Michigan and Michigan State ADs agree that they will not have a night game.. Yet at least

Submitted by TheBlueBaller on
According to USA Today (I would link but I'm in the car) our AD and theirs think a night game at The Big House is a bad idea because that game already has all the hype it needs My question for you all is this: Who should we play under the lights every other year? Personally, I will have to say Nebraska; I believe that would be good atmosphere for these two teams whenever we play at home. What do you think?

Bigscotto68

July 30th, 2013 at 3:50 PM ^

It would be cool to establish a new tradition with Nebraska, their fanbase is very knowledgeable and friendly. Unlike the clowns from EL, Nebraska fans in our neighborhood after dark would not result in any shenanigans. Plus would allow for more travel time!

AdamVN1

July 30th, 2013 at 3:51 PM ^

I suppose if you're limiting it to a team we play every year, it'd have to be from our Division.  I can't imagine we'll ever be playing The Game at night, so by default it would have to be Penn State, since they're the only other big opponent beyond State and the Buckeyes that we will play annually.  It'd probably be more fun to change it up every once and a while depending on who we're playing rather than pick one opponent that always plays in the Big House after dark.

Toasted Yosties

July 30th, 2013 at 3:57 PM ^

would be perfect in my book, rotating it around to one of the hotter home games on the schedule, and never the same team two years in a row.  I believe television generally dictates what is and what isn't a night game, but I would love to see Michigan more open to it.

M-Dog

July 30th, 2013 at 7:52 PM ^

We are set up to have PSU and Wisconsin/Nebraska in alterante years at home.  Also - non-November.  This would be a good night game scenario for us every year.

We could rotate in some other B1G teams, but I don't know it Illinios or Indiana is going to be night-game worthy.  We could also rotate in an OOC game, but our post-ND scheduling has to get waaaaay better for that to be worthwhile.  I'm sorry, Arkansas does not cut it, "SEC" be dammned.

 

Wolverines Dominate

July 30th, 2013 at 4:09 PM ^

Good. That would be nothing but bad for the city, although we would still kick their asses on the field.

saveferris

July 30th, 2013 at 4:14 PM ^

We should play nobody at night.  We should show up for kickoff at 1:00 PM and if the television cameras want to broadcast it, then fine.

/Boom Schembechler'd

Soulfire21

July 30th, 2013 at 4:31 PM ^

I'm fine with just selecting one game a year, not having any sort of 'tradition' associated with who we play our night game with.  Penn State will likely get the nod several times, though.

 

2014 could be Penn State, 2015 could be Northwestern, 2016 could be Wisconsin.  I'm not sure about 2017 though (MSU is the only early home conference game [Oct 7, 2017], the other candidates would be Rutgers [Oct 28] or Minnesota [Nov 4]).  I suppose these could change depending on our nonconference slate.

Leaders And Best

July 30th, 2013 at 4:54 PM ^

The question will be if they decide to have it during odd years. It will probably rotate between PSU (2014), Wisconsin (2016), and the nonconference Arkansas (2018) and VT (2020) games in the near future. I doubt they do a night game for the games you mentioned in odd years though. PSU will always be home during even years so unless Michigan gets a good cross division opponent in odd years at home it will be tough to do a night game if MSU is not an option.

Wolverine Devotee

July 30th, 2013 at 4:36 PM ^

Leave nonconf games as night games.

I'm sick of night games. Last year Michigan was 0-3 at night. 

 

saveferris

July 30th, 2013 at 4:44 PM ^

If Michigan State wants a night game, let them play it against somebody else.  A program of their caliber needs gimmicks to generate interest.  Michigan doesn't.

inthebluelot

July 30th, 2013 at 6:45 PM ^

a prime-time matchup with the most eyes possible watching your product is a gimmick, at least if its on a Saturday. Now, I agree with you on Thursday night games, but not on Saturday. Sadly, all of you are wasting your time complaining about night games when yu should be concerned that we start the season on a Thursday very soon. This is a gimmick.

JayMo4

July 30th, 2013 at 7:23 PM ^

lol @ night games as a gimmick.  I knew it was a slippery slope once we started allowing those silly marching band half time shows.  In my day, we didn't interrupt the game so that a bunch of fancy boys in pompous outfits could go trotting about in formation, tooting their horns. T'il my last breath, I'll insist that trombones are the devil's instrument!

WolverineHistorian

July 30th, 2013 at 4:45 PM ^

Last year, Nebraska made their two biggest home opponents (us and Wisconsin) night games. But I guess we're a long way from ever having something as cool as that. Although the OSU game should always be a day game.

It doesn't have to be the same opponent every year but we have to remember that we're not always going to have attractive samples to choose from. In 2014, our home schedule is going to be the worst it's been in decades: No rival teams will be coming to the big house and Nebraska is off the schedule.

CRex

July 30th, 2013 at 5:03 PM ^

ND is off the schedule, hopefully forever, so we can just do home and homes with various programs.   Also we were able to get Utah to visit and not have to visit in return, so you can get midrange teams sometimes.  

Personally I think we should invite SDSU out and let them collect some money to help their program out.  I'd even be willing to go for a return visit to some larger West Coast stadium so the West Coast fanbase could see Michigan do something other than die horrible deaths in the Rose Bowl on NYD.  

