Manuel: No Michigan Stadium night game in 2016
Per Warde Manuel
Manuel says no night football game at Michigan Stadium this fall https://t.co/XitnPFhXHw
— angelique (@chengelis) March 24, 2016
xx
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
Not impressed with this decision. Took my son to the Penn State game in 2014 and had a blast (didn't hurt that the tix were crazy cheap because we weren't doing well). In addition to the cool atmosphere, tv coverage, and competetive advantage, it was neat to spend the day in the tailgate area with all of the festivities (both family friendly and booze friendly), then attend the game to cap things off. I hope he reconsiders- until then, we'll have the spring game.
N0T 0FF T0 A G00D START
Manuel said it’s not happening this fall, but is not ruling it out for the future. Michigan hosted games under the lights in 2011 and 2013 against Notre Dame and against Penn State in 2014.
“No (I’m not ruling it out), but I like the daylight,” Manuel said, who played for legendary coach Bo Schembechler who always pushed for early kickoffs. “I’m a daylight-preference football guy. It’s ingrained in me.”
Manuel was also asked about staggering the MSU and OSU games on the schedule, but it doesn't sound like something he's going to push for.
its AII AB0UT WHAT HE WANTS N0T US THE FANS
and we are not an Amish community. What the hell is the problem?
It was embarrassing enough that we acted like we invented night games with the whole "Under the Lights" motif. But now we cant even have a freaking night game?
You're right this is a VERY BAD SIGN, isn't this like the first thing out of his mouth.... "I" don't..., damn man..... making me nervous already.
Not a fan of the reasoning there at all. He should go to a lot of people for feedback, I can't imagine many fans or players or recruits give a shit that he's a "daylight-preference football guy."
Hackett, where art thou?
Right. The tone of "spoke to Harbaugh" seems to imply as if the student was called down to the principal's office to get scolded. Then this?
No thanks.
What Manuel said was that this was a "one and done on both sides" and thus there's nothing to continue. He specifically said he hadn't issued any edicts to Harbaugh. Here's the quote (from DetNews article), so people can draw their own conclusions:
Manuel said he has spoken to Harbaugh about the flap.
“I did briefly, and literally, briefly,” Manuel said. “It wasn’t something that caused me great concern, and I don’t think it’s something that needs to go beyond what it has been thus far, and I don’t think it will continue not because I’ve placed any edict, I just think it was a one and done on both sides. It’s over.”
How many night games took place under Hackett's watch?
“No (I’m not ruling it out), but I like the daylight,” Manuel said, who played for legendary coach Bo Schembechler who always pushed for early kickoffs. “I’m a daylight-preference football guy. It’s ingrained in me.”
<3
3 night games in 6 years is dumb. If we're going to do it, let's do it and not act like a night game is for a special occasion. He is already off to a bad start in my mind.
Is it too late to get Hackett back?
Seriously, at least it seemed that Hackett made thoughtful decisions based on the wants and needs of others. Warde is basing this off his preference only. Not a good look---not at all. We know what happened when the last AD was about what he preferred.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
it'll be played at the Big House on July 30th.
Terrible move.....this was the ONE change of the DB era that worked out well.
Night games rule. Hopefully next year!
and stupid and bad and terrible
I'm all in favor of playing night games, but it's fine by me if they're rare enough that they don't happen every year. And the fact that Warde has a get-off-my-lawn streak in him is encouraging.
Is there a good reason though why they should be rare?
Happy medium between rabble rabble 1 PM if the TV people want to show up that's fine, and FutureBallz? Notice I didn't say I actively want them to be rare, so I don't have much of a reason. I like night games and think their introduction was one of Dave Brandon's rare finer moments. I just think game time is one of the least important things to get worked up about. If you want to go, you'll go. If you want to watch, you'll watch. If you have other things to do, you'll DVR it. I really just wanted to take the opportunity to express my happiness that on the spectrum between I Create The Future (TM) and Get Off My Lawn, I'm much happier with an AD who leans toward the latter, even if this is his way of expressing it.
