Rufus

Sun, Dec 4, 2011 : 3:35 p.m.

For the fans in the stadium- day games in the big house are magic. Night games are great for the TV audience but not so great for the ticket paying fans. I went to an SEC game at night and it sucked. Kept thinking-I'd rather be home watching it on TV. Lousy visibility. Atmosphere of a cheap rock concert.

iamcris

Sun, Dec 4, 2011 : 7:07 a.m.

I don't think the nation cares about watching a Michigan vs Michigan State game like fans of either team do. Michigan can carry their half of the national audience but Michigan State is lacking. Enter Notre Dame into the equation and now you have national interest. It's just not good entertainment at the "national level" to broadcast a regional rivalry in a primetime market. Breaking the tradition of the noon kickoff vs Ohio would make me sick even though it's a 9am start for me on the West coast. While I get it and would watch Michigan take on Sparty anytime of the day/night, nationally it wouldn't draw enough interest. No team on next year's schedule is worthy of a primetime slot for national exposure. If you think State will be good next year I have some real estate for sale. Go Blue!

RudeJude

Sat, Dec 3, 2011 : 4:49 p.m.

While I don't agree with the insults, I cannot disagree with the general sentiment of SEC fans comment. The Michigan fanbase's geriatric mentality is nauseating. We're scared of rival fans, who'd be in the minority of the 109,901+ fans at Michigan Stadium, fearing they'll get rowdy? I've lived among the people who live near Michigan Stadium, and they complain about the fans anyway, even if it's a 12pm start time. I'm not suggesting we turn every home game into a night game, that'd be ridiculous, but if the networks saw a Michigan-MSU game as being worthy of an 8pm start, don't rain on the parade before it gets going. It's the networks saying, "Hey Michigan, you have an awesome home game on your schedule that a lot of interested Americans would like to watch. Can we make your game, our primetime game?" It's a huge honor, and probably won't happen very often, anyway. Don't like the networks interfering? Remember, Michigan has had more games televised than any other team in college football, meaning Michigan HAS HELPED put the networks in this position of power more than any other school. Like it or not, Michigan plays big-time college football, and television is now essential to it, and has been for years. I love day games, 12pm or 3:30pm, and think Michigan should continue that tradition, as Dave Brandon advocates. I'm just saying let's not whine and complain about a POSSIBILITY that future home games MIGHT get the night game treatment. Like it or not, it's been a college tradition for the last decade at least. An occasional night game puts the spotlight on Michigan, which helps Michigan with recruiting and beyond. If you're really scared of opposing fans or night time dangers, etc., you can always sell your tickets for this rare type of game and watch it from the comfort and safety of your own home. In no way am I saying throw away our traditions, only to be open to a new, rarely-occurring tradition.

InsideTheHall

Sat, Dec 3, 2011 : 2:17 p.m.

By conference rule, no night games are allowed after November 1 unless they are played in a dome stadium. Unless the Ohio game is moved to before Nov.1 then it is not possible to play that game at night unless the conference rule is changed.

Moondance

Sat, Dec 3, 2011 : 1:20 p.m.

I just don't understand why a program spends the amount of money they did on lights and and doesn't schedule more if not all night games, at least BIG 10 and major program games. Michigan fans like to refer to Michigan State as 'Little Brother' but I'm afraid UM making a decision like does nothing more than make the BIG 10 a permanent 'Little Brother' of the SEC. Ever notice that the biggest SEC games aren't played at noon, they always seem to be played at night where the largest national audience can be captured. Tradition is a nice thing but I'm not that tied to it. But if you always tie yourself to the past then all you become is an old story that never improves. It's time to move out of the dark ages of this frame of mind and move on, dare to start a new tradition. Doesn't mean you have to play it at night every year but I think it is foolish to not to. Stop letting the ghosts of BIG 10 past....Woody, Bo and many more.... stop dictating what is best for future Michigan players. There is a reason Oregon has become so popular and is making such a huge splash on the national stage and will continue to do so. I may not care for all the combinations of jersey colors and such but they know that the kids and future players eat it up. These kids never saw a Woody or Bo team and many could care less but those same kids love the uniforms and are changing the image of their team themselves. Always remember the past but don't live in it. As long as the BIG 10 and Michigan live in the past they will have the best regional football team in the nation but the kids from Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Oregon, and California could quite frankly careless about them. BIG 10 football....the SEC's Little Brother.

Mick

Sat, Dec 3, 2011 : 6:09 a.m.

Says the SEC Fan who is a fan of a conference who allows real questionable recruiting practices just for the competitive edge, who cares about the student-athlete, they're all pieces of meat to you apparently. I actually care about the players and what happens to them after they leave school and how they conduct themselves in the public eye. Nobody said we're afraid of playing in the dark, quit twisting words around for your convenient argument. Nobody is afraid to play in the rain, that decision was a result of the silly state our country has fell into with all the legalese crap bestowed on our society. MSU would fit right in with the SEC with the thuggish way they play, I can see why you admire them it sounds like. Who said we shouldn't have a B1G Championship Game? Huh? I love that we have that now, so quit making things up. I never heard anybody that roots for U-M complain about App St. cheating, I don't know where you got that. The BCS is full of it in many ways, B1G fans are not the only ones who think so, more made up stuff by you. Finally, you have a binky? Really?

SEC Fan

Sat, Dec 3, 2011 : 2:59 a.m.

of course...Michigan is afraid to play in the dark or when it rains and they can't play any away games (only 4?)...and the sun is too shiny and the spartans play too rough...and the refs are mean...and there shouldn't be a Big 10 Championship game...and the BCS is unfair...and Appalachian State cheated....waaaaaaa...where's my binky?

