tailgating

For all of those mgobloggers headed to South Bend this weekend, the majority of M fans will likely be parking in the White Lot just north of the stadium for tailgating purposes. With that said, here's a bit of info... Cars... $40? RVs... $120 This is a grass field, so charcoal grills are banned, but propane is ok. Shuttle service to the stadium is available since this lot is about 1.2 miles from the stadium. Gates typically open at 7:30am, however, I'm awaiting a response from the ticket office on a confirmation of this since it's a 7:30pm kick. I've talked with several of you this past weekend in the Blue Lot and it sounds like most of us will be in the White Lot on Saturday. Please feel free to stop by and let's fire-up before the game. Just listen for me playing "The Victors" at the top of every hour and come enjoy a "pop" or two with the BLC. Finally, the stadium does NOT have video replay boards because those are the work if the devil, so bring a mobile device for replay purposes. The field is also still covered in natural grass because it's only 2012 and this is the only way to slow Denard down so that their slow linebackers can keep contain. There are no plans of cutting it this week, so, that's always neat.

Tailgating in the Blue Lot:

SInce 2005, my band of misfits and I have been patrolling the confines of the Blue Lot adjacent to Crisler Arena trying to ignite the type of passion that we feel for Michigan in the souls of others.  The Blue Lot was known for being an area of despair and gloom with no real atmosphere or energy.  

Over the past few years, the scene in the Blue Lot has improved markedly both in our own efforts as well as by those who have been tailgating there, however, yesterday served as a stark reminder that things can change literally overnight.  More on that in a minute, first, a brief history.

Tailgating 101: The Early Years

In our earliest feeble attempts at tailgating, we arrived around 9AM regardless of gametime.  Our spread was very humbling considering that the majority of the tailgaters in the Blue Lot arrived in motorhomes and RVs that cost 5X what I paid for my first house.  With that said, we were a young group of avid fans, and we were determined to stake our claim and bring the atmosphere up to the levels that we had seen in our road game travels to venues across the Big Ten.  Initially, we were equipped with the black SUV shown above... meager beginnings to what would eventually materialize.  We were but a group of 4 who travelled to every home game and the term "Cornhole" had not yet been grasped by the American Lexicon... at least in A2.  So, we were armed with 4 folding chairs, a portable propane grill, a cooler and a football.  We played tunes through the open doors of the car we drove down in, and the playlists were in CD form.  But the music attracted the UM dance team... and they were good cooks!

We had no protection from the elements, but were blessed with good weather most of the time.  A brisk chill was the worst things ever really got.  We had a blast nonetheless, but we knew that we had to step our game up, and soon.  We had grand ideas of one day, creating a bastion of tailgating excellence.  A spot where we could comfortably host dozens of our friends and be prepared for any type of weather.  For now, we would just enjoy scores like these.

2007: Enter High Hopes, Crushing Defeats and CORNHOLE

2007 Henne is an All American, Hart is up for the Heisman, Long, Manningham and Arrington are back and UM is ranked #5. As for us, we debut our own custom made Cornhole boards.

A glorious day in early fall with an FCS opponent from Boone, NC headed to town.  Just a tune-up for our next 3 games against Oregon, Notre Dame and Penn State, right?  Sure, things started out on a high note that season, and tailgating was no exception.  We were armed with a larger SUV which meant a 21" portable LCD TV, a generator, and a pop-up canopy tent were now part of our arsenal from 2007-2010.

Additionally, as music lovers, we upped the ante on the sound system too.  At first, there was resistance to the volume levels, but once we allowed others to plug in their favorite playlists and let the tunes roll, we became a popular group in the lot as everyone wanted their favorite songs played at 105 dB.  

