Dumb question: how do you schedule Minnesota as a non-conference game?
September 13th, 2019 at 10:52 AM ^
In a year that they are not on our conference schedule, play them. The game does not count in the conference standings.
September 13th, 2019 at 10:53 AM ^
A game against a conference opponent - that doesn't count in the conference standings.
UNC and Wake Forest are playing one such game tonight.
The ACC schedule being what it is, they've played 3 times in the last 11 years - and weren't scheduled for either 2019 or 2020 either. So they are getting together on their own.
September 13th, 2019 at 11:38 AM ^
Interesting. I just assumed that the game would count towards conference standings even if it was played OOC.
I'm in.
Free the Jug!
September 13th, 2019 at 11:00 AM ^
I assume you just...do it. UNC and Wake Forest are meeting tonight in the first of two scheduled non-conference games between the two schools that used to play every year but now haven't played since 2015 and weren't due to play again until 2022.
September 13th, 2019 at 11:37 AM ^
Ugh. So we're at a point now where teams IN THE SAME CONFERENCE are scheduling each other as a non-conference game...just to be able to play each other. How much more proof do we need that conferences are too big?
Cut back the conferences so we don't have this issue of only seeing a team once every five years.
September 13th, 2019 at 1:16 PM ^
My personal dream is to have 12 10-team conferences.
- No independents.
- Every team has to have a 40K stadium within 5 years; any new stadiums have to have 50K.
- Everyone plays 8 conference games in a 11-game schedule.
- Three OOC games.
- One "protected" rivalry game
- Two home-and-home series with opponents randomly-selected every other year.
- 16 team playoff played in December - 12 Conference champs, 4 at-large bids.
- Higher seeds host the first two rounds.
- the next-highest 32 ranked teams play in 16 bowl games.
September 13th, 2019 at 11:37 AM ^
I don't remember the exact details, but didn't Michigan baseball play a game vs. Staee that didn't count in the B1G standings last season?
September 13th, 2019 at 12:14 PM ^
Not last season, it was a while ago. But yes they played a non-con game in a year that M-MSU had only one scheduled B1G basketball game.
Should have done one in 17-18 when there was only one game at Breslin scheduled.
September 13th, 2019 at 12:35 PM ^
He's talking about baseball.
September 13th, 2019 at 12:54 PM ^
It happened in basketball once too, however. Either 1995-96 or 1996-97: one of those 2 years.
September 13th, 2019 at 10:49 AM ^
Toronto is a neutral site and in a foreign country......
September 13th, 2019 at 11:15 AM ^
Ever driven to, around or in Toronto? Try it once and you will pick a different site
September 13th, 2019 at 11:17 AM ^
Using that logic, you could play the game in Thunder Bay. It's about equidistant.
September 13th, 2019 at 11:41 AM ^
don't be stupid.
On an aircraft carrier in the middle of Lake Superior is the only acceptable location.
September 13th, 2019 at 11:56 AM ^
In that case, I vote for Isle Royale National Park. Loser has to sleep outside with the wolves.
September 13th, 2019 at 5:27 PM ^
Shelter is for winners.
September 13th, 2019 at 7:02 PM ^
Unfortunately, due to inbreeding there are only a small handful of wolves around. Bigger worry getting stomped by a moose.
September 13th, 2019 at 10:55 AM ^
If it's a non conference game it should not in any way shape or form be held to conference record for either team. I expect a michigan win but non conf is non conf and for me to be good with it, the big ten would have to treat it as a non conf game. Otherwise, no.
Should be a every year and permanent cross over game.
September 13th, 2019 at 11:00 AM ^
I don't like having permanent cross overs. I don't like that IU and Purdue are an exception. If they want to play every year they should have to do it as non-conference. Maybe one day Purdue will be good and then they get a freebie every year with IU. That stinks for the others in the West. It stunk that we had OSU every year in Leaders and Legends and no one else had it that tough (not that it ended up mattering for us anyway).
If we get Minnesota and OSU gets Nebraska and MSU gets Wisconsin, that actually could be nice for us. But on principle, I don't like it.
September 13th, 2019 at 11:19 AM ^
At first I didn't really agree with your disapproval of protecting cross-division rivalry games, but your rationale makes sense. It really isn't fair in league play that you can lock in one opponent whereas the other teams in your division have to/get to cycle through all the teams.
If that rivalry is important to your school and fanbase, then you should schedule it with them outside of conference play. You've changed my mind.
September 13th, 2019 at 11:25 AM ^
Discourse and dialogue can lead to changing opinions! It can be done!
You are a gentleman and a scholar.
September 13th, 2019 at 1:30 PM ^
You're not doing the internet right.
September 13th, 2019 at 11:04 AM ^
Wake and UNC are playing tonight and in 2021 with both game specifically schedule and labeled "non-conference" games so their ACC records will not be affected. I would presume if Michigan (or anyone else) did something similar that the stipulation would be that the outcome would not affect conference standing.
September 13th, 2019 at 11:16 AM ^
You know - I thought this was a dumb idea until you mentioned this UNC-Wake approach, and then thought about whether we could have still enjoyed this year's season without putting MTSU and Army on the non-conference schedule. Would I rather play Minnesota for the Little Brown Jug than MTSU or Army? Answer is a resounding yes.
Though it would probably screw up the $ situation for Michigan and Minnesota for # of home games. So it aint gonna happen. Too bad.
September 13th, 2019 at 10:57 AM ^
With the 9-game Big Ten schedule, not really. We play Minnesota once every 3 years now which is enough to satisfy me.
September 13th, 2019 at 10:59 AM ^
Apparently North Carolina and wake forest have scheduled to play as a non conference game. They are in opposite divisions and were not scheduled to play this year. I’d be ok with that. Rather play Minnesota than fcs team or service academy
September 13th, 2019 at 11:06 AM ^
The reason this makes more sense is the ACC and SEC have terrible systems for divisional crossover games.
ACC has an 8-game conference schedule with each team having one fixed crossover rivalry game. UNC's crossover game is NC State. So UNC (and every other ACC team) will only play the other teams in the opposite division once every 6 years, which is insane. If you attend UNC, you may go your entire college career without seeing a game vs Clemson, FSU, or Wake Forest in this example. And because ACC/SEC teams have 4 nonconference games to work with, it is easier to make this arrangement than Big Ten teams.
The Big Ten's system has you play a team from the opposite division at least once every 3 years.