Pending next year's OSU and Michigan game move to Thanksgiving Saturday. What is the plan for the 2010 UT v BG game?

This "Friday after" arrangement is killing the rivalry (incidentally I think the "Saturday after" will also kill local a lot of the enthusiasm for the OSU vs Michigan game--too bad so sad). There many good reasons (i.e. Students have long packed their cars are have gone home from both UT and BG. Many of us die-hard fans have family out-of-town, it's really really really cold that time of year etc etc) to move this to a more reasonable date, but I'm not getting a good vibe one way or another what future holds.

You gotta figure that ESPN is the great and powerful "wizard behind the curtain" pulling the scheduling levers and frankly I don't know if we can overcome Oz with common sense. The game will be at our place so we have a vested interest in seeing this rivalry resurrected.

So what happens?
Keep the Friday before.
Move to previous weekend.
Move to October.
Play the Tuesday night before Thanksgiving.

I dunno.

I want /tuesday night before. We should start an online petition between UT and BG saying we want that.

Easy:

1. Last game of the year. (gives more meaning to seniors)

2. Before Thanksgiving for many reasons listed already.

If OSU/UM played at 3am on a Wednesday morning, everyone would still follow it. I don't think it matters what time that game is because it is what it is - just avoid the UT/BGSU game at the same time and all is well.

Attendance wise, the game will draw fine the day after Thanksgiving if the teams are good and there is something on the line.

IMHO, it does not do much good asking opinions of posters here as we all pretty much go to the game regardless of the date and time.

As far as ESPN, we just need to schedule the game when we want it and if they want to broadcast it so be it. If the game is on ESPN the day before the OSU/UM game it will turn into nothing but an advertisement for the game.

(12-04-2009 08:08 AM)Redwingtom Wrote:  Attendance wise, the game will draw fine the day after Thanksgiving if the teams are good and there is something on the line.

IMHO, it does not do much good asking opinions of posters here as we all pretty much go to the game regardless of the date and time.

As far as ESPN, we just need to schedule the game when we want it and if they want to broadcast it so be it. If the game is on ESPN the day before the OSU/UM game it will turn into nothing but an advertisement for the game.

"Schedule the game when we want... ". I'd rather than have fans and students in the seats. If TV happens, all the better.

Christopher addressed this in his most recent Ask The Ad segment. Sounds like a lot of options are on the table.

While I agree that the game has done OK the past few years, I don't think OK is good enough.

And the thing that really bothers me about the timing of the game is that it eliminates the students. I'm not just talking about immediate attendance, but more about building the students' relationship with the program and its traditions. I mean, I think it's kinda ridiculous that most students will go through their four years at either school and never attend a football game between the two rivals. How does that help the tradition?

(12-04-2009 08:30 AM)BGSUalum1987 Wrote:  I think it's kinda ridiculous that most students will go through their four years at either school and never attend a football game between the two rivals. How does that help the tradition?

No way to know, but I suspect that this has always been the case. Say, 20,000 at each school, two home games against BG or UT, not many students travel, even to a nearby away game. Maybe three or four thousand students from the home school at each of those two games- that leaves about 16,000 who didn't go. Most students are not football fans and many, especially in Toledo, work, live at home and have a tough financial go. I'm guessing that a percentage well under 50% attend a rivalry game and that is probably true at most schools.

When I was in school and UT had a long undefeated string the dorm students probably had less than 50% attendance and the "townies" way less than that.

(12-04-2009 08:08 AM)Redwingtom Wrote:  Attendance wise, the game will draw fine the day after Thanksgiving if the teams are good and there is something on the line.

I agree. I was looking back at past UT/BG game stats and we had some Friday after Thanksgiving games at BG in the early 2000's where there was over 26K in attendance. Even though BG went 7-5 this year, neither team is winning like we were back then. Winning means everything to both or our attendance numbers. That's just the way it is in Northwest Ohio. If we are not winning 9 or 10 games a year, Northwest Ohioans don't care because we are just their 2nd favorite team (to OSU, UM, or ND).

Game needs to move into October.