The Blue Lot was livening up, too.  With the announced renovations to the stadium, season ticket holders were allowed for the first time to transfer ownership of their tickets and parking passes to younger family members.  This was a huge deal for many, and the dynamics of our lot were changing as well.  All of the sudden, the lot that would be 80% empty until 2 hours prior to kick-off was filling up earlier... much earlier.  For the first time ever, we arrived at 8AM and our spot was taken.  That was unfortunate and forced us to reconsider our dedication to the tailgating scene.  Although the lot was filling sooner and with younger fans ready to have a good time, we needed to step our game up.  We had to arrive earlier to ensure we would never again lose our spot.  The new plan, arrive at 6AM... the minute the lot opens.  That season was the best yet in terms of tailgating atmosphere.  The Blue Lot was every bit as good as anything we had seen on the golf course, at Pioneer, or on the road.

2008 "Why settle for Les when you can get Rich quick?"

The spread offense was coming to Michigan and we felt obligated to bring something new to the party.  We had to celebrate this new era of UM football and tailgating was the area we could directly impact.  There was a newly erected "bus stop" on the corner where our former tailgating spot resided, so, we had to head east about 150 yards to our current address.

2008 was a rough season.  Weather seemed to be getting colder and there was much more rain than in previous seasons... so much for Global warming.  We had to adapt, so, we did.  Enter thermal canopy sides and our 50,000 btu propane heater.  

Any of you who recall the 2008 Northwestern game know that driving sleet would wreak havoc on the field, but not in the Blue Lot.  We were in climate controlled heaven with our TV, our heater and our beverage cooler.

Soon, UM celebrities were stopping by to see what we were up to.  Jamie Morris, come on in!

The shining beacon of defensive light of the Rodriguez era... Good Luck to you Brandon Graham.

2011: Hoke for tomorrow... a new beginning... of tailgating excellence.

OK, despite our best efforts and undying support, the Rich Rod experiment did not go as planned.  We needed to wipe the slate clean.  All we had known was lost, we were a rudderless ship, and we just hired an unknown commodity to lead the UM program.  This was big, and we needed to do it big.  

A trailer and a dream

Our core group of 4 had grown to a dozen, but the initial goal had remained the same.  We need to build a Tailgating Trailer unlike anything we have ever seen at UM before.  The essentials needed to be addressed... full size grill and stove.  We needed a microwave oven, convection oven, deep fryer, indoor kitchen with butler's pantry and storage for all the food and necessities one could imagine.  A 184 qt. ice chest for beverages was a minimum requirement as well.  It needed to be portable, yet easy to transport.  It needed to scream MICHIGAN FOOTBALL.  We needed a huge LCD HDTV, we needed DIRECTV with all the hi def content we could summon.  We needed internet connectivity, and video games.  We needed DVD, for when the kids are restless, and we needed POWER.  Lots and lots of POWER.  It seemed impossible, yet, it was our mission. We are talking the kind of power to allow the entire east side of campus and the golf course to know we have arrived.  We needed to go where no tailgating operation had dared to go before, but how would we do it?  The audio equipment alone required a 2500 watt generator just to turn on.  12 speakers, a 1200 watt receiver, a 1,000 watt subwoofer amplifier... the numbers were staggering.  How can you do this and make it portable and efficient enough to operate for 12-16 hours on a Saturday with no electrical outlet within miles?  Well, this is what we came up with...

The first season went smoothly, and the trailer was a big hit with all of our friends in the Blue Lot.  We had roughly 20-30 people per game want to take tours of it, get photographed with it, and just ask questions about it.  One guy, an engineering professor, once asked me how we figured out how to wire it all and provide enough stable power with portable generators.  I admit, I left engineering school after 2 years and became a business major.  He smiled and said, well, you obviously learned enough anyway.  I took that as a compliment.  However, when you are rocking out with that many speakers and that much juice, you sometimes get noticed by individuals you would rather avoid.  Luckily, these guys thought it was as cool as anything they'd seen in a long time.  And after playing a few requested songs, and racing them on our electric razor scooter through a cone obstacle course while they rode their motorcycles, they were cool with us.

 

2012: Current Day State of Affairs

We added some additional graphics to the exterior, beefed up the power a bit to handle more electric appliances, and tweaked everything just enough to where we think it is almost complete.  We were eager tio hit the Blue Lot at our normal 6AM arrival time, which seems earlier now that my wife and 7 year old son want to attend every game.  

