Brock Mealer on BTN, Injury Update, Permanent Lights

A few items to post today as we look forward to UMass tomorrow at noon. All come to us via UM media relations.

First off, tomorrow on the Big Ten Network's kickoff show at 10:30AM, they will feature an 8 minute story on Brock Mealer. ESPN will also do a feature on Denard Robinson on College Gameday. Set your DVR's!

Brock Mealer Story to Air Saturday on the Big Ten Network

ANN ARBOR – The Big Ten Network will air its feature on Brock Mealer this Saturday, Sept. 18, prior to the University of Michigan football team’s game against Massachusetts on the network. The eight-minute feature chronicles the path that Mealer took to lead with Wolverines down the tunnel in the season-opener against Connecticut on Sept. 4.

Mealer, given less than a one (1) percent chance to ever walk again after a tragic car accident left him paralyzed from the waist down, worked with the Michigan Football Strength and Conditioning Staff over the last nine months.

The Big Ten Football Saturday Pre-Game Show airs from 10:30 a.m. until noon EDT.

Denard Robinson Feature: ESPN will broadcast a feature on Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson at 11 a.m. EDT on the College Football Game Day show.

Week 3 injury report:

vs. Massachusetts (Sept. 18, 2010)

OUT (0% PLAY)

Ferrara, John                     Hand

Herron, Brandon              Ankle

Johnson, Carvin                Knee

Jones, Mike                        Leg

Van Slyke, Jared               Clavicle

Williams, Mike                   Head

Woolfolk, Troy                  Ankle

QUESTIONABLE (50% PLAY)

Hemingway, Junior         Hamstring

Robinson, Marvin            Shoulder

PROBABLE (75% PLAY)

Toussaint, Fitzgerald       Knee

Also in the news is the addition of permanent lights to the Big House which will be installed after the season ends, but before the Big Chill in early December.

Permanent Lights to be Installed at Michigan Stadium

ANN ARBOR – The University of Michigan Board of Regents approved today (Sept. 16) the request for permanent lighting at Michigan Stadium. The athletic department will have the lights installed prior to the playing of the Big Chill at the Big House, an outdoor hockey game between Michigan and Michigan State, on Saturday, Dec. 11, 2010.

“The addition of permanent lights will improve the quality of viewing experience for our fans,” said Athletic Director Dave Brandon. “We take great pride in having the best game day experience in college football and this will further enhance that position.

“Short term there will be a cost savings on the rental fee associated with bringing in lights for the Big Chill and long-term it eliminates the need for lights to be brought in every time we play a 3:30 p.m. football game,” added Brandon.

The permanent lights will allow the Michigan Athletic Department to have the lights already in place for 3:30 p.m. games. It will eliminate the need for shutting down lanes of traffic on Main Street to utilize rented cranes to hoist lights unto the facility and gets rid of the generator along the concourse, thus improving the foot traffic and parking issues in and around the stadium.

In addition, the lights will allow the football team to practice at the Big House in the late afternoons and early evenings during the months of October and November. They can also practice at the venue in preparation for road night games.

The total cost of the project is $1.8 million. Funding will be provided from Athletic Department resources.

Michigan will play its first-ever night game at the Big House against Notre Dame on Sept. 10, 2011. The Wolverines have never played a prime-time game at home in the history of the program. All 33 previous night games have been played on the road or at a neutral site.

On a brief side note, I never had the chance to get around to finishing the UMass preview, so suffice it to say that we should win this game. UMass is 2-0 and is ranked in the top 25 of FCS schools. They have a pretty good rushing attack and will be able to move the ball a little bit on us. I don't expect anything like an Appy State outcome, but I don't think a Delaware State outcome is going to happen either. UMass is going to show up to play, so we need to come out and play sharp.

We'll be covering the game with a press pass tomorrow, so hopefully we'll get some good pictures and get some good insight from pressbox and the post-game presser. We will be doing the liveblog again tomorrow and that will be posted first thing in the AM, and will start at around 11 o'clock.

Go Blue!