Every year around this time, I start thinking what a Michigan - Michigan State game would be like at Ford Field. The reason I start thinking that way is the success of this weekends Oklahoma and Texas game in the Cotton Bowl and soon the Florida - Georgia match up in Jacksonville. I heard Mac Brown, the Longhorns head coach say today that kids come to Oklahoma and Texas just to play in this game. That The Red River Shoot Out is like a mid-season bowl game.
I know all the reasons not to do it like revenue and home field advantage. But what about a 2-4 year trial to see how it works?
Here are some of my reasons why I think it would work:
- The Michigan - MSU game this year was on the Big Ten Network. It seems the rivalry has lost a little luster the last 5 years or so. The game is not seen as important by the major networks.
- Ford Field is a first class stadium roughly the same distance from both campuses (I know it's a little farther from East Lansing).
- How great would Ford Field look with half of it Blue and other half Green?
- I know weather is part of football, but would it really be that bad to play the game at 72 degrees?
- It could give the Detroit economy a little Saturday boost. Restaurants, hotels, casino's all could see some increased business.
- It could be a night game
- The Michigan - MSU game could have some type of nickname: Great Lakes Shake Down, The Great Lake State Game, The Motor City Bowl, The Cherry Bowl, The Family Feud :)
- Seems the players would enjoy playing at an NFL Field
- Like the examples above it could be a mid-season bowl game
I know Revenue is King and both universities make more money playing a home game every other year but it might be worth a trial period. What do you think?...............
4 comments:
I'm against this because it would screw too many UM season ticket-holders. Also, the Big House is the finest (and largest) place in the country to play a game; UM doesn't need to resort to gimmicks to make the MSU game relevant. Basically, it would deprive too many people of the chance to see the game in person.
As a Wolverine living in Austin (and married to a Longhorn) I think you are missing the reason Texas/OU is successful in Dallas. A comparable game would be UM/OSU (not MSU). MSU is to Michigan as A&M is to Texas (a minor rivalry). Austin and Norman are ~ 6 hrs drive apart and Dallas is almost exactly half way in between (3 hours drive for each fan base). Texas and OU are two of the best football programs in the country every year and the winner of this game usually wins the Big 12. What makes it great is the rivalry and the location of Dallas in between the two.
Imagine a UM/OSU game at a neutral field half way between A2 and Columbus with fans split at the 50 yard line. Image if Chicago happened to be halfway between A2 and Columbus... then we could compare.
UM v PSU in Cleveland?
@ Blue
Your right. I went to UT and the UT/OU Red River Shootout and not the Red River Rivalry is something to behold. And it will be really something to behold in the new Cowboy Stadium.
@Tater...
you don't get it. and you are and the rest of the big ten honks are stuck in that never ending circle of not adapting. This is why the SEC and BIG 12 are passing you by. Not thinking outside the box. You don't think Texas or OU want that revenue every other year..? It goes beyond the revenue. A UM/MSU game at Ford Field would be awesome. A Big 10 Championship game at Ford Field would be awesome. Money grab or not...a big football game is bad ....why??
I challenge you to go to an OU/UT game in Dallas....or Georgia/Florida game in Jacksonville and I bet you couldn't walk away from being there and say that is what the Big Ten needs.....
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