Rumor: Michigan Vs. Michigan State Game Under The Lights
Not sure how I feel about this. Could be Epic or Epically bad idea
August 11th, 2022 at 7:21 AM ^
Has everyone just memory holed the 2017 game? It kicked off at 7:30pm in Ann Arbor. We’ve already done this at night, it’s not controversial in any way.
August 11th, 2022 at 7:29 AM ^
But...but...that article SAYS it's controversial and backs it up with quotes from both UM and MSU ADs from...*checks notes*...2013.
Any article that is 20% original writing and 80% quotes from 9 years ago is...not great.
But you should at least give them credit for packing more ads into that space than almost any other reputable site out there.
August 11th, 2022 at 8:37 AM ^
I have noticed a certain trend in modern journalism, let me see if I can sum it up
Any article [...] is...not great.
FIFY
August 11th, 2022 at 10:30 AM ^
There is something to be said about credulously repeating quotes or official accounts and calling that news in an effort to be unbiased/objective. Of course, an article being "objective" does not speak to its quality, but too many people eat that shit up because it makes them feel smart.
August 11th, 2022 at 12:03 PM ^
Let's be real. These so-called articles are actually not real articles. Ergo...
Any "article" [...] is...not great.
FIFY
August 11th, 2022 at 12:15 PM ^
I the words of John Nash (at least in the movie): Governing dynamics!
August 11th, 2022 at 10:14 AM ^
Also, I'm pretty sure that Detroit isn't a Sports "Nation" it's a city... maybe a sports "region" at most, but definitely not observed by the United Nations. The publication name does not check out.
August 11th, 2022 at 11:38 AM ^
reputable?
August 11th, 2022 at 12:13 PM ^
It is "controversial" from a standpoint of safety. You have to read between the lines on this one because the schools aren't going to say it bluntly for good reasons.
As the ADs mention, it's already an emotionally charged game, and giving fans extra time (all day) to get charged up (aka drink and tailgate and trash talk, etc. all day) presents some logistics and safety concerns.
From a viewing perspective, yeah... not controversial at all. Actually sounds awesome having the game in primetime.
August 11th, 2022 at 12:16 PM ^
I mean we have seen a bunch of big rivalries games like Bama vs LSU in primetime and there were no issues from it.
August 11th, 2022 at 1:54 PM ^
There is more that goes on than we know. Have we seen something absolutely catastrophic? No. However, I would wager there is an elevated number of ejections, arrests, security calls, etc. for primetime rivalry games than those held at, say, noon.
Just because we don't hear about some minor or serious incidents surrounding the game doesn't mean they don't happen. I used to work in large scale live events, and I think you would be surprised to hear the amount of incidents that happen on average. Those things matter to a school/venue because it calls liability and responsibility into question.
August 11th, 2022 at 2:05 PM ^
Not as many ads as a big noon Fox broadcast
August 11th, 2022 at 8:44 AM ^
I, for one, have very much memory holed that game. We never had a pass heavy game plan in a monsoon. I don’t know what you’re talking about.
August 11th, 2022 at 9:37 AM ^
The main problem with that game (there were many problems in general) was whoever was leading when the monsoon hit was most likely going to win. Made it very easy to play defense because the offense was either going to have to run into 9 man boxes or try to throw their way down the field 80 yards in a torrential downpour. MSU got up and basically sat on it. I think almost every Michigan drive in the 2nd half started inside their own 20.
August 11th, 2022 at 9:54 AM ^
Rain, or no rain, O'Korn was horrendous that year. He was especially horrific in that game.
August 11th, 2022 at 11:21 AM ^
O absolutely. No disagreement there.
My point more so is that if you're playing a game with 1 hand tied behind your back (couldn't even throw a bubble screen in that type of weather) you're going to struggle to mount 50, 60, or 70 yard drives to score. MSU could tell their LBs to attack any run action because what's the threat of a pass in 30 mph driving rain? You screw up and Michigan gets 12 yards on a duck thrown to a TE? Ok, do that 5 more times to get into scoring position. Good luck.
The bigger issue that game was falling behind. Michigan was up 3-0 and driving into MSU territory again when they weren't locked into a game plan that had to deal with a monsoon. Then Isaac fumbled and the game went from 6 or even potentially 10-0 to MSU leading. Then you had the TD taken off the board because of a Higdon holding call and Michigan went into the rain session down 14-3. No shot of coming back in that scenario.
August 11th, 2022 at 9:16 AM ^
There goes Tuck's plan to sell a commemorative NFT of himself for the first night game.
August 11th, 2022 at 10:26 AM ^
NFTuck.
August 11th, 2022 at 10:16 AM ^
As a matter of fact, I had memory holed that game. Thanks for reminding me of that abomination of a game >:(
August 11th, 2022 at 7:21 AM ^
Is this random website Detroit Sports Nation using a tweet from its own twitter account as its source?
August 11th, 2022 at 11:09 AM ^
Sports auto-fellatio
August 11th, 2022 at 11:22 AM ^
maybe a third site in the ecosytem can bring the towel?
August 11th, 2022 at 7:23 AM ^
Bring it. We will be epically trolling them by kicking them in the nuts the next 10 years after getting them to book on with Tuck on for a decade. Enjoy, Sparty. You weren't the better team last year and that COVID year bullshit ain't coming back.
