Dave Brandon: Michigan football program can schedule Pac-12 game prior to 2017
The Michigan football program will be able to participate in the newly agreed upon Big Ten-Pac-12 scheduling agreement prior to the 2017 season.
When, exactly?
"Whenever we can work out a scheduling agreement with a Pac-12 school," Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon wrote in an email to AnnArbor.com Wednesday.
Dave Brandon
File photo
Presently, Michigan has a full 12-game schedule in 2012 and 2013, but has open dates beginning in 2014. The Wolverines have a pair of non-conference games planned for the 2014 season, a home game against Appalachian State and a road contest against Notre Dame.
While Michigan's ability to participate in this new non-conference platform prior to the aimed target date is firm, it's relationship moving forward with Notre Dame may become less clear.
"In the near term, it will not change anything," Brandon wrote with regard to the scheduling in the Michigan-Notre Dame series. "Long term is never easy to predict."
Reports earlier Wednesday explained how the Big Ten is likely to examine its move to a nine-game football schedule. If the league opts to go with a nine-game slate, teams would have just three non-conference games to work with.
If the league uses a nine-game schedule and Michigan keeps Notre Dame on the schedule, it would then receive one non-conference guaranteed home game.
An eight-game conference slate would give Michigan more wiggle room with non-league scheduling, but in the end, it won't change Brandon's philosophy on games played inside Michigan Stadium.
"We have a clear scheduling principle of having a minimum of seven home games each year," he wrote. "And that will not change."
As far as Brandon's feeling toward the new Big Ten-Pac-12 agreement, he seems to be all for it.
"It is positive for all of our sports," he wrote.
Nick Baumgardner covers Michigan sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2514, by email at nickbaumgardner@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @nickbaumgardner.
Comments
heartbreakM
Thu, Dec 29, 2011 : 1:55 a.m.
Brandon has to get over this notion that we must play 7 or more games at home every year at the expense of meaningful competition. It is clearly important financially but what meaning does playing UMass, App State, Eastern, Central, Toledo, Northeastern Ontario, or Ann Arbor Pioneer have for the team? Probably easy wins, except, when, uh, lose??? Upping the ante by playing better competition with real conferences has benefits far more intangible for the program and its players, both in experience and in development. MSU sure does not have a problem playing anywhere and anyone in its basketball program, and it gets a lot of respect for it. Duke does the same, and Duke's home crowd is miniscule compared to the Big Ten stadiums. It's time for Brandon to reverse the "scared to play you" trend.
heartbreakM
Thu, Dec 29, 2011 : 5:20 p.m.
And scheduled App State (again) and UMass (again) and has publicly stated that he won't schedule a tough home and home series. Who is on Michigan's schedule in the next 5 years other than next year's Dallas game that generates huge excitement or fear?
JustfortheRecord
Thu, Dec 29, 2011 : 3:14 p.m.
"scared to play you?"... Are you talking about the same Dave Brandon who scheduled Alabama for next year's opener?
heartbreakM
Thu, Dec 29, 2011 : 1:15 p.m.
@veracity: Most big name teams will not do a one and done, teams like Oklahoma, Texas, UCLA, Georgia, etc. Maybe Stanford would, but based on difficulty scheduling the way Michigan wants to (lots of home games), they have been essentially forced to schedule the MAC and FCS schools because no other school will put up with our requirements (come to us and play and we will never return).
Veracity
Thu, Dec 29, 2011 : 6:37 a.m.
Since when does playing in Michigan Stadium during the non-conference schedule mean that inferior teams have to be scheduled? Michigan has the largest stadium in the country and more than fills it for every game. Most teams visiting Michigan Stadium return home with a proportion of gate receipts exceeding what they get from their own home games. What team would refuse the opportunity if it has a corresponding opening in its schedule?
Macabre Sunset
Thu, Dec 29, 2011 : 12:53 a.m.
