Possible MSU & Minn. Night Games this year
Nick Baumgardner has an article over at the Freep about possible night games this year.
LINK: UM night game (s) could be MSU, Minnesota
Apparently, TV holds all the power, in terms of the contract. Announcements will be made at least 12 days prior to the game if a night game. The agreement is a minimum of 3 games in a two year window, so either two this year or two next year. The two games this year are MSU and Minnesota. (I gather that there are also 3 away night games in a two year window, so this means a minimum of 3 night games a year, if I read things correctly.) The information came in an interview with AD Manuel.
On another note, Baumgardner has two other articles at the Freep. One article explains what went on with the decision to reinstate Grant Perry (short version: it was Manuel's decision.) The second article is about the offensive line. It actually has a bit of analysis and content. Short version: the current OL is much more athletic than last year. Whether or not it all clicks in 2017, we are rapidly heading in the right direction. The OL is key to everything Harbaugh wants to do.
I personally like Baumgardner's writing. If you aren't one of the Freep abstainers, and are eagerly awaiting more content, head over the the Freep and read them for yourselves.
August 23rd, 2017 at 8:05 PM ^
It might have something to do with the cold weather and being dark for three hours before kickoff. The NFL can have that tailgating garbage.
August 23rd, 2017 at 8:13 PM ^
Lambeau (along with most outdoor NFL stadiums) have an under-field heating system along with heated benches & other amenities. Most universities, including Michigan, do not. Playing on that turf at night in November is not conducive to player safety.
August 23rd, 2017 at 10:42 PM ^
is perfectly safe. Rubber doesn't freeze, so It'd be negligibly different for player safety at 20 degrees compared to 35. It's not real grass/soil that retains moisture and freezes.
It's also not that difficult or expensive (relatively) to bring in some heating units for the sidelines.
This isn't a big concern.
August 23rd, 2017 at 8:12 PM ^
just wear warmer winter clothes. It's not like it's going to be below zero.
August 23rd, 2017 at 9:00 PM ^
Am I one of the only that would dig that? Use the cold and home field to an advantage. OSU has had a night game in November so I don't understand the people so afraid of it. Oh yes I do, it took over 100 years for us to play a home night game at all because people were afraid of it.
August 23rd, 2017 at 9:29 PM ^
Use it as a home field advantage against whom? We are only playing Big Ten teams in November. So I guess maybe Maryland?
August 23rd, 2017 at 9:36 PM ^
August 23rd, 2017 at 10:07 PM ^
the Vikings played a playoff game at the TCF Bank Stadium while the US Bank Stadium was under construction a few years ago. Leader and Best claimed that colleges aren't equipped to handle it yet the Vikings did fine for the playoff in January when it's close to below zero outside.
August 23rd, 2017 at 7:36 PM ^
Earlier the date for night games the better. Wish we were home for labor day weekend instead of at ND
August 23rd, 2017 at 7:40 PM ^
August 23rd, 2017 at 8:01 PM ^
The very next night game with alternate uni's is going to immediately diminish from that spectacular evening. Done. Call it good. Forever. Tell your grandkids.
August 24th, 2017 at 9:11 AM ^
This would be like saying winning a national championship would diminish the '97 championship and so we shouldn't do it. I don't know about you, but I'm okay if an awesome experience I had is a little less unique if it means I get more awesome experiences.
August 24th, 2017 at 9:01 AM ^
August 23rd, 2017 at 8:10 PM ^
August 23rd, 2017 at 8:23 PM ^
game this year. i hope they don't make it into a night game though.
August 23rd, 2017 at 8:43 PM ^
August 23rd, 2017 at 8:54 PM ^
i'd be all-in on that. but with the kids, the logistics are more difficult if they do it at night.
August 23rd, 2017 at 9:09 PM ^
August 23rd, 2017 at 8:24 PM ^
As someone who lives in Europe, this gives me a sad. I'm too old for 2:30 a.m. kickoffs.
August 23rd, 2017 at 8:29 PM ^
Michigan State should be a night game. 90% of the student section would be happy with that.
August 23rd, 2017 at 9:01 PM ^
Night game, hell yes as the couches will burn brighter all night in east landfill!
August 23rd, 2017 at 9:17 PM ^
August 23rd, 2017 at 9:44 PM ^
August 23rd, 2017 at 9:51 PM ^
Was set In stone to be a
Night game ?
August 24th, 2017 at 9:15 AM ^
You were
Mistaken ?
August 24th, 2017 at 1:56 AM ^
August 24th, 2017 at 5:01 AM ^
Here you go, only $8.99 from Target plus tax and shipping.
August 24th, 2017 at 6:47 AM ^
August 24th, 2017 at 7:02 AM ^
August 24th, 2017 at 8:27 AM ^
I would support an MSU night game. If the Iron Bowl can be played at night, I'm sure we can do UM/MSU.
August 24th, 2017 at 8:36 AM ^
This is great for recruiting! It allows the 4-5* players we want from the west coast, south, and other further areas of the country to play thier Friday Night Lights game then hop a plane in the morning for an offical visit, so they can watch Michigan win big, so they can commit to Harbaugh Sunday morning, then go home.
Noon games do not make it easy for kids far away to make to A2 to see the game day experience. And no one here can tell me a noon game has the same energy as a night game (with the expection of OSU, but that would be even wilder if at night).
August 24th, 2017 at 9:06 AM ^
Hell yes, let's kick Sparty butt in Primetime. More of the college football world will be able to drink it in.
We still owe Sparty something.
August 24th, 2017 at 9:25 AM ^
The market will eventually decide whether games are at night or at day. I will defer to others on this question . . . while I personally like day games, I don't have enough of a vested interest either way to get my shorts in a wad. I do think the culture of morning tailgating and throwing a ball around and being in the sun and enjoying breakfast and the drum line and dinner after the game will be lost with night games. Something else will be gained. We'll see how it goes.
Two reflections on this.
- In some ways, it would be good if Michigan had 6 - 7 night games in a season or two, including late in the season, including some with inclement weather. Right now, it seems like there is a lot of arguing about hypotheticals. Currently, when there is the occasional night game, it is a unique and special snowflake. If and when we are playing night games against tier 2 teams, and there is sleet or driving rain or snow, and when there is a competitive night game with lots of TV delays and then a couple or three OT sessions, ahd traffic is snarled, so you aren't really on the road until midnight, and when regular night games ending late mean that the student party schedule is disrupted half the season, we'll have a better feel for how many night games really work, and how many are too many.
- I really don't know the difference between college and NFL infrastructure for cold weather games. I have read about how brutal it was playing at Lambeau for the Ice Bowl, with temps at minus 15 degrees F, and an AVERAGE windchill of minus 48 degrees. My point is, I think cold weather NFL stadiums now have heated fields, and have the things necessary to make it bearable on the field. If we are going to move to having late season night games, it makes sense to have the needed facilities for the players, and to some degree, for the fans. I have attended a few games when it was brutally cold, and it isn't that much fun. For my money, the worst is driving sleet and rain and wind. A game at 31 - 34 degrees, with moisture and wind, is numbing. And that is the more likely mid-November weather.
August 24th, 2017 at 10:49 AM ^
If the MSU game is played at night, it will occur before the snow flies and undoubtedly add to the fun for the crowd. I cannot imagine a night game on any date after October 31. The only thing good about a November night game (against MN) is how good the crowd looks on TV, and that might be how I would watch it. Weather is so likely to be bad, it is a terrible weather bet that a crowd will appreciate sitting thru freezing, windy weather with no possibility of sun. Perhaps this would be a good reason to sell alcholic beverages in the stadium.