We leave our home at 3:30 AM with trailer in tow every game day and look forward to the best that Michigan Football Tailgating has to offer, but this year, things would be different.

Over the years, we had befriended many fellow UM fans in the Blue Lot who had been tailgating there for several years and in some cases, decades.  There were always 30-40 RVs in our area, as well as several others who came by car, and we all knew and appreciated seeing eachother every year.  Especially the home openers, where we would reunite and talk about what we had been up to over the spring and summer months.  It's always been like a reunion of old friends and as you can imagine, there was always someone who forgot to bring something that morning.  It was never a problem since we all were a community united by our love of football, tailgating and just having fun together on Saturday mornings.  One of us always had the item that the other was missing, so it worked out.  The lot was nearly always full by 10AM, regardless of the 3:30 kickoff times, and the atmosphere was perfect.  

That was until Saturday.  You see, the Blue Lot is a reserved space for long-time season ticket holders and donors who have supported the program. It was very similar to other schools where you would be hard pressed to find rival fans having access.  Not that it's a bad thing, but since it is reserved for UM Victors Club members, you expect to see mainly Michigan fans there.  Well, this year, Dave Brandon has made a critical error.  If not he, then the person in charge of facilities management needs to revisit the decisions made regarding the prime tailgating location on campus.  This Saturday was a complete joke.  We were the first to arrive by 3 hours.  The next RV wasn't there until after 9AM, and at 1PM, the lot was only 20% full.  By 3PM, when we wrapped things up and headed for our seats, the lot was still less than half full.  The atmosphere has been destroyed and many of our fellow MGoTailgaters have been banished from the lot for reasons unknown to them.  I talked to several people that day both in the lot and ones who were relocated and nobody had any answers.  The idea seems to be that there is now a minimum number of Victors Club points necessary to obtain a parking pass for this lot.  That number is presumed to be 400-500 points.  To put this into perspective, you would need to have been a regular season ticket holder for decades to accumulate enough points, and even then, it wasn't a guarantee.  We squeeked in simply because we have had season tickets in our family for 41 years, However, we barely made it.  Our neighbors in the lot who were banished had been parking in the same spot for 17 years, and were asked to move to the Purple Lot, some 1.5 miles from the stadium.  There is not a supply and demand function at play here, so what is going on?  Rumor has it, visitor parking passes will be issed for this area in the future, but these rumors are both unsubstantiated as well as totally asinine, so I refuse to ponder them.

My hope is that this new policy is examined and corrected very soon.  The lot is a ghost town, the atmosphere is gone, and the reason seems to be a mystery.  If they are selling all of the spots in this lot, I find it hard to believe that with a crowd of 112,574 this weekend, they all car pooled.  The lot was less than half full and people who had been parking there for decades have been moved and for what?  That is the question I would like answered,  Until then, I will continue to do my part to promote an atmosphere of fun and support for my Wolverines and fellow UM fans, in hopes that one day, this issue will be corrected.  We are calling on you Dave Brandon, please, save the Blue Lot.

GO BLUE!

SIncerely yours, The Breakfast Club The Blue Lot Crew!

Hey fellow MGoReaders.

I haven't found this information on the board recently.  If it is, then Mods please go ahead and delete this post.

If you're coming to Dallas for the game and plan to tailgate outside the stadium, there are some very specific rules you need to know.  The most important one of all is that you are not allowed to 'tailgate' in the parking lot.  There are designated tailgating lots, but you need to find a grass area in order to setup chairs, tents, grills, coolers, etc.  Staff and security are very specific about this rule and will be driving around every 15-20 minutes.

I'm including some of the offical rules from the Cowboys.  Let me know if you have any other questions, and i'll try to answer them:

 

Tailgating Spaces
Tailgating for Cowboys games is permitted in designated tailgating spaces only. These spaces are located on the perimeter of each parking lot and have a grassy area immediately behind the vehicle parking spot. There are tailgating spaces in Lots 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15, and the spaces are filled on a first come/first served basis. If interested in tailgating, it is important to arrive early to obtain one of the designated spaces.

