September 28th, 2016 at 10:48 PM ^
3:1
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September 28th, 2016 at 10:50 PM ^
Better question in the same vein: Assume thunderstorms hit Ann Arbor 15 minutes before kick off...how long would the storms have to stay in the area before the game is postponed/cancelled?
September 28th, 2016 at 10:53 PM ^
I don't see anyway in hell this game is cancelled. Maybe we finally get the night game that many of the fans want and against the exact opponent we wanted it against.
September 28th, 2016 at 10:57 PM ^
and Warde Manuel said that we didn't have any good games worthy of a night game in 2016 and now we have a top 10 showdown. doh
September 29th, 2016 at 8:03 AM ^
Even if Wisconsin was unranked, Warde should have known how badly the fans would want a night game with a B1G opponent that they really wanted revenge against. Some of Warde's decisions are really a headscratcher.
September 28th, 2016 at 10:58 PM ^
Would TV play into the decision? I know games have been cancelled for hurricanes and such so it's not unprecedented. I'm nkt saying the weather will be that bad on Saturday, just wondered if anyone knew if there are had and fast rules about it...Like would they let a game be delayed 6 hours and still try to play it?
September 28th, 2016 at 11:01 PM ^
I have hard and fast rules but they don't apply to college football game start times.
September 28th, 2016 at 11:13 PM ^
If that 6 hours still gets a restart at a reseasonable hour...then that's not out of the question. Especially if they make the call early. It's better to just say at 3p...okay we're not playing until 9p then to go back and forth trying to start, then nope...we can't, then trying to start again, then...nope still can't.
Easier on everyone to just set a new time if the weather isn't going anywhere. That way everyone can plan accordingly.
If it's a system moving through then you just have to keep looking at your weather software and you restart the clock every lighting strike. But if you know the system is moving and there's nothing behind it...then you just wait it out until you're all clear.
Going back to your question...if you had a 8p or 9p night game kick and you're talking 6 hours...that's completely different. No shot. No one is kicking off a college football game at 2 or 3am.
September 28th, 2016 at 11:08 PM ^
Not going to cancel it...but they'd try to make the call on postponing before then.
Better to not have the guys warm up for an hour just to go sit in a locker room. Also have to think about meals/when was the last time they ate, etc.
So if it's a typical thunderstorm...you ride it out 30 minutes after the last lightning strike in the area. Usually 8 or 10 miles depending on the stadium. That's standard.
However, if it's something that's going to last all frickin day...the admin will have some things to think about.
I haven't looked at the forecast, but if there is a lot of lightning predicted and it's storming before kickoff and not showing that it'll let up. You're much more likely to see them just pick a new start time. For example, they'll just say, game postponed until 7p and you won't have to worry about the 30 minutes and waiting around.
Generally when this happens, all fans are allowed back in with a ticket stub. Teams undress and chill until it's time to start everything all over again. TV scrambles to figure something out...likely bumping us to ESPN2 or ESPNEWS or whatever. Clemson/L'Ville is the 8p game on ABC.
A lot goes into it.
The only ways they're canceling the game is:
1. They're 100% certain the storms (lightning) aren't going to let up all day or it's catastropic weather.
2. They've started the game and it's not going to let up for some crazy long amount of time (once you start a game, it's tough canceling it, but the clock also starts ticking on a lot of logistics). But you can't start a game, get to 4p and then sit around until midnight.
That said, it's a conference game. I suppose they could move it to Sunday, but they're going to play the damn game, no question about it. Wisconsin isn't leaving without a game being played.
...I feel like I got way ahead of myself with having any CLUE what the weather is looking like...but those are some things that go into the decision making process. They're going to do everything they can and more to play, but they're not going to start/stop/start/stop a million times. It's unsafe and isn't fair to the athletes, that's how people get hurt.
The longer the delay, the less fans come into the equation...at a certain point they're just trying to get a game in.
FYI - no chance they move it up. At least I've never seen that done in this TV modern era. Maybe at a local high school they'd do it.
September 29th, 2016 at 6:58 AM ^
They moved up the Maryland game last year (at Maryland) from a night game to a noon game because of an impending hurricane that never came. If I recall, they did it on pretty short notice . . . the day before, something like that.
September 29th, 2016 at 12:53 PM ^
It was only mildly wet during the game, and the Maryland fans in yellow raincoats only helped with the Maize look.
September 29th, 2016 at 9:16 AM ^
There is lightning now? Fuck that.
September 28th, 2016 at 10:53 PM ^
Shitty weather on the biggest recruiting weekend of the season?!!
FUCK!!!!
September 28th, 2016 at 11:21 PM ^
Supposed to be 69, so just rain. Kids love that crap anyway. They don't care if it's raining.
September 28th, 2016 at 11:25 PM ^
The bigger problem is that thunderstorms are likely in the afternoon--particularly during the game (as of the current forecast)--and lightning screws up everything. It's still early so maybe we'll get lucky on timing.
