(Aircraft) Carrier Classic: UNC vs. Sparty, 11-11-11, Anchors Aweigh

[Tonyank]

Anchors away: MSU-UNC, aircraft carrier, 11-11-11?



Dave Dye
FOX Sports Detroit

Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis has wanted to schedule a basketball game on an aircraft carrier for several years as a way of honoring the military.

Security issues put those plans on hold, but the idea appears to be closer to reality.

In a text message Wednesday to the Lansing State Journal, Hollis wrote, "An announcement is forthcoming."

Speculation is the game will be held on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2011. That date, 11-11-11, has been painted in red, white and blue on Michigan State's home floor, the Breslin Center.

An aircraft carrier would be docked, possibly near Jacksonville, Fla., for the proposed college basketball doubleheader. Michigan State's opponent likely would be North Carolina with two service academies meeting in the other game.

Hollis is one of the great outside-the-box-thinking athletic directors in the country. He was also the mastermind of the "Cold War" outdoor hockey game at Spartan Stadium (crowd of 74,544 in a football stadium for Michigan State-Michigan in 2001), and the "Basketbowl" basketball game at Ford Field in Detroit (78,129 in a dome football stadium for Michigan State-Kentucky in 2003).

http://www.foxsportsdetroit.com/11/...er-11/landing.html?blockID=354961&feedID=3701

 

[scooter1369]

This would be cool

 

[BrutusMaximus]

Those 2......on an aircraft carrier.........on 11/11/11. Didnt the mayans predict this or something?

 

[jimotis4heisman]

the american hockey league attempted to do something similar, 6,000 seats on the uss eisenhower. the obama admin shot it down even though a substantial amount of the navy brass was all over the idea of having the norfolk admirals play on the carrier...

 

[ScriptOhio]

An outdoor basketball game is taking a real risk; they can't control the weather. Just a slight breeze could effect the shooting (and game outcome), not to mention the possibility of rain. :(

 

[cincibuck]

You want to honor Veterans Day and the Military? Why not play a game in Chicago and invite the men and women stationed at Great Lakes, the Michigan and Illinois Guard & Air Guard and anyone with a copy of their DD 214?

You don't need a gimmick, a rather expensive gimmick at that, to show your appreciation.

 

[Apache]

11-11-11 is my next birthday. I think I will play the lottery.

 

[cincibuck]

11-11-11 is my next birthday. I think I will play the lottery.

Only if the winning numbers are posted at 11 hundred hours, 11,11,11,11.

 

[BayBuck]

Ahem: anchors aweigh, my boys, anchors aweigh.

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

Ahem: anchors aweigh, my boys, anchors aweigh.

About time you wayed in. :p

 

[BrutuStrength]

About time you wayed in. :p

I stand with Weighed.

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

I stand with Weighed.

I've wade the pros and cons and have determined this is a wise thing to do. (Standing with weighed, that is)

 

[BayBuck]

Now weight just a minute, let's get back on topic here -- if MSU and UNC play in Florida, which is home and which is the aweigh team?

 

[Saw31]

Waite...

I ain't missing this game at all...

 

[cincibuck]

Waite, I think I Hoyt something...