Big Ten and Thursday Night Games
While looking over the Big Ten schedules, I noticed that 3 Big Ten teams are opening up the season on Thursday night, Sept. 2. While I guess Minnesota and Indiana playing on Thursday doesn't bother me or surprise me as they need exposure, I was very surprised to see OSU playing Marshall on that day. I thought the Big Ten was against Thursday games and had the TV deals in place to play on Saturday. I for one would never want to see UM play on Thursday, as it seems to me that it is for up and coming schools or the Big East who need the TV time and that is the only time they can get it. I didn't like UM playing Minny on a Friday, but I understand that was due to circumstances involving baseball and the dome. Does anyone know if this is a Big Ten Network thing, or are these schools trying to get some attention early on in the season by playing on the first night. It seems very odd that OSU is playing a very mediocre Marshall team on a Thursday. It would be one thing if they were playing Miami to open the season as a kickoff game, but this time and matchup is confusing to me. Any thoughts?
August 4th, 2010 at 11:46 AM ^
I also think Michigan should always play on Saturday
August 4th, 2010 at 12:18 PM ^
I guess no one wants Michigan in the Rose Bowl on Jan 1 2015?
a douchepipe.
No, they just need to move January 1st to a saturday to accomodate us.
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August 4th, 2010 at 11:47 AM ^
it gives me something to watch during the week. but I think that should be reserved for teams/conferences that don't get the normal national appeal. I don't think most of the Big Ten (who all now play nationally televised games) should have thursday games, but if some of the smaller schools around the country (or as you mentioned IU and Minny) who rarely get an ESPN presence on campus wanted to have a thursday game to get them on campus, I'd understand that.
I do not want Michigan playing on thursdays though
August 4th, 2010 at 11:53 AM ^
particularly for a fan base like hours, that includes many people who drive a few hours to get to the games, thursday night games seam unfeasible.
that it really sucks if you have to go into work the Friday morning after.
August 4th, 2010 at 11:53 AM ^
August 4th, 2010 at 11:54 AM ^
college football should be played on Saturdays.
August 4th, 2010 at 11:55 AM ^
In order to do this, they'll need to spread the games out a bit more. Ergo, Thursday games.
August 4th, 2010 at 11:55 AM ^
Didn't we play Minnesota on a Thursday or Friday in like 2003/2004? I'm totally against it, but I think it's happened to us before - just not at home.
August 4th, 2010 at 11:57 AM ^
There was a conflict with a Twins game at the (HHH) Metrodome so the football game had to be bumped up to Friday nite.
August 4th, 2010 at 12:14 PM ^
August 4th, 2010 at 12:32 PM ^
John Navarre.....Buffalo Stampede......Jacob Stewart......Garrett Rivas from 33 yards......woooooo!
August 4th, 2010 at 11:55 AM ^
I really dont mind a Thursday Night Game. I wrote a bit about this at the JCB a couple weeks ago. In sum: Would it be that bad to switch around the 'meh' OOC slate in 2012 to include a Thursday night opener on the BTN? We can get our game in, have a blast tailgating and then go on and enjoy the rest of Labor Day weekend. As a season ticket holder all my life, I would not have a single problem with this. WMU or SDSU are 'boring' games to some folks, so why not make one more exciting and unique by putting it under the Thursday night lights?
It's also about being a good Big 10 partner. If OSU can help raise the network's profile by doing a Thursday night game, then so too can Michigan. You can make a case that it's their obligation.
August 4th, 2010 at 12:01 PM ^
But I prefer it to be the smaller schools with those games. It allows me to take in my Alma's (Toledo) game, and then still see Michigan undisturbed on Saturday.
August 4th, 2010 at 11:59 AM ^
For IU, Minn, Illinois it is a smart idea to get your non-conference non-BCS opponents on Thursday. All college football fans will watch any Th-day night game. So, IU-Minn-Ill get a captivated audience (for once) and some exposure they would not get on Saturday when PSU/ OSU/ UM/ ND and the rest of the BCS are playing
Question is, when is the Big 10 going to pull the trigger and start putting IU v. Minn and Illinois v. Purdue on Thursday nights? It's coming
August 4th, 2010 at 12:02 PM ^
This is kind of what I am thinking. It appears that this is the only Thursday that Big Ten games are being played this year, but I wonder if it is something the Big Ten network will push over the next few years, especially with 9 conference games and one more member.
August 4th, 2010 at 12:14 PM ^
I dont think its a big deal if there is a reason to play on Thursday night. Kickoff games are one reason. If its the first game of the season its more like a kickoff special type of thing. This is more like a bowl game, which are played any day of the week. I also wouldn't mind a game on on Thanksgiving Thursday.
But middle of the season for no reason on Thursday that just screams cheap.
August 4th, 2010 at 12:32 PM ^
Thanksgiving Thursday would probably never happen because it would directly compete with the NFL on a big ticket day - this rarely, if ever, happens.
August 4th, 2010 at 12:30 PM ^
NO! Absolutely not! This would be a terrible idea.
There is nothing more special that Saturdays during the college football season. The excitement builds all morning (and into the afternoon and evening, depending on game time). You can wake up in the morning, turn on SportsCenter, watch College Gameday, then get into game mode. I can't think of anything that I would rather be doing. Each of those 12 Saturdays is a little bit of heaven. Moving those games to Thursday evening would absolutely ruin this.
August 4th, 2010 at 12:32 PM ^
The grumpy old part of me says that Michigan games should only be on Saturdays. At noon. And preferably not on television (those extra tv timeouts annoy the hell out of me.)
Having said that, I recall that the last time Michigan had a Thursday night game at Minnesota that I made a weekend trip to Boston and spent a beautiful New England autumn afternoon blissfully unaware of college football because the Wolverines had already taken care of business. I might not like Thursday games, but they can be a nice luxury every now and then.
We didn't play Minnesota on a Thursday. It was on a Friday.
August 4th, 2010 at 12:35 PM ^
especially if they are on the BTN. We all need that network to make lots and lots of money!
August 4th, 2010 at 12:37 PM ^
I don't care about Minnesota and Indiana playing Thursday night games. They can play games on Mondays for all I care. However, Michigan should always play their games on Saturdays. I think Thursday night games cheapen the whole deal. I would feel like some Big East team no one cares about.
No one wants to feel like Rutgers.
Michigan has a big enough fan base that we don't really need Thursday night games. Makes more sense for Illinois, Northwestern, and the like.