March 25th, 2016 at 12:30 AM ^
but is it ironic that we seem to have a double standard about the AD compared to the coach? We love that Harbaugh is innovative and does crazy things to appeal to the kids and we hated running an antiquated offense under Hoke and late Carr era, but we want Get Off My Lawn in an AD?
I don't think the spectrum for an AD has to be FutureBallz vs. Get Off My Lawn. For the AD, it just should be what do the players and fans prefer, and be mindful of it, right? If they like the band playing and traditional rivalries, then keep them. If they like night games and uniformz (players), can't we be flexible there? Brandon wasn't purely FutureBall, he was just a-hole-i-don't-understand-the-michigan-fan-experience ball, which should always be avoided.
Was Wisconsin too obvious? Would just make too much sense? Would make the fans too happy? Wtf Warde.
But why not?
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
Unless he's eyeing MSU as a 2017 night game, we could be looking at the 2018 season. That'd be 4 years between night games.
I'm all for not overdoing it, but that's a bit much.
While we're here, I wasn't a big fan of his MSU/OSU comments either. Asked if he had approached the B1G about getting MSU & OSU staggered again so we don't play them both on the road in off years, Manuel said something to the effect of "That's not on my list of priorities. We'll play them when we play them."
Not a big deal, but a bit disappointing.
Those comments are not just a bit disappointing, they're very disappointing. It should be a top priority. I have to say I'm not impressed at all with how passive Manuel has been so far compared to Hackett.
The fact that he "talked" to Harbaugh about the comments concerns me. I already don't like his approach to a few things, these two being a couple of them. Too bad Hackett left.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
and after reading it Im pretty pissed....Its really allllll about what he wants with llittle regard for those of us WHO BUY THE TICKETS and what we want or think...So my first impression of him as AD is very negative...I think this will backfire as most of the reaction is negative...It seemed really arrogant too and apparently he could care less about playing OSU and MSU on the road every other year..I find his attitude very condescending
I was pretty surprised by his response, too. It doesn't come off well. Maybe he meant it as a joke to avoid giving the real reasons, but still. Hackett had mentioned not wanting to have a night game followed by another home game because of 'fan fatigue' after having to stay over in Ann Arbor the week before, among other random issues that it seems only Michigan makes a big deal about. Wisconsin didn't pose this particular problem, and as stated already, the 'future' seems aways away now because next year has no good options. Hopefully this changes before times are officially decided this season.
Enough with the ellipses. Good God, man.
punk
REALLY was looking forward to PSU, Wiscy, or both being night games this year, late sept/early oct is just too perfect. I haz a sad.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
I'm a bit surprised actually that JMFH hasn't pushed for this. When you watch a night game of the SEC it's like watching the NFL. A noon game in the B1G? The atmosphere, in most cases just doesn't compare. I see so many benefits of a night game - fan pleaser, prime time TV, recruiting benefits - very confusing as to why we're not scheduling one of these per year. That, and IIRC - the lights were 2M so, not sure why you'd make that large investment and then not take full advantage.
Making this decision in your first month on the job without seeking fan input? Because it's your preference? Was hoping for Penn State night game to get revenge for all the games we play there that are White Outs. Very disappointed.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
Penn State or Wisconsin early in the season just screams night game. Really bizarre decision here....
But solely on the basis of this not being WD's fault - he's just the messenger.
The decision itself? Not a good one. While I'm a fossil that doesn't mind a noon kickoff one bit, it's good to have at least one nighttime game a year. It gets the team on primetime TV, shows the stadium in a new (cough) ... light. And as others have pointed out, Wisconsin would have been a perfect choice.
I didn't even gloat about it on here. I get people want a home night game. I'd much rather have one at home than playing them on the road.
The RUTGERZ game is obviously going to be at night. Maybe even the Iowa one in late November.
Michigan played at Maryland (noon kickoff) this past year.