Tailgating Guidelines
All guests wishing to tailgate must observe the following guidelines. These guidelines have been developed to provide a fair, reasonable and safe tailgating experience for guests. Failure to follow these guidelines may result in the loss of tailgating privileges and ejection from the parking lot.

• Tailgating spaces are for vehicles only. Parking spaces may not be used for tents, grills, chairs or other items. Each vehicle must have a valid parking permit.
• Tailgating is defined as the placement of any item on the ground (chairs, coolers, grills, games, etc.)
• Tailgating is only permitted in the grass areas on the perimeter of the parking lots. The maximum area that any single tailgate space may occupy is 9-feet wide and 12-feet deep.
• Tailgating must be confined to the area adjacent to the end of the designated tailgating vehicle parking space (maximum of 12 feet from the rear of the parking vehicle).
• Any grass areas beyond the designated tailgating spaces are considered common ground and may be used by other guests for tailgating or picnicking activities.
• Tailgating is not permitted in Lot 3, portions of Lot 5, Lot 8, and Lot 9.
• Tailgating is permitted from the time the lots open and up to two (2) hours following Dallas Cowboys or college football games.
• All guests must follow the directions and instructions provided by stadium personnel (parking staff, security, police, etc.).
• Dispose of trash in the appropriate receptacles.
• Coals must be disposed of in the designated coal containers located throughout the lots. Do not dump coals or store stoves on the grass, parking areas, under or around vehicles.
• The following items/activities are prohibited:
  • Deep fryers or any oil-based cooking or frying
  • Open flame fires of any kind. Charcoal or gas cooking is permitted.
  • Disorderly conduct
  • Picketing, political campaigning or soliciting/distribution of any kind
  • Saving parking or tailgating spaces
  • Weapons and fireworks
  • Sale of food, beverage, merchandise, etc.
  • Advertising or promoting any third party products (including but not limited to food and beverage products)
  • Amplified sound systems or the use of radios/audio devices at loud levels.

 

 

Has anyone ever heard of MGoPatio? I stumbled across this on Facebook today and it looks BADASS.

https://www.facebook.com/MGoPatio

With football over (except for the recruiting), hockey heating up with Merrill returning to the team, and the Frozen Diamond game against Ohio in Cleveland almost a week away, I want to invite all the MGoBloggers who will be coming down for the game to the UM Club of Cleveland's tailgate party.  It will be at Houlihan's in Tower City Center a few blocks from Progressive Field at 280 West Huron Road, Cleveland, Ohio. 

(I tried to post a link to a google map including Houlihan's address, but my google map URL skills were not up to it.  You know how to use google maps anyway.)

From the email from the UM Club's head honcho (who approved this post in advance):

UM vs OSU Hockey - The Frozen Diamond at Progressive Field will be the home ice for the Wolverines and Buckeyes on January 15.  Join us at Houlihans in Tower City, starting anytime after 1 pm for a tailgate party with the local alums and visitors from A2.   At game time, walk indoors all the way to the "rink".  Tickets to the game are still available at the Indians website:  www.indians.com.

I hope to see a lot of you in Cleveland for the game and I hope to meet some of you at Houlihan's before the game.

I was recently interviewed (by a freshman girl for her English class... gotta start somewhere) about my "Pre-Gaming with Pat" videos and thought some people might be interested in reading this to learn more about how they came to be:  

What gave you the idea for Pre-Gaming with Pat?  When did you start doing it?   

Last year before the UConn game some Michigan fans were promoting something online called "Mustaches for Michigan," so I decided to grow out my beard and get a straight razor shave into a mustache before heading down to tailgate with my friends.  I thought it would be funny to film people's reactions to my mustache and maybe interview other people with mustaches, but I wasn't sure how receptive people would be to being filmed.  I grabbed my Flip camera right before I walked out of my apartment and figured it would be something that I sent to a few friends, but nothing more than that.  As the day went on I found that people really wanted to be on camera (mostly because they were drunk) and I ended up getting some really funny footage.  I figured the video would be a lot more exciting if it featured music, so I used a song by All Out called "Lights" that I had been playing on repeat in my apartment and edited it using iMovie the next day.  It's actually the first video on my Youtube page, although I've been making videos since high school.  I had no expectations when I posted it; I figured some of my friends might enjoy it, but everyone seemed to like it (some people even "liked" it on Facebook).  I think the only places I posted it were on my Facebook page and in a forum on MGoBlog, but people seemed to get a kick out of it. 

What was the initial reaction to Pre-Gaming with Pat?  How did/do you promote it?

The first one was received well, but the reaction was nothing compared to how people responded to the videos I made this year.  I think the biggest reason why these videos have caught on is because I know more people on campus than I did when I made last year's video.  I had to stop making pre-gaming videos last year after the first one because I joined the lacrosse team and I would've gotten the team in trouble if I continued to promote alcohol consumption, so I spent the rest of the year focusing primarily on my classes and lacrosse.  I also blogged for Inside Lacrosse and made video blogs that accompanied my posts that were very similar in style to the first Pre-Gaming with Pat video (in that they featured music prominently and were a combination of interviews and action, in this case lacrosse practice or games).

By the time I moved back to Ann Arbor in the fall after graduating last spring and working at at an advertising agency in Boulder more people knew who I was (because of my lacrosse videos, how often I frequented Rick's, etc.) which helped tremendously, both with filming the videos and promoting them.  After the Notre Dame "Under the Lights" video came out I didn't really have any problems getting footage, but the first two videos were difficult because people didn't know why I was filming.  It's very uncomfortable to stand in a crowd of drunk college students (some of whom are underage, all of whom will want a job someday) while holding a giant camera, but as the videos became more and more popular people became more receptive to being in them.

To promote these videos I relied mostly on social media to help spread the word.  Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr are the main sites that I use, and they're all amazing tools if you know how to work them.  I've learned a ton about how to reach a wider audience just by trying different promotional methods on these sites.  Getting the videos on sites like MGoBlog and BroBible was also extremely helpful because it helped me reach a different kind of audience beyond just college students at the University of Michigan.  I really wish I didn't have to self promote, but I've learned that it's necessary at this stage of my career if I want people to see my stuff.  

When you're conducting interviews, how you do go about choosing your subjects?

I tried to interview as wide of a variety of people as possible, but as the season went on that became more difficult because I realized that most of the people who were watching the videos were college students.  I also broke my ankle after the fourth video, so I was forced to stay in one place and wasn't able to walk around and interview people outside of the fraternity pre-games.  I tried to find people who knew a lot about Michigan football for the interviews, but I think anyone who has seen the videos knows that a lot of the humor comes from how little some people knew about the games that they were pre-gaming for.  

Do you go into the day knowing which questions you want to ask?

The night before every game I would write out a few questions I wanted to ask people based on who Michigan's opponent was that week, but for the most part I would just ask questions that I thought would produce a humorous answer.  My favorite question from all the videos was from the Eastern Michigan game when my friend Skyler Fulton asked an older professor at Michigan "what was it like playing for Fielding Yost?".  That was a question I thought of on the spot (I would've asked it myself but I was holding the camera at the time) and while it had nothing to do with that week's game, I thought it was funny and it makes me regret not asking more spontaneous questions throughout the series.

Do you edit the videos yourself?

Yes.  I use Final Cut Pro for editing and each video took six hours on average to complete.  In addition to a list of questions, I went into every game with a song in mind for that week's video.  That helped with knowing how much footage I had to shoot and what kinds of shots I needed to film in order to ensure that the visuals fit with the theme of the song.  Youtube is very strict with copyright laws so I try to use music from up and coming artists; I'm not a huge fan of "mainstream" music and I've developed great relationships with some of the artists whose songs I've used in my videos.  My favorite artist is Hoodie Allen and his brother is a freshman at Michigan, so when he visited Ann Arbor for the San Diego State game I made sure he got a cameo in that week's video, which made me look a lot cooler than I actually am.  As an aspiring comedy writer I understand and appreciate the value of someone sharing my work with their friends and/or fan base, so I'm always happy to help promote talented artists and help their music reach a wider audience.

The most difficult part of editing the videos was deciding what interviews to use and which ones to leave out.  There were many interviews I had to leave out that I really wanted to use because the person said something offensive or something that could've potentially hurt their personal image or future job prospects.  My intent with making these videos was never to embarrass anyone or get anyone in trouble; I simply wanted to showcase how unique and awesome the pre-gaming experience at Michigan is. 

What has been your most ridiculous experience through Pre-Gaming with Pat?

I think being recognized by people around town and getting positive feedback is the most ridiculous thing to me.  I don't really think of myself as a performer, but I've realized that I have to do more than just write if I want to be noticed and eventually make a career in comedy.  It's funny because before I decided to play lacrosse last year I was planning on focusing entirely on comedy and my career, but if I hadn't joined the team I wouldn't have met many of the people who helped make these videos a reality.  Like I said before, these videos are controversial and difficult to make because people don't typically want to be filmed when they've been drinking alcohol, but the connections I've made allowed me to go to different pre-games around campus and get footage because my friends allowed me access and explained what I was doing to people who didn't know me or hadn't seen the videos.  

As far as filming goes, the most ridiculous thing I saw was when I was shooting the last video of the year before the Ohio State game.  I saw (and filmed) a kid who was dancing on a tabletop to Avicii's  "Levels" suddenly stop, pull the trigger, vomit into a bush, wipe off his face, and resume dancing.  Obviously it was something that I would never use in a video, but it all happened within a matter of seconds and I thought it was humorous that I was the only person to notice it.  Whenever that song came on I always got incredible party footage, so I have take a moment and give a special shout-out to Avicii for his contribution to my videos.  

Now that so many people recognize the series, do you find that people act differently around you?  How so?  How has the show affected you personally?

It certainly hasn't hurt my ability to meet girls at the bar, but other than that nothing has really changed.  I love when people come up to me and tell me they've enjoyed something I made, but it also makes me uncomfortable because I'm not sure I deserve recognition at this point in my career.  

These videos all stem from me wanting to show off one of my favorite aspects of my time as a student at Michigan, and I get the most satisfaction when someone tells me that they wish they had gone here or that they want to go here after watching them.  Obviously I hope no one chooses to attend the University of Michigan solely because of my videos, but I think Michigan has a reputation amongst outsiders as not being the most fun place to go to school when in reality it has the best combination of academics, athletics, and social life of any school in the nation.  I'm glad I was able to give students and alumni an opportunity to show their friends just how unique and fun our football Saturdays can be.  

Do you plan to continue with the show next year now that you've graduated?  What are your plans for the future? Do they involve comedy?

As of now, I have no idea.  Besides showing off how awesome the pre-game experience at Michigan is, the main reason why I made these videos was to try to convince people that I'm funny.  I've found that if I post a comedy sketch or a clip of me performing stand-up comedy it won't get many views, but if I show girls dancing on tabletops for thirty seconds, followed by ten seconds of me trying to be funny, followed by girls dancing on tabletops for thirty seconds, more people will be willing to watch it.  I'm fully aware that the "success" of these videos is largely due to the fact that Michigan students and alumni are so passionate about their school and not because I'm funny or good at editing or any other reasons that have to do with my abilities.  I'm hesitant to keep making them because I don't want to be known only as the guy who makes pre-gaming videos or as the guy who piggybacks off of the University of Michigan.  

The only way I would consider continuing the series in the future would be if I could find a way to travel to a different college campus each week for a game.  I'd like to start traveling more and I'm a huge college football fan, but I'm also a broke, unemployed film major, so as of now the likelihood of any of this happening is extremely slim.  The only way I could foresee it working would be if I could convince a website to sponsor me and pay for my travel expenses, which I'm currently looking into.  But if anyone who's reading this wants to fund it themselves, that'd be great too.

My plan right now is to stay in Ann Arbor for a few more months while my ankle heals and continue making comedy videos until I can justify moving to Los Angeles or New York.  My dream job would be to write for a website like Funny or Die, but I need to work extremely hard if I'm ever going to achieve that.  As far as future projects go, I'm currently filming a mockumentary called AMCULT 315:  Rick's vs. Skeeps based on a fake syllabus I wrote during my senior year at Michigan.  After that, I have no idea.  I have a lot of projects lined up, but it all depends on who is available and which video I'm in the mood to make.  

How do you deal with some of the bad press that you get?  i.e.  Negative comments on Youtube, etc.

I try to make myself very available and approachable online, but I don't worry about Youtube comments, or any online comments for that matter.  That's not to say that I don't read them or respond to them or appreciate the feedback, but my mindset whenever I'm making anything is to try to create something that me and my friends would enjoy.  While it's frustrating to make a video and see it get a great response on one site and ripped apart on another, I've learned that you can't please everyone.  I just hope that people understand that I made these videos to try to capture how much fun students have on football Saturdays without hurting anyone or getting anyone in trouble, and I think that, for the most part, I succeeded in doing that.  

What was your personal experience with Michigan pre-games like when you were a student?

I had a great time, and I'm glad no one was filming me.  Let's leave it at that.

What's your favorite pre-gaming memory?

I don't have one specific favorite memory from pre-games as a Michigan student or as a graduate.  I just love the anticipation of waking up early on a Saturday morning and knowing that I'm about to spend a few hours with my best friends before going to the biggest football stadium in the world and watching the team I've loved since I was born play for 60 minutes.  It's so special to me and it gives me chills just thinking about it.   

I've lived in Ann Arbor since I was three months old, but I had no idea that these kinds of pre-games existed until I transferred to Michigan from Bucknell (a small liberal arts school in Pennsylvania) in the Fall of 2009.  Up until that point I had only gone to games with my Dad, and while I heard my friends who attended U of M talk about pre-games, I was amazed at how much fun they actually were.  To see so many fans come together and bond before the game is incredible to watch, and I still can't believe that I was lucky enough to spend two years as a student here.            

What does your family think about the series?

I'm not sure my parents fully understand what I'm trying to do career wise, so it's hard to say with them.  They both enjoy watching the videos, but the fact that I'm not getting paid to do any of this concerns them.  My brother is currently choosing between attending Wharton, Tuck, and Michigan to pursue his MBA and my sister goes to Harvard, so they're both making life a little more difficult for me.  They have a better idea about the career path I'm trying to pursue, but until I can start supporting myself I don't think anyone in my family is going to be completely enthusiastic about what I'm doing.

Is there anything else that you think people should know about the series?

If there's one thing I've learned from making these videos, it's that you have to work with what you have.  I don't have much production experience and I know just enough about my camera to get by, but I have a pretty good knowledge of college football, lots of connections on campus, and I like to think that I know what college students and recent graduates are interested in seeing.  I think some people who only know my "online persona" think I have my shit together and that I know exactly what I'm doing, but none of this would have happened if I hadn't stuck a Flip camera in my pocket over a year ago. 

One of my favorite quotes is "It has taken me all of my life to get to where I am now."  I keep a piece of paper in my wallet with this quote written on it to remind myself that no matter what amazing or idiotic decisions I make along the way, they all matter.  I have no idea what these videos will do for my career, but I'm glad that I was able to capture what pre-games are like for (not all) students at Michigan.  It still amazes me that people enjoy watching them and I really hope I can continue making them in the future.

I'd like to thank everyone who has helped me, whether it was by helping me film or just sharing a video with their friends online.  I hope I can continue to create content that people enjoy and I'm very grateful for all of the support I've received from people at the University of Michigan.  Thanks again, and GO BLUE!