Blame the BCS instead. Before the BCS started, Michigan would play Notre Dame AND a major conference opponent every year. Since the BCS, even with the 12th game, it's just Notre Dame most years. Like it or not, Notre Dame is a traditional opponent. After the nine other long-time conference opponents, our 39 games against the Irish are by far the most against any one opponent. Yes, they played only twice between 1909 and 1978, but it was as frequent a game as any before then, and there have been many wonderful games since 1978. I'm glad Schembechler restarted the rivalry.
RWBill
Thu, Dec 29, 2011 : 12:01 a.m.
I posted this just yesterday, somewhere, we need to dump that Notre Dame gig every year. It is stale, and based on an inaccurate perception fostered by ignorant media that Michigan and Notre Dame had some regular head to head meeting. Not true. Prior to this "modern era" from the 80s, M and ND did NOT meet regularly. We used to play Cal, UCLA, Missouri, North Carolina, Texas AM, you name it, at least one school from a big name conference before the Big Ten schedule. This ND crap every year is bile. Take a ten year break, or never resume, that's fine with me.
MRunner73
Thu, Dec 29, 2011 : 9:56 p.m.
Hope you didn't miss the excitment the Michigan Notre Dame generated the past two years. Both games came down to the wire. Maybe we can thank the performance Denard gave us to pull out the narrow wins. Michigan-Notre Dame is a good rivalry. Let's dump one of the MAC teams, no more App State and U-Mass rematches.
MRunner73
Wed, Dec 28, 2011 : 10:44 p.m.
This is especially good for Michigan. It will eliminate rescheduling App State or adding a second MAC team. If the B1G goes to a nine game conference schedule, then only one MAC team would fit in the pre-conference season. I am sure Mr Brandon will be able to get a 7 game home schedule. Take note: only 6 home games in 2012.
7718
Wed, Dec 28, 2011 : 10:17 p.m.
Why not make the deal with the SEC instead?
7718
Thu, Dec 29, 2011 : 1:21 p.m.
Rwbill...Michigan's goal is to go to the Rose Bowl every year. So two games against PAC12 teams is a better option than playing an SEC team during the regular season and playing in the Rose Bowl against a PAC12 team? I would hope the program would want to play the best competition put there. Until the Big10 can show that they can beat the SEC teams regularly then the SEC will always be considered the best conference.
RWBill
Thu, Dec 29, 2011 : 12:03 a.m.
It's already too choking a restriction locking in 4 bowl games with the SEC every year. Geezo, let's get some variety.
Polecat
Wed, Dec 28, 2011 : 11:22 p.m.
The SEC won't play outside the south.
Macabre Sunset
Wed, Dec 28, 2011 : 9:50 p.m.
All-time Records vs Pac-Twelve schools (bowl records in parentheses): UCLA 8-3 (1-1) Washington 7-5 (2-2) California 6-2 (1-0) Stanford 6-3-1 (1-1) Oregon State 4-2 (1-0) Oregon 4-2 Southern California 4-6 (2-6) Washington State 3-0 (1-0) Colorado 3-1 Arizona 2-0 Utah 1-1 Arizona State 0-1 (0-1) Total: 48-24-1 (9-11)
Macabre Sunset
Thu, Dec 29, 2011 : 9:11 a.m.
...and you'd be blowing smoke, because you're not even close.
smokeblwr
Thu, Dec 29, 2011 : 2:59 a.m.
Most of those wins are probably pre-1969....
Macabre Sunset
Wed, Dec 28, 2011 : 9:51 p.m.
excuse me, 48-26-1...
Oregon39_Michigan7
Wed, Dec 28, 2011 : 9:20 p.m.
I, if you couldn't already tell, would love another home-and-home series between Michigan and Oregon.
Billy Bob Schwartz
Wed, Dec 28, 2011 : 9:38 p.m.
Forget it, pal. lol
smokeblwr
Wed, Dec 28, 2011 : 9:17 p.m.
Call RichRod up and let's GIT IT ON!