Per Dave Brandon: No 2012 night game but probably 2013.
Can't say I'm shocked. Probably waiting for notre dame or nebraska in 2013.
February 9th, 2012 at 3:25 PM ^
Not a surprise, I guess. Only marquee game would be Michigan State.
In 2013, there are potentials with Notre Dame and Nebraska. Maybe Minnesota? Doubtful on Ohio, simply because of tradition.
February 9th, 2012 at 3:31 PM ^
Brandon flat out said that Michigan will not play state or ohio at night at Michigan Stadium.
Heated rivalries and two idiotic fan bases coming here = problems
At least ND fans are civilized (from what I've seen at least).
It won't be minnesota in 2013. It will either be notre dame or nebraska IMO. Night games at The Big House are going to be marquee games against big boy opponents.
February 9th, 2012 at 3:32 PM ^
doesn't allow teams to play at night in November.
February 9th, 2012 at 4:56 PM ^
It's commonly cited that the Big 10 doesn't allow night games in November.
There is NO prohibition from the Big 10 regarding night games in November. There are issues with TV contracts and such which make it unlikely, but there is no hard-set rule against it.
See: http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/12592/november-night-games-not…
February 9th, 2012 at 3:36 PM ^
the no night game against State is ridiculous. Are all their fans pleasant? No. Are they going to detonate a bomb under the Big House like in the Sum or all Fears? No. So Ann Arbor may get Tila Tequila-d for a night. It will be OK. Auburn and Alabama play at night, the f-ing Iron Bowl for god sake, doesn't get much more heated than that.
Let them play, let them play, let them play.
February 9th, 2012 at 3:53 PM ^
A simple spoiler alert would have been nice...
February 9th, 2012 at 4:56 PM ^
It blows up in Baltimore toward the beginning of the movie, so don't be too mad at him haha.
In reality, Ben Affleck playing Jack Ryan was the ultimate spoiler for this movie.. Let's make sure we're blaming the correct person here.
February 9th, 2012 at 9:03 PM ^
this is supposed to be a special game. Minnesota hasn't meant anything since.. ever.
February 9th, 2012 at 3:28 PM ^
Eh, I was really hoping for one to add some excitement to an otherwise meh home schedule.
February 9th, 2012 at 3:31 PM ^
is in November. I doubt they want to play night game that late in the year.
February 9th, 2012 at 3:34 PM ^
next year. It should be pretty fun to watch ND carbon copy the UTL atmosphere and then lose the game.
February 9th, 2012 at 4:12 PM ^
Is Michigan-ND 2012 for sure a night game in South Bend?
February 9th, 2012 at 4:41 PM ^
ND really wants to do a night game like we did. I could have sworn that I read that Jack Swarbick, their AD, wants to do a night game with us this year. They were talking about special jerseys and the like. I could be wrong though, ND is already going to Ireland this upcoming season so I don't know if they'll want to continue with so much pageantry. But then again, this is ND. The only thing they've had for the past 20 years is pageantry.
February 9th, 2012 at 7:39 PM ^
NBC has told its affiliates the 2012 Michigan game will be a night game.
February 9th, 2012 at 4:16 PM ^
I will be surprised if we can generate the energy of UTL in South Bend.
February 9th, 2012 at 4:19 PM ^
I think he means next year as in 2013.
February 9th, 2012 at 4:44 PM ^
for us. While they won't be able to match the atmosphere of UTL, they believe that they can, so they'll have the special jerseys, special alumni, etc.
February 9th, 2012 at 3:53 PM ^
Bad timing next year. Meh home schedule and the best non-MSU home game is Iowa (in November). I actually wouldn't mind if it was the Air Force game, but I can understand why they would want to reserve it for a bigger event than that.
February 9th, 2012 at 3:55 PM ^
Gee I wonder who it could be in 2013. Our choices are...
Akron
CMU
Notre Dame
Minnesota
Indiana
February 9th, 2012 at 3:58 PM ^
Akron is our rival right? Or is that Akron State?
February 9th, 2012 at 4:05 PM ^
I was thinking Akron Tech
February 9th, 2012 at 5:11 PM ^
Well the Wicked Witch of the South now works for Akron so we need to squash them by like 60 points, just cause we can
February 9th, 2012 at 4:04 PM ^
I'm fine with not playing night games against MSU and OSU, in the future they'll probably mostly be ND, Nebraska, Wisconsin, PSU (time will tell I guess)? In a couple years when we start playing Pac 12 schools every year I would expect those matchups to be decent times for a night game.
February 9th, 2012 at 4:19 PM ^
I am a traditionalist (no more legacy jerseys fergodsakes), but I would not at all mind night games against Ohio or MSU. I understand the safety issues, but it would make for an atmosphere that I believe would be twice that of Notre Dame, at the least.
However, if we bring in Notre Dame or Nebraska for our night games, which are 2 of the most civilized fan bases in the country, I'd be okay with that. They're both still big time programs. However, playing only those 2 at night would get pretty dull.
