Manuel: No Michigan Stadium night game in 2016

Submitted by Wolverine Devotee on

Per Warde Manuel

 

Manuel says no night football game at Michigan Stadium this fall https://t.co/XitnPFhXHw

— angelique (@chengelis) March 24, 2016

xx

gholt6633

March 24th, 2016 at 2:17 PM ^

Who has the final say in scheduling night games ?  With regard to the big games, I always thought Television made the call and the schools fell in line.  In other words, can we schedule Wiscy at night at let TV work out the details later, or does the B1G and/or ESPN/ABC request it ?

TheCappo

March 24th, 2016 at 2:30 PM ^

What a disservice to the students.  The Notre Dame night games are two of my fondest memories as a student at Michigan, experiences I'll never forget.  Noon games are snoozefests, the vast majority of students hate them and the atmosphere is sleepy.  Why do we want to neuter our loudest section and have less of an advantage against other top teams?

Not to mention the exposure and recruiting advantages.  I just don't understand the opposition to night games, it's 2016.

Maynard

March 24th, 2016 at 4:36 PM ^

I can't stand the noon sleepy atmosphere. Even if you are at home it is noticeable. 3:30s aren't bad as the game moves slowly into darkness. Night games though, have a long time to build up throughout the day. Concerts are held in prime time mostly for a reason. Headliners don't take the stage at noon. We should be headliners.

Wolvie3758

March 24th, 2016 at 2:32 PM ^

KNOWS that a Home Night game against a big time opponent is a BIG HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE  The crowds are just way more into the game and the atmosphere has to help the home team...This shows a complete lack of understanding of what home field means...When you are playing a Wisconsin or Penn ST or MSU for that matter every little advantage helps...Im just more pissed about the response being thats what I WANT...total disregard for the fans

KC Wolve

March 24th, 2016 at 2:33 PM ^

Damn, making the trip for wiscy and was hoping for it to be night. They should have one game a year at night in my unwanted opinion. All other schools do it and also it isn't 1937.



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pinkfloyd2000

March 24th, 2016 at 8:04 PM ^

Fair enough. More than I recall, as I missed a few being out-of-country (thankfully, I was unable to see a single second of the MSU game). But September and early October 3:30 kicks don't finish in the darkness...or at least much of it, anyway.

But hey, the larger point is this: why NOT have a night game, when every other major (and non-major) team does it? I don't get it. Last I looked, we've got a pretty good night game home record going, right? Why not give ourselves every advantage possible against the best opponents on the schedule?

pinkfloyd2000

March 24th, 2016 at 8:44 PM ^

It was October 17 -- that's mid-October. I don't think that games finish under the lights if they take place from August 30 to October 1. Maybe I'm wrong. I'm well aware games finish under the lights often that start at 3:30. I've been to those games. But...is that all we're gonna use these lights for? If so, that seems, well...lame. That's my main point. 

Feaster18

March 24th, 2016 at 3:00 PM ^

Do you mean the majority of Michigan fans responding to this post (~50 people)?   The night games have been great fun, but every survey of the season ticket holders shows that a large percentage of them travel by car a great distance to attend, and so a night game requires them to find a hotel, and turn it into a two-day trip.  That's an inconvenience for a lot of the fan base, and the portion of the fan base that pays a lot of bills.  .  

tlo2485

March 24th, 2016 at 3:21 PM ^

I'd be curious if any other B1G team regularly creates home schedules lacking at least 1 night home game. I'd even love to see the list of power 5 schools who don't find room for at least 1 night game. This reasoning is beyond lame, these games break attendance records, cost the most in tickets, and have the highest tv ratings. Cars have lights, streets have lighting, plan your one day per year accordingly. If you can't handle it, someone else gladly will.

Maizen

March 24th, 2016 at 4:35 PM ^

No need to butter him up. It's not been a good start for him. Said moving the MSU/OSU games "wasn't a priority" and now the night game comments.

I really couldn't care less this guy played for Bo. I just want him to do a good job, and he hit a false note with me today.

Wolverine Devotee

March 24th, 2016 at 2:43 PM ^

We literally have no choice. Terrible scheduling by the athletic department (surprise, surprise........a lot of bad scheduling this year)

Spring game has to be played within a certain number of days. The IMG practices took place a month ago and next weekend is when that window closes in terms of having to get all the practices done. 

April 2nd, a Saturday, the stadium is booked up with a Lax doubleheader. They weren't gonna kick teams playing actual games out of their venue for a intrasquad scrimmage. 

The spring game should be at 8pm instead of 6 so more people have a chance to get there.

Wolverine Devotee

March 24th, 2016 at 4:34 PM ^

What kind of message does that send to the players on those teams? Being kicked out of their home competition venue in favor of a practice?

You may not care about lacrosse but there are others that do. Those players busted their ass to get to Michigan and play for us.

Wolverine Devotee

March 24th, 2016 at 5:48 PM ^

I don't know where to find that. I read his book years ago and don't remember reading anything about that. All I found online on his stance was this-

 

"We agree with U of M Coach Bo Schembechler that Title IX will just about kill collegiate sports by diluting important football revenue to pay for women's scholarships," opined WWJ's radio and televisions stations at the time. "Like everything the government does, it's gone too far."

Yeah. Those other sports being added really hurt the football program, alright....

They had nowhere else to play back then and were only there for three years. Big deal.

And Lacrosse has nowhere else to play outdoor games at other than The Big House. Get over it. The lax stadium will be here in a few years.

TIMMMAAY

March 24th, 2016 at 8:06 PM ^

You really aren't very bright. Like, you actually believe everything you typed above here and I'm not sure if you fool yourself into believing it, or if you are just that naive. I'm thinking the latter, given your history. 

cutter

March 24th, 2016 at 4:12 PM ^

Since the AD only schedules three non-conference games a year, I think you need to share the blame around a little bit.

I hope you realize that the original slate of non-conference games for 2016 was put together when U-M thought it would have a fourth game at Notre Dame (and not a ninth conference game).  It was also done at a time when the Big Ten and Pac 10 were talking about having a scheduling agreement, which accounts for Colorado.  When Michigan added UCF in October 2013, that program had gone 10-4 in 2012 and would end up the 2013 season 12-1.  Who could have predicted they would go 0-12 last year when the contract was signed?  Do you want a good warmup game to open the season with a team not from the MAC?  Hawaii certainly fits the bill there.

Stuff like this happens in scheduling because much of it is done years in advance.  Rutgers and Maryland were announced in November 2012 as additions to the conference, and the niine conference game decision was announced in July 2013.  Given the relatively short time frame, it made sense to just stick with what they had (now minus ND) and go from there.

TIMMMAAY

March 24th, 2016 at 8:03 PM ^

There is just way too much of a personality cult around Bo. How do people not realize that this kind of thinking is what led us into the doldrums in the first place? I really hope Warde is a bit more thoughtful than he put out there with these quotes, or it may be a rough ride. 

Fingers crossed. 

lilpenny1316

March 24th, 2016 at 2:46 PM ^

UConn played us at night three years ago when he was AD.  If I ever watched UConn football, I'm sure I would've seen them host other night games.  I have to believe that if ABC wants the Wisconsin or PSU game at 8PM, it will happen.  Think about the kids Warde.  Think about the kids.

doggdetroit

March 24th, 2016 at 2:59 PM ^

If true, this is his first mistake as AD. His reasoning (I hope that he's joking for his sake) is flat out stupid as well.