By DAVE DYE
FOX Sports Detroit
Jan. 26, 2011
The proposed basketball game between Michigan State and North Carolina next season is expected to take place on an aircraft carrier in the San Diego area.
That's the word from North Carolina coach Roy Williams, who confirmed the location during his weekly radio show earlier this week.
The game has been in the planning stages for several years, but neither school has made an official announcement. Security issues have been part of the reason for the delay.
The date "11.11.11" has been painted in red, white and blue on the floor at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Mich., since early this season. That's presumably the date of the game: Nov. 11, 2011, which is Veterans Day.
This is the first time the location has been revealed. Speculation had been that Florida was a strong possibility.
"It hasn't been announced yet, but we're supposed to be playing Michigan State in San Diego on an aircraft carrier on Veterans Day next year," Williams said Monday.
Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis indicated weeks ago that an announcement should be coming soon.
North Carolina AD Larry Gallo told the Raleigh News & Observer: "We have not received a contract yet, and there are a lot of parties involved. We've got ourselves and Michigan State, the U.S. government and a promoter-type person. So we're still sitting tight.
"All indications are that all systems are go, although contractually nothing has been finalized, yet."
The logical aircraft carrier that could be used is the Navy's USS Ronald Reagan, a nuclear-powered supercarrier named after the late U.S. president.
The USS Reagan has a homeport in San Diego Bay at the Naval Air Station North Island.
