The new athletic director David Brandon is starting off a difficult position with strength. He is standing behind his coaches to allow them the best chance to succeed while changing and implementing ideas that will help make one of the best atmospheres in college athletics that much better. Â Â
Brandon’s latest announcement for the University of Michigan’s football program is one that is long in coming. In 2011, the Michigan Wolverines will play the Notre Dame Fighting Irish under the lights in a primetime Saturday night game. The lights are not a fixture on the stadium, which would be nice, but the portable lights will be more than enough to allow the players and fans to enjoy the robust atmosphere at Michigan Stadium. The Big House is a raucous affair in big games; adding the fact that games might be at night will definitely be advantageous to the Wolverines.
One change I’d like to see for the night games is changing the ‘Maize-Outs’ that most Notre Dame and other big games are. The deeper shade of blue that the Wolverines use would make a dark stadium seem eerily empty while still being amazingly loud during Michigan’s brisk fall nights. ‘Maize-Outs’ are a good idea, but they don’t go off as well as other programs’ attempts at uniformity in the crowd. I believe this is mainly for two reasons. One, yellow by any name is not one that most people have in their wardrobe, nor one they want to add to wear once or twice a year. Two, when the weather gets colder, maize is not a highly available choice in long sleeves, be it sweatshirts, hoodies or the long-sleeved T-shirts. Navy blue, on the other hand, is quite popular (and more the standard for University of Michigan fans.) I believe that changing the ‘Maize-Outs’ to ‘Navy Waves’ (or whatever they want to call it) would field a much better showing in the stadium.
Michigan fans should be excited for this change in the Michigan football program. Realistically though, some games probably will not get the opportunity for the nightcap of a Saturday of football. Playing the Ohio State Buckeyes at 8 o’clock sounds like an amazing idea that would heighten one of, if not the, biggest rivalry in sports. Unfortunately, it might be a bit chilly in late November for some people to give it adequate consideration. I know the students would be their usually boisterous selves, but some of the more reserved donors to the school might be a bit unhappy with sitting through that late of a game in those conditions. I hope I’m wrong. I’d love to see Ohio State surrounded by the deep blue sea of Maize and Blue faithful in prime time. Actually, with how well he’s started, I bet David Brandon’s already working on it.
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