Michigan Football: Mailbag Question — Future Schedule

Posted at 4:00pm — 8/3/2008

Michigan Football: Mailbag Question — Future Schedule

When I look at Michigan’s future football schedules, I am dismayed with two key problems:
1.) the overall weakness and low national profile of the opponents.
2.) the late manner in which opponents are eventually scheduled by UM.

Right now Michigan’s future non-conference scheduling formula appears to go something like this:
vs. MAC Opponent
vs. Notre Dame
vs. MAC or WAC or MWC opponent
vs. MAC Opponent

With Rich Rodriguez as new UM head football coach, can UM fans expect any change in the non-conference scheduling strategy to more closely resemble that of Ohio State (Jim Tressell), Pat “Anyone-anywhere” Hill (Fresno State) and USC (Pete Carroll)?

I’m anticipating that the answer comes down to money, the clicking turnstiles at Michigan Stadium which pump out bottom line “gravy” for the already filthy rich UM athletic department. But at what point do the financial returns diminish for UM football by not adopting a more challenging, national home-home scheduling strategy in football – one that could confront the likes of Texas, Texas Tech, Miami (Fla.), Florida State, Clemson, Nebraska, Missouri and Oklahoma and even PAC-10 opponents like Arizona and ASU? Is it possible that Michigan football may pay a high price for its short-sightedness in scheduling the easy appointments?

Pat Hill of Fresno State once said that the Bulldogs will play “anyone, anywhere”. I sure wish the Leaders and Best would adopt this same attitude for a change.

Thanks very much for your response,
Markusr2007

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GBMWolverine Response:

This is the trend in major college football. More and more teams are playing one very tough non-conference game and three or four easier ones. Two factors working here and both are money related.

First are the elite level programs want the home games because of revenue. Every time Michigan fills, the “Big House” it helps fills the coffers. Same with LSU, USC, etc, they can make a HELL of an offer to MAC school, and still make more money than if Michigan traveled to Oklahoma.

Second factor is Bowl Bids. Going to BCS Bowl is big money compared to non-BCS Bowls. Athletic Departments are going to do all possible to make a BCS Bowl Bid happen. If that means scheduling only one big time out of conference game, so be it. Two non-conference losses and unless you win conference any hope at BCS Game is almost dead.

A third non-revenue factor is depth and 85 scholarships. If you beat yourself up with injuries in non-conference, you make winning conference tougher. Michigan opens with one of three top conference teams this year in Wisconsin. Therefore, you want to be as healthy and fresh as possible for this early test.

The thing with Pat Hill is what he has done lately. He is a minor program in a minor conference so to get respect he has to play the major conferences and play the major teams. The problem that he has had lately is teams are not taking him as lightly as before and he has had injuries so that is a double edge sword.

We believe people are taking Utah and Notre Dame very lightly and like typical Michigan fans are already overlooking teams that they have no business doing especially this year and all the talent that was lost from last years team.

If Michigan goes with a tough schedule (like at the end of every year they are in the top 10 of Strength of Schedule) people are all excited before the games start about how great of schedule, but then when you start losing those games the same people are complaining why did we play those teams. Everyone complains it would cost Michigan a chance at the National Championship go weaker schedule like a typical Wisconsin team and fans complain about lack of competition.

People wonder why coach’s drink when they listen to fans complains about everything. In addition, you lose against tough competition you still get a loss and a year down the road people do not say well we lost to a great team so lets keep the coach around another year.

We believe some people are never happy and will always find people who will complain about everything and anything. We have had a top ten schedule the last several years and including 2006 where we had the second toughest and people still complained. Then to say that Ohio State has a tougher schedule when they play the likes of Youngstown State, Ohio and Troy – come on.

Fans want to play a top team every week until they get beat.

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Written by GBMWolverine Staff

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