times for games

I'm not really sure what the best rationale is for scheduling games. When living in Cali, I liked that MNF was on at 6. I would always miss the first part because I would be busy with dinner, etc, but I could always see the ending. I guess if I had a choice, all games would end by 10. I think it is more logical to play in front of a full stadium rather than starting a West Coast game at 5 and have people missing it.

I think they probably have it figured out as to what is best for the sport. They tried changing it for MNF and decided to go back. In any case, it really isn't something to complain about. If you are a big enough fan to stay up and watch it, then do it. If not, than don't. I didn't.

I've been up north since Tuesday, so I haven't been online since Monday at work. Until now.

one more whiney Wings fan comment

I have no problem with the Wings playing at 10:30 against the Ducks in Anaheim. All games should be played at a logical time for the local site. World Series games between Detroit and St Louis should start at 7 and 8 ET. World Series games between Colorado and Seattle should start at 9 and 10 ET because that way the local fans get to see the games in their local time.

People should not have to leave work early or stay up late to see their local team play.

M vs. Notre Dame

If ND is willing to play a home game in Ann Arbor, M should take them up on it.

schedules

Now M is saying that they have been talking to UMass but not for the opening date of the finished stadium. The Angel of the BigHouse has quoted a department flunky that they're "trying to do something special"...

Not sure who that could be. M opened Vandy's stadium in the 1920s and that stadium was part of what Yost wanted to bring to M. An Ivy school? Ohio Weslyan? U Chicago? All those schools would fit the just at home patsy need.

Or a real home and home with a "special" team.

Schedules

You're right that there are probably a limited number of teams doing the home and home thing, but we know there are teams willing to do it. MSU just announced future games against Alabama and West Virginia. OSU has Mia (fl) and Cal in the future. It isn't that hard to do. You just do it. With the 'new' Michigan Stadium, though, I don't see anything happening that will take games away from Ann Arbor. If M ever returns to the Top 10, there will be a lot of criticism regarding strength of schedule, and it will likely be justified.

After M beats Delaware St. this year, we should never have an I-AA team in Michigan Stadium. (we have to play them this year, so our record is 1-1).

M vs. UMass

I read that Michigan will play UMass to open the 2010 Football season. WTKA is blaming this on the 20 year ND contract. Well, USC also plays ND every year and they don't play a 1-AA school. MSU plays ND every year and to my knowledge they don't play a 1-AA school. I completely understand that the football program pays for the majority of the athletic department, and I'm aware that there are no gimme games anymore, but I would hope M can schedule better.

I would guess part of the "problem" is other teams are in the same boat - they don't want to play M in a home-and-home none the less a 2 for 1. They want to play a cupcake too. I would really like the NCAA to outlaw 1-AA games or come up with some sort of punishment that makes it essentially prohibitive (counts as a loss in the BCS standings etc.).

I would think M recruiting could benefit from away games to areas of interest. Playing as home and home or 2-1 with South Florida, UCF or any of those "directional" Florida schools could help that pipeline. How about something with Baylor, UTEP, Houston SMU etc.

I miss the Pac Ten match ups that we used to get with Washington or UCLA. I would love the Big1T1en to have something like they have in basketball with the Big Ten - ACC challenge.

BigTen - SEC challenge: using last year as an example we'd have:

PSU @ Florida
Alabama @ OSU
MSU @ Georgia
Ole Miss @ Iowa
Northwestern @ Vandy
So Carolina @ Minnesota
Wisconsin @ LSU
Tennessee @ Illinois
Purdue @ Kentucky
Auburn @ Michigan
Indiana @ Arkansas