I fully expect, however, that Brandon will wise up and realize that the B1G/Pac-12 matchups, especially against USC, Oregon, Stanford and Arizona (if Rich Rod is still there), call for a night game atmosphere. Those opponents have primetime, ESPN Gameday written all over them.
February 9th, 2012 at 4:22 PM ^
Michigan only plays home games in November at noon. Period. Bo Schembechler said that there will never be another played in November past Noon. Here is a big reason why:
February 9th, 2012 at 5:15 PM ^
Maybe I'm behind the curve here, but what does a 5-0 game against Purdue have to do with late November starts?
February 9th, 2012 at 5:33 PM ^
This was a 3:30pm game.
February 9th, 2012 at 6:37 PM ^
February 9th, 2012 at 6:51 PM ^
I'm pretty sure that was a noon game. If you watch the video, it's still light out in the fourth quarter. In November, 3:30 games end in darkness.
February 9th, 2012 at 7:44 PM ^
100% sure that was a noon game. But thanks for playing.
February 9th, 2012 at 6:44 PM ^
I was at that game. Just awful.
February 9th, 2012 at 11:02 PM ^
It was brutal....
February 9th, 2012 at 4:25 PM ^
Odds are it's going to Notre Dame or whatever other decent non-conference opponents we can find. I actually said this to a friend a while back and really believe it. Night games at the Big House are not going to be nearly as common as some people believe. I'd say mainly due to these factors:
- Big Ten bans November night games
- No MSU or Ohio night games (though Ohio better stay in November)
- Are we really going to play every ND home game at night?
- It seems like it's every 3 or 4 years at least before we have a decent non-conference at home besides Notre Dame, though this could be changing soon
So what does that leave us with? Big Ten games like Minnesota and whoever else we have non-conference? The only way I can see us pulling off a night game per year is if we not only keep the yearly rivalry with Notre Dame, but also add the Pac 12 rivalry and have either Wisconsin or Penn State on the schedule.
Dave Brandon may try to make money on a lot of stuff, but he's not going to have night games just to have them, at least not for a while. The only Big Ten teams I think are good enough for night games on a regular basis are MSU, Ohio, Wisconsin and Penn State. Teams like Iowa are ok, but do we really want night games against Iowa?
Until we get Wisconsin, Penn State, and the Pac 12 team on our schedule I think the night games are going to be on a 2-3 year basis simply because EVERY home game against Notre Dame shouldn't be at night.
February 9th, 2012 at 9:34 PM ^
We get Penn State again in 2014. I don't understand why the Big Ten doesn't want night games in November? Just plain dumb.
February 9th, 2012 at 9:54 PM ^
We should have a night game every year. It is a great atmosphere at the Big House. Even if the opponent is not elite.
A night game against any Legends Division opponent, even if NW or MINN would always be compelling.
February 9th, 2012 at 4:26 PM ^
February 9th, 2012 at 4:31 PM ^
Just can't wait for that UTL 2014 home opener against Appy State! As if there wasn't reason enough to look forward to that game . . . .
February 9th, 2012 at 4:39 PM ^
It will be ND every year mostly because we don't schedule tough non-conf home games in even years and Brandon has already said we won't have MSU as a home game.
More stupidity on the part of Brandon. There should be at least one night game per year, regardless of opponent. I don't care if it was Air Force, EMU, etc. Just do it.
February 9th, 2012 at 5:25 PM ^
Having a night game for EMU would be an awful idea. Night games should be for good opponents.
February 9th, 2012 at 5:50 PM ^
Did this also make him realize that our home schedule sucks and will continue to suck on even years?
February 9th, 2012 at 6:54 PM ^
He can't do a whole lot about that though. We don't have control over the league schedule. The Big Ten, for some reason, decided to have Ohio and Nebraska be home (or away) in the same year, which screws things up.
February 9th, 2012 at 8:15 PM ^
don't have any BIG home games next year,so this makes sense.Little brother is BIG but not night time material.GO BLUE!!!
February 9th, 2012 at 9:31 PM ^
If they don't want to do a November game then that leaves Notre Dame, Akron, Indiana, Minnesota??? Out of those, looks like Notre Dame. Nebraska is November 9...why no November game?? To me, Nebraska would be the one.
February 9th, 2012 at 9:56 PM ^
I agree. November 9th would not be too late for a night game. Big difference in A2 between early November and late November.
February 9th, 2012 at 11:05 PM ^
Personally im glad there isnt a night game this coming season. There isnt a game on the schedule that is exciting enough to have one. (Being that MSU, and Iowa are excluded)
March 31st, 2012 at 11:25 AM ^
ND is already going to Ireland this upcoming season so I don't know if they'll want to continue with so much pageantry.However, if we bring in Notre Dame or Nebraska for our night games, which are 2 of the most civilized fan bases in the country, I'd be okay with that. http://www.cooking-game.com
March 31st, 2012 at 11:26 AM ^
Are you just stuck in 2011 or something?