Joseph Brando

Sat, Dec 3, 2011 : 2:16 a.m.

Air Force, Massachusetts, Illinois, and Northwestern. Wow! Top schools are bowl eligible for essentially playing .500 ball against the better teams. Nice.

heartbreakM

Sat, Dec 3, 2011 : 2:06 a.m.

The scheduling is something I have commented frequently about, and would love to see it ramped up to be pretty much all BCS type schools with national interest, though all need not be top 10 programs (i.e. would love to see us play Texas schools, Georgia or Georgia Tech, Stanford, UCal, Tennessee, Virginia or VA Tech, Boston College, Maryland, etc. If you must, play one MAC in-state school to contribute some of our money to a colleague in Michigan. I think playing top 10 teams all the time would be tiring and unrealistic for championships, but playing major schools would be much preferable than 2-3 MAC schools and FCS schools. Michigan did this for years until the days of Goss and Martin, and apparently continued by Brandon. I love Brandon's comments about night games--it should be done for special reasons, not done to just do it. I prefer day games for all sorts of reasons, not least of which is logistics but the M crowd did appear very well behaved for the ND game this year. I will say, though, that Brandon seems to be a guy who loves the dollar (as all AD's probably do), and if there is a way for Michigan athletics to earn a pretty penny, he'll do whatever he wants to do to gain it. (Ex: not one but two "legacy" jerseys this year).

Halter

Sat, Dec 3, 2011 : 1:24 a.m.

The Michigan night game vs Notre Dame went great TO A POINT...you have no idea the number of complaints that came in from people who live in that two-mile radius of the stadium that had to put up with the noise until 3 in the morning... I think the take on "special events" is a good one -- a game every two or three years under the lights -- keep the fans happy, keep Ann Arborites happy...

Tru2Blu76

Sat, Dec 3, 2011 : 1:22 a.m.

Wanna know about college game schedules and start times? Follow the money - the big, big money. That's all there is to it. Which is why Brandon's blog entries on this topic are not to be taken too seriously. Under the lights? Sure - why not put to use the new permanent lights? As it is, I think they're using those lights to grow marijuana on the stadium field in the off season, keeping them on 24/7. Besides, does anyone remember the darkened little stadium in East Lansing when the Wolverines played there last October? At least Michigan Stadium has a professional, big time look and feel to it. If night games do become a trend, we'll be seeing how far short a lot of Big Ten stadiums really are.

Terry Star21

Sat, Dec 3, 2011 : 12:20 a.m.

Thank you....I know Bo would be happy, and I have to believe perles and hayes would support this. There is nothing like a Michigan football game at noon on a Saturday......nothing. MgoBlueForTiM ....Bo; "College football should be played @ 1:00 on a Saturday afternoon".

D21

Fri, Dec 2, 2011 : 10:44 p.m.

Rude Jude, Sad but true, some State and Buckeye fans are just plain incorrigible and really stink up the A2 jail joints. Day games rulz!

RudeJude

Fri, Dec 2, 2011 : 9:25 p.m.

Wow, complaints about the costs of the lighting, the game being played too late, and rowdy fans? Really?

djm12652

Fri, Dec 2, 2011 : 9:17 p.m.

and how much did those freakin lights cost? How much does it cost when they're turned on at night when there is no game?

MRunner73

Fri, Dec 2, 2011 : 9:12 p.m.

We need not revisit this but, hey, the next Michigan football game won't be until Jan 2 or 3. 1) MSU fan are way too rowdy (being polite) to have that event at night. 2) OSU is too late in season. A 3:30 kick would be a Twi-night type game in very late November. On a clear day, sunset is already about 5:05 pm local time, remember, we fall back to Eastern Standard time. I suppose Michigan can play OSU at night in Indy for the B1G Champsionship, sooner than later.

RudeJude

Fri, Dec 2, 2011 : 8:59 p.m.

(From Dave Brandon's blog) "With TV comes the fluctuation of game times. All television networks work with certain parameters to select games and game times. The networks make their selections and announce game times two weeks prior to the game with few exceptions. These are network selections that are then forwarded to the Big Ten and then sent to each school. Athletic Directors don't determine start times -- networks do! Scheduling night games is different too. All night games are scheduled in advance of the season. There is no "flex" schedule like the NFL is using this week with the Detroit Lions and New Orleans Saints game moved to Sunday night. In this case, the NFL and NBC tell the teams when the contest will be played. For instance, with this past year's Notre Dame game, we first had discussions with the conference office and the network to make sure our game would be aired nationally. Once it was confirmed, we scheduled the Wolverines' first night game at Michigan Stadium."

RudeJude

Fri, Dec 2, 2011 : 8:45 p.m.

It sounds to me like the television networks will determine if Michigan plays night games or not, and not Dave Brandon. Now that Michigan has the permanent lights, it's an option now. Sounds great to me. The Notre Dame game went over so well, I'd be disappointed if Michigan didn't continue this new tradition. I wouldn't be surprised if the MSU game is chosen as a night game. Like Dave Brandon said, it's a television decision. Keep up the great job, Dave Brandon! Athletic Director of the Year!

lumberg48108

Fri, Dec 2, 2011 : 7:58 p.m.

also - to think he, as U-M AD has NO say to the start times of games is a joke - of course he has say, as does the visiting school

lumberg48108

Fri, Dec 2, 2011 : 7:50 p.m.

Reda that home schedule again folks - its terrible season ticket holders are already looking to sell tickets for 2012 , sans MSU when you make conference games seem unimportant and make a huge deal of non-con games like Notre dame, normal games are less special and the opening games against MAC teams have zero interest way to plan ahead