When Northwestern (4-3) heads to Detroit to take on Eastern Michigan (2-5) this Friday, ESPNU will be hoping for another exciting Wildcat game. The non-conference matchup is being hailed as Eastern Michigan’s annual Collegiate Clash, a name of titanic proportions that doesn’t quite fit these two Division I squads.
The teams will play in the home of the Detroit Lions, Ford Field, a “neutral” location EMU has played at for the last three years. The sting goes something like this: Eastern Michigan cuts a deal with ESPNU to get more exposure. Eastern Michigan seeks out a worthy opponent that looked unimpressive in the preseason. ESPNU broadcasts nationally, but really only Midwesterners watch. The Ford Field owners make a mint on seats that just sat there anyway. Eastern Michigan probably loses to its handpicked opponent. Repeat each year.
Still, the choice of Detroit as perennial host for the game is confusing. I’m sure EMU fans would rather play at home, and NU fans will be hard-pressed to drive five to six hours for a Friday night game. Then they’ll have to stay overnight in Detroit, and that’s just plain mean.