UM/ND play first night game at Michigan Stadium

[M Club]

A great way to break in the Harbaugh era?

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP)—Michigan will play its first night game at the Big House in 2011 against Notre Dame.

New athletic director Dave Brandon made the announcement Thursday.

Brandon expects it to be an unprecedented atmosphere at Michigan Stadium, adding a new chapter to the rivalry between two of college football’s most storied programs.

The Wolverines have played the Fighting Irish at night three times—losing in 1982, 1988 and 1990 by an average of four points, all at Notre Dame Stadium.

Michigan leads 21-15-1 in the all-time series that started in 1887.

Notre Dame and Michigan are scheduled to play each year through 2017, then take two years off to play other teams, before resuming the rivalry in 2020 through 2031.

[TheJON]

Will The Big Library sound as quiet at night as it does during day games???

[M Club]

michigan crowds are appreciably louder during 330 starts than they are the traditional noon kickoffs. makes sense given you have three extra hours to drink jack daniels, so i imagine a night game at michigan stadium would be quite rowdy, though only because all the 90-year-old alumni go to bed at 730 and will have to sell their tickets to people who actually care.

also, the stadium expansion will be finished for the upcoming year. was supposedly already quite louder last year. still, it'd be better served were a different fan base there watching games.

[Screw_Michigan]

Nobody cares.

[M Club]

will be easy to get tickets then.

[WolverineSteve]

That's gonna be awesome!!!

The Big House was already louder last year and many tix from the class of '40-80 will be available. It should be a bowl game atmosphere (IIRC what those are like). I will be there by 2pm with an Indyesque bbq feast and a half barrel of american light beer that will piss off PSU and the resident beer snobs. Any of you asshole have the balls to make the journey and you're welcome to a cup of suds.

Didn't read about the lights. In the past when UM played later season 330 kickoffs they brought in the temporary mobile lights. The field was pretty "shadowy". I'm guessing there has been significant technological upgrades in lighting over the years and with a year and a half to shore it up it will probably not be a concern.

Go Blue!!!

[King Crimson]

That's gonna be awesome!!!

It should be a bowl game atmosphere.

probably about right. two 6-6 teams playing...except it won't be the week before Christmas. :wink:

[Shoalzie]

Will the stadium renovations be done by this season or 2011? I drove through campus briefly on the way to a Red Wings game last week...the stadium looks cool but it appeared they had quite a bit of work to do on the outside.

[WolverineSteve]

Will the stadium renovations be done by this season or 2011? I drove through campus briefly on the way to a Red Wings game last week...the stadium looks cool but it appeared they had quite a bit of work to do on the outside.

It'll officially open for the upcoming season. The Uconn game.

[FLW Buckeye]

It'll officially open for the upcoming season. The Uconn game.

What happened? Appy St wasn't available? :twisted:

[Shoalzie]

It'll officially open for the upcoming season. The Uconn game.

What happened? Appy St wasn't available? :twisted:

What's bad is that isn't the most embarrassing non-conference home game on the 2010 schedule...they have UMass and Bowling Green also.

[Terry in Crapchester]

It should be a bowl game atmosphere

Granted, I've only been to one bowl game, but if that was typical, this has to be the most overrated, ESPN-esque phrase uttered in sports. The one bowl game I went to (1989 Gator Bowl, I lived in Jacksonville at the time) I walked right up to the box office and bought my tickets minutes before kickoff. I suspect, given that the overwhelming majority of bowl games are considerably less prestigious than the Gator, that my experience was far from atypical.

[M Club]

What's bad is that isn't the most embarrassing non-conference home game on the 2010 schedule...they have UMass and Bowling Green also.

why is uconn embarrassing? middle-of-the-pack big east school, which is still better than 80% of the ooc games out there. sec wouldn't touch this game even were it its half-naked sister.

[M Club]

It should be a bowl game atmosphere

Granted, I've only been to one bowl game, but if that was typical, this has to be the most overrated, ESPN-esque phrase uttered in sports. The one bowl game I went to (1989 Gator Bowl, I lived in Jacksonville at the time) I walked right up to the box office and bought my tickets minutes before kickoff. I suspect, given that the overwhelming majority of bowl games are considerably less prestigious than the Gator, that my experience was far from atypical.

'bowl-game atmosphere' for michigan fans means the trailer trash who take their once-in-a-lifetime vacation to florida to finally see michigan play in person. big house seating is monopolized by geriatric mafia.

[Danimal]

UConn is a legit opponent, I can totally see them winning this game.

[M Club]

i'd put it at 50/50 right now. well, 40/60. word out of the first few practices is that denard is looking better than tater. oh, and that no one can snap the ball very well.

[Jobocky]

It'll officially open for the upcoming season. The Uconn game.

UConn should be ashamed.