August 11th, 2022 at 9:58 AM ^
People have been saying that for 40 years and the game is always still a toss up.
August 11th, 2022 at 9:59 AM ^
Actually the better team usually wins. Last year was an exception.
August 11th, 2022 at 11:02 AM ^
That's the right answer. For the RIVAL talk I can't think of many instances where a clearly inferior team toppled the superior team.
August 11th, 2022 at 10:39 AM ^
24-17 in that period with the longest streak of 6 for Michigan and 4 for MSU. I don't think that's a toss-up.
August 11th, 2022 at 7:24 AM ^
Michigan doesn't really have any control over this. It all depends on the selection order by the networks for Big Ten games this year. The interesting part about that week is that OSU-PSU is being played on the same day. I would assume OSU-PSU would be the first choice game to networks. The FOX game is probably going to be at noon. The ABC/ESPN game is most likely going to be at night (or possibly 3:30pm depending on the rest of their college football inventory).
One other unusual item about this year is the availability of ND-OSU. One network selecting that game early might have had a ripple effect on which games end up on each network.
August 11th, 2022 at 9:35 AM ^
Last season Michigan v Michigan State was the 5th highest watched game in the nation. Ohio State v Penn State didn't even hit the top 12. My guess is that Fox would want the Michigan/Michigan State game for their big noon kick off.
August 11th, 2022 at 11:05 AM ^
All depends on the rankings going into that week.
August 11th, 2022 at 3:49 PM ^
Sparty will have 3 losses already. Ohio State, Wisconsin and Western Michigan
August 11th, 2022 at 4:29 PM ^
So what you're saying is... Tuck comin'?
August 11th, 2022 at 7:25 AM ^
We're coming for that#2 QB rankings spot, Thorne!
August 11th, 2022 at 7:30 AM ^
Still don't get why people think that Michigan and Michigan State fan bases are a special case when it comes to night games.
August 11th, 2022 at 10:28 AM ^
Maybe all of the drunken couch burning after a win or loss in EL?
August 11th, 2022 at 11:36 AM ^
They’ve been making their own special lights in EL for a generation.
August 11th, 2022 at 10:35 AM ^
It’s their Super Bowl.
August 11th, 2022 at 11:33 AM ^
There was a point, during the Mork years, when the ADs said they were against having the game be a night due to rowdiness issues.
August 11th, 2022 at 7:34 AM ^
As my username suggest, I’m not a fan of a steady diet of night games. One a year at most. The less frequent, the more exciting. Consider the unmatched atmosphere of UTL I. But, I’m not paying a billion dollars for broadcasting rights, either.
August 11th, 2022 at 7:37 AM ^
Correct. I think this is going to become even more clear with this new TV deal. The networks pretty much control the schedules now.
August 11th, 2022 at 8:58 AM ^
I don't want all night games either, as football is meant for the afternoon. That said....the night games we do have tend to be well attended, more raucous than the afternoon atmospheres, and get more TV viewership, so I see the argument from a recruiting perspective to have SOME of our bigger games at night.
August 11th, 2022 at 11:36 AM ^
The whole "football is meant to be played in the daytime" thing was debunked long ago. Night games are far more popular. Noon games draw lower attendance and lower TV ratings. Not even close. The answer is self-evident.
August 11th, 2022 at 12:37 PM ^
Thats why most high school games are played on Friday nights. Football is meant to be played under the lights.
August 11th, 2022 at 11:48 AM ^
I think the SEC, which plays most of its big games at night, has proven that night games never get old.
August 11th, 2022 at 7:56 AM ^
I'm going to take the opposite track from Grampy - I'd take more night games. I think the atmosphere is awesome, and that wouldn't change if all 7 home games were at night. This crap about 'too many drunk drivers' after games is crap, it's the same thing every other fan base has to deal with and they deal with it just fine.
Tradition? Noon kicks because Bo and Woody liked those? Get over it. Those days are long gone and aren't coming back.
Now, we won't ever see 7 night games - thankfully - but I'm good with 2-3 each year, and would like to see a couple more 3:30 kicks, also.
August 11th, 2022 at 8:16 AM ^
"Toe meets leather at 1pm so if you boys want to bring your cameras, you're welcome to come."
- Some Guy from the previous century
August 11th, 2022 at 11:18 AM ^
Alas, the speaker of said quote wasn't making millions of dollars which are contractually tied to media/television responsabilites
August 11th, 2022 at 9:00 AM ^
My principle gripe about night games is getting home between 1:00 AM and 2:00 AM. The game gets over in the vicinity of 11:30, the walking back to tailgate/cleaning up tailgate/waiting for traffic to un-gridlock takes to the 12:30-1:00 timeframe, and then it's another 1/2 hour just to clear the city limits of Ann Arbor.
August 11th, 2022 at 9:12 AM ^
I do not know how those living on the East coast get through life.
August 11th, 2022 at 9:27 AM ^
East Coast? We sit comfortably on the couch in front of the huge display device and watch the game. Hey, private bathooms, personal fridges, ability to pause the game or go back a few seconds/minutes to review things. It's really nice. 👍
Still haven't figure out how to skip the commercials though.