What Is Your Michigan Football Game TV Viewing Threshold?

Submitted by UNCWolverine on

While I enjoy watching all Michigan football games on TV, I sometimes choose to attend a non-Michigan game in person over watching a Michigan game on TV. Just curious to get a feel for our fanbase. Am I just an outlier or are there others that are similar? 

I've broken Michigan games into 3 Groups and I've broken non-Michigan games into 5 Categories. Here are their definitions: 


Michigan Game Groups 

A. Michigan vs Ohio State (Wisconsin, PSU, Florida, etc) 

B. Michigan vs Iowa (MSU*, Minnesota, etc.) 

C. Michigan vs Cincinnati (Air Force, Rutgers, etc.) 

*MSU could be placed in Group A or B depending on the year.

Example Non-Michigan Game Categories 

1. Hope vs Albion 
2. Purdue vs Indiana 
3. NR Northwestern vs #9 Wisconsin 
4. #6 USC vs #14 Stanford 
5. #1 Alabama vs #2 LSU 

For each of the three Groups of Michigan games A, B, and C which is the lowest Category of “Non-Michigan Games” would you choose to attend? For example this Saturday I am choosing to attend USC/Stanford category 4 over watching Michigan game Group C live on TV. 

For me there are only 4 Michigan games this season (Group A) where I would choose to stay home and watch on TV over attending any of the 5 Category games. I would probably choose Categories 3-5 in person over watching Group B games. For Group C I would probably go to all 5 Category games in person then watch the Michigan game on my DVR when I get home and/or Sunday. 

So for me: 

A0 
B3-5 
C1-5 

What say you?

Mike Damone

September 7th, 2017 at 6:57 PM ^

The only decision critical to me is - do I crack a beer...

A) Before the Michigan game.

B) At kickoff

C) First Michigan Touchdown

D) After 2 Opponent Pick Sixes

E) All of the above

 

Answer:  E

M Ascending

September 8th, 2017 at 8:56 AM ^

Is the OP serious?  Hey, nimrod, remember this:

On football Saturdays, you ALWAYS go full Michigan!

Oh, and BTW, in case you didn't know, you can always stream the Michigan game live on your phone if it's on an ESPN station, ABC, or BTN, while you're wasting your Saturday elsewhere.

UNCWolverine

September 7th, 2017 at 5:59 PM ^

Besides missing this weekend's Cincinnati game live on TV I'm also going to LSU@ Mississippi State (missing Air Force), Auburn @ LSU (missing IU), and Oklahoma @ Oklahoma State (missing Minnesota)

bamf16

September 7th, 2017 at 8:38 PM ^

I have been known to go to a bigger game when Michigan plays at the same time.

I DVR the Michigan game and watch it when I get home.

Did it last year when Penn State played at Pitt.

Went home and watched Michigan beat Central Florida on DVR.

Blueblood2991

September 7th, 2017 at 6:08 PM ^

In theory?

The game starts at 530 PST. The Michigan game starts at 9 am PST. They don't open the Coliseum that early. You'll be able to watch it at a tailgate.

Same thing to what you said above about the Mississippi St game. Thats a night game, while Michigan plays at Noon. Makes zero sense.

I'm starting to think you just wanted to humble brag about all these games you're going to that don't interfere whatsover.

UNCWolverine

September 7th, 2017 at 6:15 PM ^

Well if you'd like to know our itinerary, we are leaving my buddy's place at 10am to head to Costco to buy tailgating food/drink. That will get us to the tailgating area around noon. Not sure how more detail you want on our day.

Nope, not a humblebrag at all. I'm genuinely curious to know if any other mgoblog posters also choose to watch our "crappy" games on their DVR later to attend non-Michigan games. It's looking like the answer is nobody. I personally love seeing different stadiums, tailgates, campuses, college football experiences. To each their own.

stephenrjking

September 7th, 2017 at 7:26 PM ^

Seriously, though, do both. Reorganize your itinerary to be able to catch the whole first half, even if it's just streaming on your phone.

I used to travel to games and I would tailor my schedule to watch Michigan play. Too consumed with Michigan to miss that. You're investing a day in college football, it's worth actually watching football.

I watched Michigan-Iowa (the Marquise Walker catch) from Baton Rouge. Saw Michigan-Illinois earlier that year from Knoxville (was supposed to be a bye, moved due to 9/11). Saw 2003 Michigan-Indiana in Boulder. It can be done and it's a blast.

For that matter I saw 2005 Michigan-OSU from a friend's place before driving to LA to see USC-Fresno State that night. And it was a great time.

As for your question, if I were close enough to a college football facility to attend a game, I'd love to go--I'd pick a game that didn't conflict. We get 12 Michigan games a year, it's simply too scarce to miss.

UNCWolverine

September 7th, 2017 at 9:41 PM ^

Answer: to experience other games at different campuses all over the country. There's a big world out there. Take a look sometime. I will see us put 28 on the bearcats before I leave the house. The rest of the game I'll watch later. Then I get to go see a great game in person. Works for me.

SAMgO

September 7th, 2017 at 10:45 PM ^

No no, you're not getting it. If I don't see how Aubrey Solomon and Ambry Thomas perform in garbage time snaps against Cincy, then others will have hot takes on our 2018 defense before I do, and that's just not a world I can live in. Plus I'll just inevitably be checking my phone constantly for our score.

But you're right, there is a big world out there! Two years ago I got to see Michigan play in College Park and Minneapolis, last year in Piscataway, this year in Madison and maybe back in Maryland again. Next year in South Bend. Have been to Iowa City and East Lansing as well in the past. Hopefully sometime soon in the Rose Bowl. But stray from the Maize and Blue, I will not.

zh2oson

September 7th, 2017 at 6:13 PM ^

I'll always watch the Michigan game live - if possible.

 

I have a young family, so the question is often, "do I get to watch the UM game live or off the DVR?"  The idea of having to regularly choose between spending 4+ hours at another team's game PLUS watching the UM game is a bridge too far for me.

 

Must be nice, though!

 

EDIT: I just read your comment about no wife, kids or mortgage.  Now your post makes sense.

UMfan21

September 7th, 2017 at 6:18 PM ^

I watch every second of every MIchigan game on TV (West Coaster here), regardless of how one sided the event may be or who the opponent is.  Goes for Basketball and Football.  Occasionally I have to DVR a game and it kills me not being able to check the score.



I watched UofM vs. MSU in 2006 from my honeymoon in Jamaica.

GoBlueGoWings

September 7th, 2017 at 6:19 PM ^

Not 100% sure what is going on. I am going to guess the correct answer would be that if Michigan is on tv I am watching. I will flip over to see other games during the timeouts. 

Yeoman

September 7th, 2017 at 6:18 PM ^

Your #1 is the only kind of game I would ever opt for over live Michigan on TV. I skipped Michigan/Toledo in '08 to watch my two D3 alma maters play each other, a decision I've never regretted.

 

UESWolverine

September 7th, 2017 at 6:20 PM ^

I used to watch everygame possible from noon until the end of the Hawai'i game. Since the RR years - I've only been paying attention to our games. (I did listen to most of the Hawai'i game on the radio last Saturday - way later than I wanted to stay up). What can I say - college football is pretty awesome.