Michigan Football: 2nd Night Game Added to 2011 Slate, Will UM-OSU Follow?

The last of the fancy candles have flickered out. It’s time to make the frozen trek beyond the ninth green and onto Stadium Boulevard. A group of bundled Buckeye boosters are making there way toward Gate 3.

We’re anxious to find our seats, but the thin coating of ice has made us slightly more careful.   After all, we’re about to see “The Night Game” at The Big House.  Kickoff they say, is scheduled for 8:47 pm.

Far fetched? Well, not really.  Big 10 teams will be playing more night games in the upcoming seasons. The Michigan at Northwestern matchup scheduled for Oct. 8 will be televised by the Big 10 Network beginning at 7 p.m. ET.

The Wolverines are already slated to host Notre Dame in their first night game ever Sept. 10 at 8 p.m.

Night games are not limited to Saturday, either.  ESPN Thursday night football will begin its 14th season in September.  In fact, college football games are played every night of the week except Sunday and Monday.

Virginia Tech was one of the earliest major college teams to embrace the mid-week telecasts. The Hokies basically built their brand on Thursdays by creating a raucous atmosphere and winning some key games. Bumping heads with Survivor was no problem.

Michigan State is even bucking tradition this year by opening its season with Youngstown State the Friday night before Labor Day.

At this point, Michigan and Ohio State dislike the prime time idea. The Big 10’s television policy prohibits night games in November, but a lucrative television offer could turn some heads.

“I’m going to fight it like mad,” Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith told the Cleveland Plain Dealer.  Michigan head coach Brady Hoke took the same stance. “No, not that one,” he said.   

Bo Schembechler was a staunch believer that games should always start at 1 pm.  Regardless, game times moved to noon, 1:30, 3:30 and eventually 6 p.m.

Despite Bo’s protests, television eventually dictated viewing times.  For many years ABC nationally televised Michigan-Ohio State at 1:30 p.m and UCLA-USC around 4:30 p.m. 

The favorable Michigan-Ohio State ABC time slot, along with the coaching rivalry between Bo and Woody, helped make The Game what it is today.  Still not satisfied, the networks want to make The Game, tonight.