September 29th, 2016 at 12:10 AM ^
Eh, I'm sure they don't mind the warm summer days when there's a little more "sightseeing"
The days when I picture half this blog at Michigan games like...
September 29th, 2016 at 11:18 AM ^
at least the temp is supposed to be nice then
September 29th, 2016 at 10:07 AM ^
McGary_Endzone_Rain.gif
September 29th, 2016 at 7:25 PM ^
Do you think they'll believe it rains in Ann Arbor 24/7/365 because it rained when they were there? Give me a break.
September 28th, 2016 at 11:22 PM ^
one chance in three
September 29th, 2016 at 7:23 AM ^
and your username checks out.
September 28th, 2016 at 11:26 PM ^
Just buy a pass to AAGO on parknparty.com beforehand if you can and you're guaranteed to get on.
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September 28th, 2016 at 11:35 PM ^
Cannot stress the wisdom of this comment enough.
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September 28th, 2016 at 11:35 PM ^
Thanks Dan!
September 28th, 2016 at 11:38 PM ^
Stopppppppp
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September 29th, 2016 at 2:42 AM ^
If you have a season pass or prepaid pass you will get in.
September 29th, 2016 at 7:51 AM ^
I missed the deadline for the full season pass, like an idiot! I won't make that same mistake. I hate going in gate 3!
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September 29th, 2016 at 10:18 PM ^
Which gate is gate 3?
Does that take you into the AAGO or the UofM Golf Course? Any details would be great as I will buy a spot if it's close to the stadium
September 29th, 2016 at 11:58 PM ^
Takes you onto AAGO off of Main Street. Not real far away, but farther away than gate 1, which is off Stadium.
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September 28th, 2016 at 11:31 PM ^
What's the over under on precipitation?
September 29th, 2016 at 9:37 AM ^
Over is the clouds. Under is the earth.
September 28th, 2016 at 11:36 PM ^
hAs "occasional light drizzle" with 57% of the land area getting precip at an expected rate of 0.1".
Most kayaks draw more water than that ;-)
I'd say the biggest chance of closure is the UMGC which doesn't really need the money and would rather protect its turf. AAGO which I think actually needs the money, will be open unless the turf is washed away from the topsoil.
Still, this is Michigan. I plan to survey the weather and radar the morning of, as usual I'll have raingear ready.
September 29th, 2016 at 12:10 AM ^
I'll let you know when I'm finished building this ark.
September 29th, 2016 at 12:49 AM ^
Wilton should have a Shamwow around his waste to keep the ball nice and dry for the next play.
September 29th, 2016 at 12:58 AM ^
Show that slow moving upper low drifting to the west, so the heavy rain will be well off to the southwest across northwest IN and southwest MI. However all the rain Friday into Friday night may cause the golf courses to be too muddy.
Here is the precipitation forecast for 4 PM Saturday according to the NAM model:
September 29th, 2016 at 1:02 AM ^
for rainfall from 4 PM - 8 PM Friday. May be 0.5" in Ann Arbor, and another 0.2" through the night.
September 29th, 2016 at 5:00 AM ^
Between now and Saturday the sun must shine or the golf course gates stay closed. Why Pioneer wouldn't be open is as perplexing to me as rocket science.
September 29th, 2016 at 7:55 AM ^
I believe Nissan is setting up the Heisman House tailgate there
September 29th, 2016 at 5:30 AM ^
Looks like the skies will be clear at about 2am Saturday Morning. I'm sure we'd have no problem still filling the Big House at that time.
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September 29th, 2016 at 7:01 AM ^
Can MGoWeather post earlier this week . . . like now?
September 29th, 2016 at 7:22 AM ^
Windshield Wiper glasses?
September 29th, 2016 at 8:45 AM ^
Damn, I looked a couple days ago and it was perfect this weekend. Picked a great game for my annual trek but damn you rain!!! Hopefully we get lucky and it breaks Saturday.
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September 29th, 2016 at 8:59 AM ^
Been planning this for 6 months!
September 29th, 2016 at 9:02 AM ^
No kidding, luckily I'm flexible and could just head to the bars. Not near as fun as being out on the course all day though. Really hoping for a break.
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September 29th, 2016 at 11:35 AM ^
Same here. Bringing the whole family out, for the first time, to experience the Ann Arbor game day atmosphere.
Now they are like "Maybe we'll just drop you off and go back to the hotel."
Sucks.
September 29th, 2016 at 11:42 AM ^
You're right, rain does have perks
September 29th, 2016 at 11:59 AM ^
I love how a conversation about rain turned to this.
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September 29th, 2016 at 1:55 PM ^
Lions fan. Checks out.
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September 29th, 2016 at 9:30 AM ^
It'll be raining off and on from now through Sunday. Considering the ground is already soaked and flood warnings have been issued for today, I'd say there is next to zero chance the golf course will be open on Saturday.