Crisler to televise Notre Dame game

At the press conference announcing Michigan's new national radio deal with One-on-One Sports, Tom Goss spoke about the need to bring a "revenue stream" trickling into all of Michigan's 23 sports programs. He cited the lack of public funds and student fees for his department.

But not all of Goss' decisions Thursday were about improving cash flow to the athletic department. Goss also said that the upcoming football game against Notre Dame will not be telecast in Michigan Stadium.

The department had originally hoped to televise all Michigan road games on the new TV screens in the stadium, but NBC, which has an exclusive contract to televise Notre Dame football games, balked at the idea of providing a telecast without commercials. And Goss was not about to be the first person to bring advertising into Michigan Stadium.

NBC was "not OK with me saying there could be no commercials," in Michigan Stadium, Goss said.

But since Crisler arena has no such ad-free tradition, Goss said the game could be shown in there, commercials and all. Goss had originally hoped to show short segments on the history of Michigan and Notre Dame football during NBC's commercials.

So the first event to be held in the newly renovated stadium will be an actual game, (Sept. 12 vs. Syracuse) not a telecast shown on the Big House's gigantic new scoreboards.

As originally planned, students will get in for free to the showing of the Notre Dame game, but due to Crisler's limited seating, the general public will pay $15 to see the 1998 season kick off. Only 13,500 seats will be available.

Goss said he plans to show the remaining games - without commercials, of course - in Michigan Stadium.

Lisa Bailey, an LSA junior, said she would go, "if the students weren't going to be charged."

But as for the idea overall, Bailey thinks Michigan is in "a different situation from the Red Wings'" broadcasts of road playoff games.

In college football, the regular season can take on the importance of playoffs, especially an early matchup between two traditional powers.

"It's too bad we couldn't do it at the stadium. We felt we could have drawn more in our stadium than Notre Dame would have" for that game, Goss said.

08-03-98