Hot Topics: Should Michigan Have A Yearly Night Game?

Each week we have two of our writers break down a "hot topic" among the Michigan fanbase and express their personal opinion .  Topics cover everything from rivalry games to apparel.  Writers have their own opinion and if you agree or disagree you are welcome to comment below or contact them via Twitter.

Representing Those Against Michigan Hosting A Yearly Night Game

1) It should be a rivalry game only phenomenon.  The atmosphere was electric because it was a rivalry game between two old and storied rivals.  Would a non-Big Ten opponent that we don’t have a history
with really be worth the night game atmosphere and anticipation?  I know everyone wants to tailgate all day for a crazier game but I just don’t think a MAC team or some unfamiliar foe is worth the pageantry of a night game at the Big House.

2) It does come with a heavy price tag for the University with respect to health and public safety  oncerns.  The Big House is one of the only football stadiums in the country situated in a heavily
residential area and the ALL DAY inconvenience to the local Ann Arborites (who are not all football fans) in addition to the added police and safety personnel cost is just not going to be worth it some
years.  I can speak to this because I live a block from the Big House and I know how big a burden a night game can be.

3) Michigan has never had night games before.  The tradition at the Big House is to have a 12, 1 pm, or 3:30 kick and it has been that way forever.  You don’t just go about changing things up for the sake of the fact that “everyone else is doing it.”  Yeah, they have yearly night games at Michigan State and Wisconsin because that’s how those schools get their exposure.  Michigan doesn’t need to have night games unless it’s a top 25, College Gameday worthy matchup and that just isn’t going to happen every year so I don’t think it should be expected by the fans and I certainly don’t think it should be scheduled years in advance.  If it happens, it will happen and be special.  Don’t make it regular practice of the word “special” won’t be something that will apply anymore.

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Thomas Beindit - Representing Those For Michigan Hosting A Yearly Night Game

1) First off, I think we all remember the night game from last season.  If you were fortunate enough to attend the game, or were just in town, then you know how exciting the game was for fans.  Not only is it something different for fans and players to get excited about, but there is also more time to build the suspense.  While the majority of Michigan's home season games start at noon, this would likely give fans and players over 8 hours to tailgate and discuss the excitement of the game (along with allowing the college students time to wake up).  Fans often seem fired up for traditional games, but ask any fanbase around the country.  Even if the opponent is a little weaker, which is not something I'm supporting, the excitement increases at night.  It's a primetime match-up.  That's a lot more exciting than being just another noon game among the many every Saturday.

2) Along with excitement, a night game virtually guarantees increased coverage for the program, team, and campus.  Since less night games happen on a weekly basis than traditional day games, the odds of landing a premier spot on a major challenge during primetime increase significantly.  Sure, Michigan gets great coverage now, but night games almost always get more coverage than a day game.  I can't remember how many times last season I'd be watching a football game and see ads for the night game on later.  Along with that, fans and media personnel will likely stay in Ann Arbor longer, since many simply drive up on gameday and leave afterward.  With 8 extra hours, there's going to be a lot of people that stay around, spend money, and check out the campus, which can be invaluable over time.

3) Finally, there's the purely economic perspective.  Selling tickets isn't too difficult for Michigan, but it's always something to be kept in mind.  Dave Brandon commented and said last year's night game was probably the most coveted ticket in Michigan Stadium history.  Think about that.  Not only did the demand come near the games with Notre Dame, Michigan State, Penn State, and Ohio, but it even topped those.  There have been some pretty huge games in the past, but this literally was the biggest (set NCAA attendance record).  Remember, we're talking about a game between two unranked opponents.  How does a game between two unranked teams get that much ticket demand?  Play it at night, plain and simple.

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Final Points

Those Against A Night Game - The only thing that I think is key to reinforce here, in response to Toms points, is that this is Michigan (fergodsakes)! The ticket was coveted but I think tickets are coveted for all Michigan games and I wonder how a night game against Air Force would really sell relative to a regular ND or MSU night game. It seems like the rivalry and the night game were the keys to the hype, the atmosphere, and it being so special. I'd hope that we can keep a night game reserved for a
primetime ABC worthy matchup, not just something that would be on TV because its at night. Michigan gets all the publicity in the world and when its a night game (and the RIGHT night game) it goes next-level amazing as only a rare, truly Michigan experience can. Keep it special... do it when its needed, not just because the calendar dictates.

Thomas - He brings up many valid points, but there are a few problems in his argument.  First, assuming the rivalry aspect is what made the night game great is invalid.  The rivalry aspect certainly helped coverage, but it didn't make the Under the Lights what it became.  Playing at night is what increased the demand.  More people watched Under the Lights than the Michigan - Ohio game.  If the attendance and excitement was all about the rivalry aspect, fans should have flocked to the Ohio game instead.  Second, I think that cost is far outweighed by the positives.  I can recall walking into several restaurants that were so packed I could hardly find a seat.  I don't think these groups would be opposed to a longer tailgate.  Along with this, there didn't seem to be any significant increase in arrests as a result of the longer tailgate.  Sure, it costs a bit more for security, but the gains are completely worth it.  Finally, I realize the noon games are tradition at Michigan, but what makes a tradition?  You have to take part in the tradition.  Noon games weren't tradition before we played them and they're still going to exist (Big Ten bans November night games).  Night games could easily become a Michigan tradition if we allow them.