Leaders And Best

July 30th, 2013 at 5:29 PM ^

On a Thursday night to open the 2015 college football season. We are playing a return game at UConn this year. It is getting harder to get quality one off games. Michigan did get Oregon St in 2015 and Colorado in 2016 as one off games, but most power conference schools are going to require a return game moving forward especially with 9 game conference schedules.

snarling wolverine

July 30th, 2013 at 10:11 PM ^

I like the idea of rotating home-and-homes, but I definitely want ND back on the schedule.  I grew up with that rivalry.  What I think would be ideal would be a two-on, two-off situation with ND.  That would renew the rivalry on a regular basis but still give us a chance to play other major programs.

copacetic

July 30th, 2013 at 4:48 PM ^



If we have to have one per year, I'd be cool with rotating between Neb,  PSU, Wisconsin, or whoever else the best home game we have is. 

CRex

July 30th, 2013 at 4:58 PM ^

I'd prefer that MSU remain a day game.  It leads to the easiest transit arrangements, namely avoiding the need for a hotel, for the Michiganders who attend the game at either stadium.  If the game was wrapping up at say 10 pm, it would be hard for people not to drive home.  Figure you'd be at your car and clear of in town gameday traffic by say midnight if you're lucky, and then you have a possible multiple hour drive home, at which point you might as well bite the bullet and give some hotel some money.  Whereas a noon kickoff means in the car at ~7:30 am if you want some time to tailgate before the game, grab dinner post game, and home before midnight.  

I'd prefer no night games myself, as it makes for easier regional travel in general.  Although I bet the West Coast alums who wake up at 9 am to catch a noon game might beg to differ.

gwkrlghl

July 30th, 2013 at 5:04 PM ^

it's asking for trouble with that fanbase of idiots. I've been harassed enough (both in A2 and EL) after games that ended at 3 o'clock. Imagine if those bros had all day to drink, you can bet there would be assaults, fights, etc. Seriously, just a bad idea with that fanbase

Nebraska OTOH, would be sweet.

bluewave720

July 30th, 2013 at 8:00 PM ^

I'm old (35) and could easily say that personally, I do not want to go to a night game.  But they are obviously good for recruiting and TV, so it's all good.  I'll go, be happy and realize that as a parent and spouse, my family is going to get kinda dicked the next day with an inattentive meat sack.  

But we should never, ever play MSU at night.  That is inviting truly bad things to happen.  

I thought last year Air Force would have been a great UTL game.  I mean, you aren't going to get involved in shenanigans with a crowd like that unless you deserve it.  But, I know we aren't going to play Air Force every year.

I don't know what the answer is, but it's not MSU.

Michigan Arrogance

July 30th, 2013 at 5:52 PM ^

I think we should just have the best/earliest west division team whom is playing in A2 in any given year be the night game.

 

So, Wisc, neb, Iowa... who ever is earliest in the season @ A2

LSAClassOf2000

July 30th, 2013 at 7:08 PM ^

I couldn't find it in here, but this is the story - HERE.

Among the Brandon quotes:

"There's plenty of excitement and plenty of high-pitched emotions associated with that game, I don't think we need to kick it off at 8 p.m. I don't think that will add anything to it and potentially could detract from it."

The quotes from Hollis were slightly more non-commital, leaning a little towards a "wait and see" approach with night games. He talked a little about the successes with Boise State and Notre Dame in East Lansing, but also seemed to think that indeed each game should be approached differently. 

JayMo4

July 30th, 2013 at 7:28 PM ^

How exactly?  Everyone gets bored waiting and starts nodding off?

This conference is at war with itself, one foot cemented to the past, the other pushing as far into the future as possible as quickly as possible.  TV network, conference championship game, joining the four team playoff system, East coast expansion, etc.  

You can break up our historic rivalries, just for the love of god don't make us play at night!  Well, maybe a little.  But not too often.  And not in November.  For now.

The Barwis Effect

July 30th, 2013 at 7:44 PM ^

I'm not buying the party line that a night game at The Big House is a bad idea because that game already has all the hype it needs. ND vs U-M is traditionally one of the most nationally hyped game of the year, and yet this year will mark the third straight night game between those two teams. Let's be honest: MSU fans are animals and cannot be trusted. Coming out and saying the game already has enough hype is nothing more than a way to allow Hollis to save face.

M-Dog

July 30th, 2013 at 8:08 PM ^

We've only had one night game, so we don't know what to expect from them long term.  But most teams use them as a form of ultra-home team advantage.  They save them for big important games to get a compettive edge.

Since OSU and MSU are off the table, we should target the most imortant non-MSU/OSU home game.  On even years it will be Penn State.  That program is a sleeping giant and will be back in a big, annoying way.  We will need, not want, a competitive edge against them when we can get it.

On odd years, it should probably go to whoever the top dog in the west is that comes to A2 (unless someone like Rutgers becomes big in the East).  If our OOC scheduling finally becomes worthy, it could be used there as well.

In any case, I don't think a night game at the Big House should be "wasted" on a quasi-exibition game with an Illinois or Indiana.

BluePants

July 30th, 2013 at 11:05 PM ^

I say this as a recent grad and paradigm gameday degenerate, so I have some perspective here. Have you seen the number of Staee students that are too drunk to move before a noon/3 pm game? Pretty sure they also considered the fact that 0 Staee fans would make it to the night game...

Which makes me wonder why Brandon didn't push it harder...