The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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12 THE WOLVERINE ❱ SEPTEMBER 2023 ❱ INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS NO PLANS FOR BEER SALES AT MICHIGAN STADIUM IN 2023 The topic of the potential beer sales at Michigan Stadium has been debated since Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill earlier this year allowing for the sale of alcohol at the 15 public universities in the state for college football, basketball and hockey games. Unfortunately for fans hoping to partake in the stadium, Michigan has no plans in place to inte- grate that for football games this fall, per an on- site spokesperson at a concessions tasting event on Aug. 8. Approval must come from the univer- sity, in addition to the athletics department and Ann Arbor police being involved in planning and logistics. There was not enough time in the lead- up to the 2023 season to address it appropriately, but beer at The Big House is an inevitability and could happen as early as next season. Michigan State has had similar discussions, but leadership at the school has shared similar concerns about the timeline in the lead-up to this season. Currently, 11 of the 12 other member institu- tions in the Big Ten allow alcohol sales at football games, with Nebraska being the lone holdout. USC, UCLA, Washington and Oregon, who join the Big Ten next season, all allow alcohol to be sold at their games. Also of note was the confirmation that Buddy's has replaced Cottage Inn Pizza as the official slice of Michigan athletics, with the two sides signing a five-year deal. Buddy's four-square deep dish pizzas will be served at football, basketball and hockey games. Pepperoni or cheese pizzas will be priced at $15 and come in a custom-designed "Go Blue" box, also featuring a $4 off coupon for a future purchase at a Buddy's Pizza store location. No pricing or location details for the other items were made available during the tasting event, but options have gotten more plentiful for fans hoping to dine at Michigan games this fall. MEN'S BASKETBALL'S BATTLE 4 ATLANTIS BRACKET SET The Michigan men's basketball team's draw for its trip to the Bahamas for the Battle 4 Atlantis nonconference tournament is set. The Wolver- ines will take on coach Penny Hardaway's Mem- phis Tigers in an opening-round game set for 5 p.m. ET on Nov. 22 on ESPN2. Michigan plays again on Nov. 23 against either Arkansas or Stanford at 2:30 p.m. in the winners bracket or 7:30 p.m. if it is in the losers bracket. The other four teams in the field include North Carolina, Northern Iowa, Villanova and Texas Tech. Michigan won the Battle 4 Atlantis in 2019 in head coach Juwan Howard's first season on the job. The bracket release solidifies the nonconfer- ence slate for the program. The Wolverines will open the season on Nov. 3 with an exhibition game against Northwood University at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor. The regular season kicks off with a home date against UNC Asheville on Nov. 7 and a showdown with Youngstown State at home on Nov. 10. From there, Michigan will head to Madison Square Garden in New York for a Gavitt Tipoff Games matchup with Big East St. John's, with Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino in his first year on the sideline for the Red Storm. Michigan returns home on Nov. 17 for a game against Long Beach State before the Battle 4 At- lantis, then heads to Oregon on Dec. 2 to repay its end of the deal in a home-and-home series. The Ducks came to Ann Arbor and won 71-70 in the first game of the contract back in 2019. U-M's next scheduled game is set for Dec. 16 at home against Eastern Michigan before heading to Charlotte, N.C., for the Jumpman Invitational game against Florida. The Wolverines close out their nonconference slate with a home game against McNeese on Dec. 29. — Anthony Broome MAIZE AND BLUE NOTEBOOK A bill was signed into state law July 19 allowing Michigan's public universities to sell alcohol at sporting events, but U-M has no plans to integrate that option for football games this fall given the tight timeline. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN