Chief Petty Officer Nicholas Down stands on the deck of the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal as it sails down the Firth of Clyde. (Getty Images)

First it was a game at Ford Field, and now the two could be taking the sea.

This is a scoop with obfuscation from the Detroit Free Press, but many are anticipating an official announcement coming soon: Michigan State vs. UNC on November 11, 2011.

A game to honor the armed forces on Veterans Day, 11-11-11. Now that word is beginning to spread, a press release is probably already being crafted.

MSU’s plan has been to play North Carolina in one game, with two service academies playing to make it a doubleheader. Jacksonville, Fla., has been mentioned in the past as a potential site.

While conjuring up images of these teams tossing the ball around out in the middle of the Atlantic is a cool one, the carrier will safely and securely docked. Still, it’s out of the box, and this would be the premier event heading into next season. As more and more people have openly pined for more bang in the first week of college basketball’s season, we’re seeing the ripples start to form.

Hoops on an aircraft carrier. Gimmick? Yes, but still pretty cool. After all, that game in the Astrodome way back when is still remembered for its trailblazing ambition as much as the powerhouses that played in the game: UCLA and Houston.