How does everyone feel about night games now?

Submitted by no joke its hoke on

I was just wondering if anyone has changed opinions on how they feel about night games at UM? It seemed most was already for them but some seemed not to really be in favor of having night games often. Even tho I wasn't there I loved and thought the Big House looked great and would be all for having more night games!

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

September 11th, 2011 at 11:04 PM ^

I dunno.  The idea that an opponent has to be big-time for a night game to work seems to prevail, but given Brandon's penchant for dragging Michigan into the commercialized era whether or not it's a good idea, I can very easily see Air Force being big-time enough for these purposes.  And why shouldn't they be?  I actually don't even think night games have to be against Notre Dame (or an opponent of that caliber) all the time or they'll get stale.  It shouldn't be Delaware State or whoever (and if Brandon makes Appy State a night game I'll break something) but what's wrong with Air Force?  The point of a night game isn't always to play a mega-opponent.  It's for the atmosphere on campus, which is nothing but fantastic for night games no matter where you are.

jcgold

September 11th, 2011 at 11:15 PM ^

DB is a businessman first.  While Air Force would be worthy for a night game from a fan's experience, would ABC/ESPN push other games off their primetime schedule to show it?  It will be a commercialized patriotfest anyway, and DB will sell that as a day game.  DB wants exposure, and a night game against Air Force would not carry the hype to make it worthwhile.

The point of the night game isn't to play a mega opponent:  but let's face it, DB isn't scheduling  BTN night games.  And to do that, it would have to be a game against ND, Iowa, Wisconsin, MSU, Ohio, Penn St. or Nebraska.  Iowa and Nebraska are out because they are November games thru 2014.  We don't play Wisconsin until at least then, and only play Penn St. at home in Oct. 2014.  DB has said that we won't play Ohio or MSU at night.  That pretty much leaves ND in 2013.

I would love to see an Air Force night game.  I just don't see it happening.

Tater

September 11th, 2011 at 11:28 PM ^

I'm sure DB thinks AF would make a great Thursday night game on ESPN2.  Night games really shouldn't be a big deal, anyway, especially the first few weeks of September, when it can even get hot in Michigan.  

However, the "down in front" crowd are very vocal and don't like being kept up past their bedtimes.  Since many of them are probably longtime donors, I would imagine that their "vote" counts a lot more than that of Joe Fan.  

I would imagine that ESPN would be happy to "sweeten the pot" a little bit for a Michigan Thursday night game. 

Gopherine

September 11th, 2011 at 10:08 PM ^

I think Hoke has changed the tide on the rivalry. Hell people in Ohio are starting to believe him. Never in a million years I would have thought that. Selling Michigan jerseys is a good start.

MichiganStephen

September 11th, 2011 at 10:09 PM ^

It was one of the top 5 experiences of my life along with the birth of my son, getting married, graduating from Michigan and being able to spend time with my parents. My heart is looking forward to chilling at the EMU game. Lol.

mgoviking5

September 11th, 2011 at 10:27 PM ^

I think the most important part about this whole night game hocus pocus is that we must maintain the integrity of the whole thing. There is nothing that would bother me more than playing someone like Indiana at home in a night game. Honestly, while it is an awesome atmosphere. It could be really great if they didn't even do 1 per year, but saved it for incredibly big games.

profitgoblue

September 11th, 2011 at 10:20 PM ^

The campus atmosphere was electric! I was so jealous that I never got to experience a night game when I was in school in A2. Having the whole day to hang out, party, watch football, walk the campus and take in the spectacle was amazing. It is definitely a must-do once a year in September.

HAILtoBO

September 11th, 2011 at 10:24 PM ^

A once a year thing... loses its specialness if we have more than one. For next year, I would love it to be Little Brother. On a youtube video some nebraska fan commented "please don't have a night game against us" haha

UMxWolverines

September 11th, 2011 at 10:30 PM ^

Everyone take a look at this. One of the reasons I first came to mgoblog back in early 2009 was to try and convince people we should play a night game. People thought I was a fucking idiot (as shown in these two threads below this). (Keep in mind I was a freshman back then and I'm a senior now).

http://mgoblog.com/diaries/michigan-football-night-games-petition

http://mgoblog.com/diaries/what-fans-need-do-2009-season

Don

September 11th, 2011 at 10:28 PM ^

I'd be shocked if DB and the big cheeses in the university administration weren't totally in favor of one per year from now on, assuming that home schedules warrant it. You wouldn't want to do it for a MAC opponent or an Indiana or Minnesota... it needs to be a top-shelf opponent, whether non-conference or in-conference.

I would guess that they will tend to be earlier in the season rather than later due to weather considerations. Day games in late November can be pretty damn cold or miserable if it's raining; doing it at night would just accentuate the weather negatives. We got damn lucky with the weather last night, considering how shitty the forecasts had been.

BlueGoM

September 11th, 2011 at 10:52 PM ^

Yep.   They'll probably try to squeeze one in every year, however if you take weather into consideration that cuts it down to the first 1/2 of the season.   Don't think we'll play tsio at night.

However didn't DB say something about not scheduling big opponents early in the year (other than ND?) if so that means the night game choices would be limited to ND or MSU (assuming we play MSU at least by mid October before the weather really turns.

Perhaps Minnesota?  Battle for the Jug at night?