Fan Day Question; Your opinions wanted
For fan day I plan on bringing my large Michigan flag (pictured below) that hangs above my bed for players to sign. I was wondering if the players have markers or do you have to bring your own? Because if I have to bring my own I have to get a gold marker so the sigs will show up on the flag.
Eventually I'm gonna frame the flag and take it every year to fan day to get more and more signatures so someday it will be full of player's sigs. What do you guys think of the idea.
August 3rd, 2011 at 11:59 AM ^
They'll probably be issued a pen or sharpie or something but, man, it's pretty much basic fan etiquette in any situation that if you want someone to sign something, don't go in expecting they also happen to carry a pen around to sign with. Have your own, and if they have one, great, but have your own.
August 3rd, 2011 at 12:06 PM ^
August 3rd, 2011 at 12:27 PM ^
Make it easy for them to give them what you want, and they'll be much more likely to make it happen.
August 3rd, 2011 at 12:04 PM ^
A better idea is to just get as many sigs this year, then frame it. You don't want the flag to be Saban'd - having 100 sigs on the flag would just look messy ime.
I agree, get sigs from one year, frame it and then it will be the flag for the 2011-2012 Wolverines.
August 3rd, 2011 at 12:07 PM ^
What day is fan day?
August 3rd, 2011 at 12:16 PM ^
1 pm
August 3rd, 2011 at 12:16 PM ^
I believe it's August 14th, I think someone posted a thread with details about it.
August 3rd, 2011 at 12:08 PM ^
abound.
But a gold one? Bring it.
An aside: Joking with my son, Gameboy, the line for QB's will be a mile long, the Hoke line may be long, all assistant coaches will be hanging out, ST line will be short, but you'll only want Will Hagerup's graph anyway, so...
Good luck. Post a pic if you get some cool autographs or other fandom endurance accomplishment!
August 3rd, 2011 at 12:23 PM ^
You named your son Gameboy?
August 3rd, 2011 at 12:26 PM ^
his proclivities to the xBox, it would have fit. But it's just a nickname.
Kinda wish he was Lawnboy right now, but he doesn't like mowing much! HA!
August 3rd, 2011 at 12:14 PM ^
August 3rd, 2011 at 12:27 PM ^
They're real and they're spectacular
August 3rd, 2011 at 12:15 PM ^
They'll have freebies there for the players/coaches to sign, won't they?
August 3rd, 2011 at 12:25 PM ^
Yes usually a poster of some kind. Last years was a picture of RR and the o-line with the schedule I believe.
August 3rd, 2011 at 12:22 PM ^
I think you'd be better off emailing the athletic department and asking them.
August 3rd, 2011 at 12:23 PM ^
Last year the players all had black and silver sharpies. So I would bring gold(if that's what you want). Also if I were you I would have them sign their autographs in a straight line, one below the other. It just looks really sloppy if they all sign wherever.
August 3rd, 2011 at 12:28 PM ^
Some walk-on kicker kept signing across Zoltan's crotch when he autographed. Zoltan wasn't impressed, but just kept signing and yapping with the fans...
August 3rd, 2011 at 12:35 PM ^
Yeah last year the whole o-line and even denard signed in black sharpie. And when I gave my football to Lewan he signed it in silver. I was like wtf? haha
August 3rd, 2011 at 12:49 PM ^
Why do you want college athletes' signatures? I used to enjoy getting those when I was 7. No offense, it is just something I do not understand.
August 3rd, 2011 at 12:55 PM ^
Just how busy will this place be on the 14th for those of you who have been? I'm planning on getting there at noon to stand in line with my 3yr old son just hoping to see Hoke and Denard. Are we talking about standing in line for over an hour for each person? Thanks
For the popular positions plan on spending 45 min. For the linemen and kickers plan on 15 to 20 min.
Those lines will probably be too long to take a 3 year old in. You will have to wait in line for an hour before the signing starts, and then another 45 minutes to an hour after. I would take your son on the field and maybe go through some of the smaller lines. Going on the field is a fantastic opportunity your son (and you) will love. If you go through a small line like the special teams or o-line, I bet some of those players will interact with your son too, which I'm sure he would love.
There are a lot of fans that attend Fan Day. For RR's first year, because of the construction going on at the stadium, the new Glick indoor practice facility and outdoor practice grounds were used. RR signed in the Glick building. His line alone was the entire 120 yard length, the entire width, out the door, and completely across the two practice fields to the immediate west of Glick. Hoke and Robinson will command loooooong lines.
I'd pick one and tell your kid he's in it for the long haul.
I think I am going to go but just to go down on the field. Don't really need any autographs. Are they letting people on the field? If so is it easy to get down there or do you have to wait in a long line?
Thanks for any info!!
You just walked on down there. Last year this stupid lady was trying to get everyone out of the endzone so she could take a picture of her brat kid. There was about 100 people in the endzone.
Last year my wife took Denard's silver sharpie. And no she doesn't run a 4.4 40. So sorry to everyone behind us!
for my office. My boss went to MSU and haz Izzo Bball in his office. Need something to ward off the evil around here. Denard would be my first choice, but we'll see.
Just hand the player your own pen before they signed, saying it will show up better. They'll do it.
A pen to hold well on that flag may be difficult though. I'd go with a paint pen over a sharpie. I also think silver would look much better than gold, but it's your call. A really good paint pen to use is called a DecoColor Paint Marker. You can usually find them in a Michaels or Hobby Lobby (I included a link so you have an idea of what they look like). Just prep them before using and they are really nice. You may also want to "stretch" the flag when you get it signed so it has a nice smooth surface for the player to sign on. Sorry for all the details.
Sweet thanks Magnus, I cannot wait to go through the tunnel and out onto the field, will be quite the experience!!
Now they won't let you in the tunnel however sorry. Or at least last year they wouldn't let us. You walk down through the bowl to get on the field.
Oh gotcha. Hopefully they will this year, although just being down on the field will be pretty sweet!
You may want to think about buying a maize flag if you want a ton of signatures. On the blue flag, signatures will probably only be visible on the M itself, and that's not that much room.
It's a smart idea to take a pen, IMO.
Best thing I did last year was take along a roster. They've got all the players at the tables, the starters, the walkons, the new guys, and they are all there to sign. You're going to be standing there in front of them, whether you're seeking their specific autograph or not. Players appreciate being recognized, in my experience they love it when you can comment on their high school or homestate or whatever. It's your chance to be a great fan.
For the parents: We also did the divide and conquer--something to think about if you have two adults. I stood in the line w'ed decided upon, my husband took the boys onto the field. I texted them when I was getting close. I guess the people behind me could have called that a dick move, but I think they understood it was better to have two energetic kids bouncing around elsewhere. The dance team and cheerleaders come around and chat up the crowd, so that can help pass the time.
We're going to miss it this year, unfortunately.
I did a flag last year and the signatures bleed on the flag, the silver sharpie for some reason did not. just a heads up
August 3rd, 2011 at 10:22 PM ^
i have the same exact flag and have been going to meet the team for a few years and getting new auto's every year. same thing you are planning on doing. they have their own markers, but bring your own. i use a silver sharpie on my flag and it shows up great. the players usually have black makers so definitely bring silver....just ask them to use your pen, they dont seem to mind