I agree Ranger...play it in October and make it the homecoming game for the hosts. What better way to celebrate Homecoming than by returning to campus to see your hated rival get an ass whuppin?

(12-04-2009 10:39 PM)El Grande Flippero Wrote:  I agree Ranger...play it in October and make it the homecoming game for the hosts. What better way to celebrate Homecoming than by returning to campus to see your hated rival get an ass whuppin?

My heart says, h*ll yeah!

My head says, won't happen.

Unfortunately, most MAC teams are looking for ways to boost attendance and it's a very pragmatic thing.

From BG's perspective, they figure Parent's Weekend and Homecoming are almost always going to bring a decent, if not really good, crowd. On year's when we host The Big Game, that's three pretty good chances for strong crowds. But if they "double up" - Toledo for Homecoming - they lose leverage.

S*cks big time. The fact that most students won't have a realy chance to see a UT-BG game during their time at school is just mind-boggling.

october all the way.

One more good reason to move this game from the final of the season is the possibility of the teams meeting for the MACC. I really wouldn't want to see the teams play two weeks in a row.

Its nice to end the season with a rivalry game, but playing it the day after Thanksgiving hurts everyone, Fans, Players, Parents and students. I agree with Jeff, what happens if BG/ UT play again in the MAC title game a week later, it takes the fun out of it. I think the only way this rivalry game is played in November is that it is played on Thanksgiving and ON ESPN. But other than that, lets play it in early to mid October on a Saturday night. Where we can get a packed Glass Bowl or in BG's case a packed high school football field and be able to enjoy the tailgate and game with out freezing our balls off.

(12-06-2009 01:49 PM)utpotts Wrote:  Its nice to end the season with a rivalry game, but playing it the day after Thanksgiving hurts everyone, Fans, Players, Parents and students. I agree with Jeff, what happens if BG/ UT play again in the MAC title game a week later, it takes the fun out of it. I think the only way this rivalry game is played in November is that it is played on Thanksgiving and ON ESPN. But other than that, lets play it in early to mid October on a Saturday night. Where we can get a packed Glass Bowl or in BG's case a packed high school football field and be able to enjoy the tailgate and game with out freezing our balls off.

Lets hope UT plays in the MAC Championship a week later-keep as is!! Lets see what next season brings.

This game needs to move to October, similar to Texas-Oklahoma, and then both BG and UT should end their season against their next rival. Maybe Miami or Kent for BG, not sure who for UT, NIU maybe? I think this brings the importance back to the UT-BG rivalry and then maybe elevates another rivalry for both teams as the game to end the season.

I like the idea to end the season the week before Thanksgiving and forget games at all over the Thanksgiving holiday and it gives teams an extra week to prepare for the MAC Championship game or if they choose, play an out of conference game.

When I was in school, there was a lot of buzz around campus the week of the UT game. Now, I don't see that at all up there because it is a short school week and students aren't around for the game. This game needs to get back to a time when that buzz can return.

Move the game back to its historical place in the schedule which is early to mid Oct. Better weather and the fact that both teams at that point of the season still have a chance of winning the MAC and that will always make this game relevant!

I grew up watching games between UT and BG at this time of year. I believe BG used to play Miami at year end. Please remember that historically BG & Miami were traditional #1 rivals but UT surpassed Miami about 35 years ago.

Go ROCKETS!

(12-07-2009 02:30 PM)IamN2daRockets Wrote:  Move the game back to its historical place in the schedule which is early to mid Oct. Better weather and the fact that both teams at that point of the season still have a chance of winning the MAC and that will always make this game relevant!

I grew up watching games between UT and BG at this time of year. I believe BG used to play Miami at year end. Please remember that historically BG & Miami were traditional #1 rivals but UT surpassed Miami about 35 years ago.

Go ROCKETS!

My parents attended UT in the late 30s and early 40s and talk about BG being the big game. Brother briefly attended BG and was in the band in the mid 60s- said BG-UT was the only game anybody really got up for. I attended some UT-BG games in the 60s as well and the rivalry was bitter-Miami was big for BG also, but not like UT.

My parents