Mailbag question: Got a question about the U. Conn games

I have a question about U. Conn.

I have not seen this asked on your blog yet, so here goes.

Do you guys like this game for an opener and does it have enough interest for a rededication of the Big House when it opens in 2010?

It seems to me that perhaps there were better teams than U. Conn out there being mentioned. What do you guys think? I would have preferred other teams, especially ones that are in the Michigan recruiting area and probably a little better opponent.

Dave T.

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Thanks for the question.

The rededication of the Big House will be a big event regardless of the foe. The athletic department will breath a huge and collective sigh of relief upon the completion of this once-in-a-lifetime project.

Like many fans, our opinion is somewhat mixed. On one hand, we would love to see Michigan get involved with some home and home series with Texas, Oklahoma, or several SEC foes.

On the other hand, we understand the importance of playing at least six or seven games per season in the Big House. It is sad to say, but revenue is the number 1 consideration in 21st Century major college football scheduling. For example, Michigan could not get a Missouri or Alabama to visit Michigan unless Michigan agreed to play away. This would seem better to many than playing a lower division team from the Football Championship division, or three MAC teams, along with Notre Dame for a typical non-conference schedule.

Counter the above consideration with the brutal fact that Michigan is coming off a 3-9 season and the only thing worse for the program, regardless of opponent, would be another loss.

Now, let us consider some of the other teams that were commonly mentioned: Oregon State, Pitt, Syracuse, and Rutgers. We really would be partial to Pittsburgh for several reasons. This game would highlight the strong western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio area where Michigan frequents. Pitt is a university close enough to Michigan that students could make the trip. In addition, this area boasts at least a modest number of UM fans. Pitt is a very respectable Big East team, year in and year out. The very recent success and coaching change has more of the local talent, UM has historically coveted, staying closer to home.

U. Conn, in the current football status, is likely a team that might be very good every few years. But we believe this success will be interspersed with some bad years as well. Then, enter the final caveat to the deal: that UM must return the game.

Now if U. Conn decides to move the home game to the new Yankee Stadium, the new Mets Stadium, or The Meadowlands, then we can understand the home and home series being signed, without the two for one deal we assumed would be offered for a team with a smaller venue like U. Conn.

Do not interpret this line of thought as an insult to the University of Connecticut. It is difficult to look into the future and see the stock up or stock down of either program. But the Big House is exactly that, big.

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Written by CoachBt and ErocWolverine