Photo Credit: Thomas Beindit

Ending The Series With Notre Dame

Michigan V Notre Dame "Under the Lights"

One minute and twelve seconds.  That's all it took to decide the first night game in Michigan Stadium history.  Fans had been forced to wait nearly one hundred years to see a night game in the Big House and the game that followed didn't disappoint.  An epic match-up of Michigan vs. Notre Dame gave fans the thrill of a lifetime.  Topped by 21 points in the final 1:12 and a game-winning touchdown by Roy Roundtree with two seconds will live in the minds of Michigan and Notre Dame fans forever.

However, there are rumors swirling that  the athletic department will be announcing tomorrow that the Michigan - Notre Dame rivalry will be put on hold, for the foreseeable future.  Obviously, nothing has been confirmed and tomorrow's announcement could regard something completely different, but I thought it would be an interesting chance to take a look back at this rivalry, especially if it ends for the foreseeable future.

Now, one may ask, why?  Why would Michigan and Notre Dame put such a well-known and beloved rivalry on hold?  Well, there's a multitude of possible reasons, but most reasonable speculations seem to focus on scheduling conflicts for Michigan.  As fans have seen this year, by having a guaranteed "home and home" rivalry with Notre Dame on a yearly basis, it becomes very difficult to schedule other legitimate non-conference opponents.  This is because college athletic departments are only allowed to schedule four games a season if they are in a conference like the Big Ten.  The four non-conference games are typically chances for the community and athletic department to make money and scheduling away games during those four games decreases the school's income significantly.

Of course, when Michigan tries to schedule games against teams like Alabama or Notre Dame, they are much less willing to schedule just a road game similar to a team like Western Michigan or Central Michigan.  This desire for home games typically leads to a "home and home." This means there are an equal number of home games for each team.  This seems fair, but it is still a challenge to the athletic department.  For instance, in the 2011 season Michigan had four home non-conference games, but because they scheduled Notre Dame and Alabama for next year, the team will have to go on the road twice (Alabama is a neutral game).  This is a major reason why a school would want to end a yearly rivalry with Notre Dame because it could allow more home games and scheduling of different difficult opponents.

Along with this, there is speculation the possible move is a result of the new Big Ten schedule that will change it from eight to nine conference games per season. This may sound like a minor change, but it only allows teams to schedule three non-conference games per year instead of four.  Since Michigan and other Big Ten teams will have to play tougher competition for another game and will be required to have more road games, having a yearly game like Notre Dame would only allow six home games bi-yearly, something the athletic department does not seem excited about.

Whether this potential change is because of Michigan's desire to schedule other good non-conference opponents or a side-effect of an expanded Big Ten schedule is up for debate, but putting this rivalry on hold is not something new.  For two rivals that first played in 1887, having only 39 games against each other is quite surprising.  In fact, it's because of athletic department disagreements that prevented that rivalry from being played on a yearly basis until 1978.

Since 1978, the teams have played 28 times.  Michigan holds a 14-13-1 record over Notre Dame during this period in a very competitive rivalry.  However, one should notice that there have been 34 seasons since 1978, not 28.  So why did the teams not play six times over this span?  This happened because the series took several "breaks" during this time.  In 1983-1984, 1995-1996, and 2000-2001, the series was put "on hold" and no games were played.  One can speculate on the reasoning for these breaks, but after further analysis, there seems to be a good reason.

In every one of the seasons where the Michigan - Notre Dame rivalry was put on hold, Michigan faced at least one non-conference opponent ranked in the top 25.  The quality of the opponent can be debated in hindsight, but nobody can debate the excitement leading up to those games.  For instance, in the 1984 season, Michigan was able to face #1 Miami and #16 Washington in non-conference play and in 2000 the team was able to face #14 UCLA.

I'm not arguing a "home and home" against a team like Oklahoma, Georgia, or Texas could replace what the Michigan - Notre Dame rivalry has become, especially with the last few games decided in the final minutes, but it certainly would generate new excitement.  I'd hate to see the rivalry be put on hold for an extended period of time, but replacing it for a two years with a "home and home" against a team like Oklahoma or Texas would be very appealing in my mind.

I find it appealing because it allows Michigan to face new and different opponents without sacrificing the special rivalry Michigan has with Notre Dame.  There's already been three two year breaks in the rivalry since 1978 and another would probably change little more than those breaks changed.  Along with this, players would still be able to play Notre Dame at home and on the road.  These players would miss out on the four year battle most players receive, but they'd get to face a different team like Oklahoma or Texas and still get the experience of playing Notre Dame in the Big House and in South Bend.

So, even though the idea of ending the Michigan - Notre Dame rivalry may seem unappealing, one cannot help but notice the breaks in the past and the chance to face a new, exciting opponent.  There's obviously no guarantee of what the athletic department's announcement will include and whether it's even about Notre Dame, but fans should not worry about the future of this rivalry as it will still be strong in the future if past history is any indication.

Photo Credit: Thomas Beindit