Great Bo quote about night games

That quote proves even great coaches say stupid things.

One o'clock?  When did noon become the standard kickoff time?

The whole we should only play noon games because Bo thought it was a good idea is beyond old. TV rules football now and there is absolutely nothing wrong with playing some night games. If Bo was alive and still coaching, he would have to suck it up and play some night games

Everyone but coaches and old people like night games.

and the other isn't. The networks don't screw with Michigan and Ohio State about when they play The Game. The only time game time has been moved from a noon or 1 pm start is in 2006 when The Game was The Game for the nation's No. 1 ranking even if neither team ultimately ended the season as the best team.

With respect to MSU, the networks have vascillated in terms of scheduling, generally keeping this game at a 3:30 pm starting time and sporadically from the Carr to Harbaugh era broadcasting it at noon, as it has been the last two years. So, this year is a major change.

It used to be whenever Michigan hosted, this game it was a day game.  But then you had Braylonfest on Halloween Night, And then this game became a whim of passion with tradition taking a backseat to eyeballl interest.

Because there  is no traditional scheduling with this game, it has settled in recently as a late October slugfest. And because of that lack of date certainity, game times have become the province of whoever has the leverage in determining when games will kickoff. As of now, that trgger mostly belongs to the networks, not the schools.

Let's also remember, that up until only a few years ago, Michigan never had lights. And any game starting late and heading into darkness based on the calendar of the game had to account for that. So, when the old guys talk about starting games at noon, part of that consideration is based on field lightling. That is not to say that back even in Bo's day, that Michigan didn't play night games. They did. They played ND at night in South Bend.

But here's the thing; they never play Ohio State outside the earliest window of broadcasting unless the game, which is already the greatest rivalry game in the land, requires special attention. And even then, check it out, no one and I mean no one has tried to push the envelope and move this game to prime time.

 

80% of our home games should be at noon, then a small amount of 3:30 games, and one night game every two years.

I like how this quote gets rediscovered every few years and posted in response to the prospect of night games and TV dictating things.

I wish we had more night games. The atmosphere is just more intense. It's like an extra level of home field advantage. Michigan needs to take advantage of that factor.