Football returned last weekend, and amid all the uncertainty surrounding the sport, it was reassuring to see that some things remain the same. Ohio State (2) can play defense with or without Jim Tressel, shutting out an admittedly awful Akron program that now has scored a total of 10 points in its past three season openers. Oklahoma State (3) can score no matter who is calling plays, racking up 61 points without getting a touchdown from wide receiver Justin Blackmon, who had 21 of them last year. And Lane Kiffin (4) still can call for a two-point conversion for no good reason. Pure genius.
They've been playing in the Big House since 1927, but not until Notre Dame (6) limps into Ann Arbor fresh off its face-plant against South Florida will they kick off a game there at dark. Thus the Wolverines will join the ranks of the Panamanian night monkey, Cyprus spiny mouse and nine-banded armadillo as nocturnal animals.
The Dash has secured an exclusive copy of a statement sent to the Michigan administration by the Nine-Banded Armadillo Association of America: "Welcome to our world."
(Brainstorm: Since Michigan does not have an actual wolverine mascot, The Dash suggests procuring a nine-banded armadillo as a fill-in. Who wouldn't want to see that armor-plated oddity on the sidelines in the Big House? Especially since, as Wikipedia puts it, "The armadillo can jump 3-4 feet straight in the air if sufficiently frightened." That beats rolling over and playing dead when sufficiently frightened, which is what Michigan has done for the last several years against Ohio State.)
By all accounts, the Michigan fan base is insanely excited about joining the 1980s and playing at home at night. Athletic director Dave Brandon said in the spring that the school "could probably sell 150,000 tickets" for the game. And Stephen Nesbitt, co-managing sports editor of the Michigan Daily, said he knows students who are getting more for their Notre Dame ticket than the cost of the entire season student pass.
"Students are getting $300 just for this game," Nesbitt said. "That's a price normally reserved for Ohio State."
Even recent games against the Buckeyes haven't carried the anticipatory payload of this one.
"It's early in the Brady Hoke era; people are very excited," Nesbitt said. "It's not at the end of a .500 year. The Ohio State game has lost its luster recently."
Although the Fighting Irish did their best to rub the luster off this game, nobody in Michigan seems to have noticed. After decades of noon kickoffs, the tailgaters will not have their pregame festivities rushed for once.
"I assume it will be like always -- start at the crack of dawn," Nesbitt said. "Just go a lot longer. It will definitely be a stamina test."
For Michigan fans seeking night-game role models, The Dash has a handy list. These are the six places that come alive the most after dark:
[+] EnlargeTiger Stadium
Sean Gardner/Getty ImagesWolverines fans could learn a thing or two from the crowd at Tiger Stadium, annually one of the best night-game atmospheres.
Tiger Stadium (7), LSU. From Bourbon Street to Baton Rouge, the freaks come out at night in Louisiana. And nowhere are they more raucous and unnerving than at Tiger Stadium. LSU played its first night game there on Oct. 3, 1931, beating something called Spring Hill 35-0. According to the LSU athletics website, the Tigers are 219-60-4 at night in "Death Valley" since 1960, and just 21-26-3 during the day over that span. And of course, vampire-in-residence Les Miles is extra tough after dark, winning 28 of 29 home night games.
But with every new season come new dynamics, and this Saturday we get a big one: an actual night game in Michigan Stadium (5).
They've been playing in the Big House since 1927, but not until Notre Dame (6) limps into Ann Arbor fresh off its face-plant against South Florida will they kick off a game there at dark. Thus the Wolverines will join the ranks of the Panamanian night monkey, Cyprus spiny mouse and nine-banded armadillo as nocturnal animals.
The Dash has secured an exclusive copy of a statement sent to the Michigan administration by the Nine-Banded Armadillo Association of America: "Welcome to our world."
(Brainstorm: Since Michigan does not have an actual wolverine mascot, The Dash suggests procuring a nine-banded armadillo as a fill-in. Who wouldn't want to see that armor-plated oddity on the sidelines in the Big House? Especially since, as Wikipedia puts it, "The armadillo can jump 3-4 feet straight in the air if sufficiently frightened." That beats rolling over and playing dead when sufficiently frightened, which is what Michigan has done for the last several years against Ohio State.)
By all accounts, the Michigan fan base is insanely excited about joining the 1980s and playing at home at night. Athletic director Dave Brandon said in the spring that the school "could probably sell 150,000 tickets" for the game. And Stephen Nesbitt, co-managing sports editor of the Michigan Daily, said he knows students who are getting more for their Notre Dame ticket than the cost of the entire season student pass.
"Students are getting $300 just for this game," Nesbitt said. "That's a price normally reserved for Ohio State."
Even recent games against the Buckeyes haven't carried the anticipatory payload of this one.
"It's early in the Brady Hoke era; people are very excited," Nesbitt said. "It's not at the end of a .500 year. The Ohio State game has lost its luster recently."
Although the Fighting Irish did their best to rub the luster off this game, nobody in Michigan seems to have noticed. After decades of noon kickoffs, the tailgaters will not have their pregame festivities rushed for once.
"I assume it will be like always -- start at the crack of dawn," Nesbitt said. "Just go a lot longer. It will definitely be a stamina test."
For Michigan fans seeking night-game role models, The Dash has a handy list. These are the six places that come alive the most after dark:
[+] EnlargeTiger Stadium
Sean Gardner/Getty ImagesWolverines fans could learn a thing or two from the crowd at Tiger Stadium, annually one of the best night-game atmospheres.
Tiger Stadium (7), LSU. From Bourbon Street to Baton Rouge, the freaks come out at night in Louisiana. And nowhere are they more raucous and unnerving than at Tiger Stadium. LSU played its first night game there on Oct. 3, 1931, beating something called Spring Hill 35-0. According to the LSU athletics website, the Tigers are 219-60-4 at night in "Death Valley" since 1960, and just 21-26-3 during the day over that span. And of course, vampire-in-residence Les Miles is extra tough after dark, winning 28 of 29 home night games.
But with every new season come new dynamics, and this Saturday we get a big one: an actual night game in Michigan Stadium (5).
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