Michigan Tuesday: Michigan at UConn - Should They or Shouldn't they?

In 2013 Michigan will make a trip to UConn's Rentschler Field on September 21st.   This was a return "home and home" contract that Sailboat Bill Martin signed so he could have a medium profile game to open the "updated" Big House in 2010.  

The catch is that Rentschler Field is basically the size of an end zone at Michigan Stadium which holds 40,000 people.  Playing on the road in a 40K stadium doesn't exactly make current Michigan AD David Brandon very happy.   He would prefer UConn host the game at an NFL stadium so that the Michigan faithful in the NYC area can get a ticket.  He would also prefer the game have a bigger TV impact.   As you know, David signed a contract to play at "Jerry World" to kickoff the 2012 season against defending National Champion Alabama.  Why would he agree to that?  Because Jerry will pay Michigan a similar amount of what they would have made hosting a game at the Big House.

UConn AD (a Michigan Grad) Warde Manuel doesn't what to move it to an NFL stadium: "We have a contract to play at Rentschler Field," Manuel told the Courant, "and that's where we're gonna play."

So what should Michigan do?  Play in a 40,000 seat house or buy out the contract or pay UConn $2M for breaking the contract?

On one hand, the game isn't that big of a risk, UConn football isn't really trending up after thier head coach left for Maryland a year ago.  UConn hired a former Syracuse Head Coach and we all know how that works out.  

On the other hand, Michigan could make probably double the buy out if they scheduled a home game at the Big House.   The problem is, it might be hard to find an opponent to fill that spot at this point.  The game is 15 months away but football schedules are done years in advance. 

Could Michigan throw UConn an extra $1M to play at the Big House?  $3M for a trip to A2 isn't bad and they probably would make more money then they would attending a bowl game.

It's clear that David Brandon is not a fan of this contract and would like to change it.   The big question is, is he $2M mad or not.   I'm guessing David is trying to find some common ground with Warde but as they say "a contract is a contract".   Maybe they can bring in some folding chairs or something?  :)

When the Detroit News asked Dave earlier this month about the game, he replied:  "Working hard on it".