OT: Stand or Sit

Submitted by Qmatic on
6th year with season tickets (outside of the student section), and every year, every game, the accepted norm of when to sit and when to stand seems to change. I am all for standing. I would stand all game if I could. Usually I stand through the kickoff and first series, and usually by the first punt/change of possession so,done behind me yells at our row (usually our row and the several in front of us are still standing) to sit down. When I started in this section I would usually be an ass to so,some yelling and mutter something like "if you want to sit, than watch it from your couch." Now, I usually sit when asked, but I'm usually asked several times, as I we usually stand for 3rd downs and such. What's it like in your guys section(s)? Do any of you stand all game? Is it always acceptable to stand on 3rd down? Is it only okay to stand after big plays? How is the 90 year old next to me still kicking it? Or are you usually too drunk to care?
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Bando Calrissian

August 25th, 2016 at 1:09 AM ^

And here's the rub: the "I can do whatever the hell I want" take. And that's why my section has had problems just about every game for the last five years.

It was especially fun watching a woman get booted from an Ohio State game in the first half because she said that exact same thing to a cop who was trying to get her to go with the flow and sit down because no one around her could see the game. That's where that attitude gets you.

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Mabel Pines

August 25th, 2016 at 8:24 AM ^

Said he did whatever he wanted and then said he stood for only big plays, so it sounds like he's going with the flow. It's not that hard. We yell and cheer like crazy in our section and stand when those in front of us stand, or stand ourselves if no one else is and it's a big play. No problem in our section.

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turd ferguson

August 25th, 2016 at 1:04 AM ^

I wish there were a better way to coordinate this. There are people who legitimately can't or shouldn't stand for long periods of time, and it's shitty for them to have to choose between not being able to see, asking others to sit, or skipping the games altogether.  At the same time, it's shitty for fans who want to stand to have to sit - or get guilt trips for standing - because some people in their sections can't or don't want to join them.

At this point it seems like we should have informally designated some sections as "sit" sections and the rest as fair game for standing whenever.  (Those informal designations don't exist, do they?)

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MGoBrewMom

August 25th, 2016 at 9:41 AM ^

It's embarrassing to say how long it's been. But kids..flying 4 of us back there from San Diego, and during school..yadda yadda. But this year is different! I'm going back for one game..and doing that stadium tour too, dammit. I won't say which game but when section 20 is standing on October 1, think of me.

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ak47

August 25th, 2016 at 10:02 AM ^

Its not a three hour standing sesssion.  Football is a slow ass game that that takes over three hours to get through 60 minutes of game clock.  There is plenty of time in that window to sit. People stood for a pretty long time during the notre dame night game at the end because it was exciting enough for them to do it.

I sat in the general crowd for the first time last year and obviously sat with my section because I'm not a huge asshole but plenty of other fanbases have much louder and more engaged fans in the stadium and I don't think the Michigan fan base is older than others.

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Tuebor

August 25th, 2016 at 1:59 PM ^

Stadium design has a huge affect on fan loudness.  Open bowl designs like Michigan Stadium bleed noise up and out while Stadiums with upper decks trap noise. 

 

I think there is a difference between saying Michigan's fans aren't loud and Michigan's Stadium isn't loud. 

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TruBluMich

August 25th, 2016 at 1:03 AM ^

Can not believe people are trying to make rules on how somebody watches a football game.  To many damn rules in the stadium already, no alcohol being the dumbest of them.  Fully understand that not everyone can stand the whole game and in that case they should create no standing zones.

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Bando Calrissian

August 25th, 2016 at 1:05 AM ^

It's not about rules--it's about simple manners. If your dogged adherence to the idea that you must be standing to properly enjoy a football game is getting in the way of dozens of other people who, like you, also wish to enjoy said football game, yet can't, because you make a better door than a window, how are you possibly in the right? 

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scanner blue

August 25th, 2016 at 8:51 AM ^

If you need to stand for the game become an usher. You are required to stand from 2 1/2 hrs before kickoff till 1/2 hr after the final whistle. You get about 20 min to eat a Sodexo mediocre lunch where you can sit in Crisler and watch the game on TV. You get to  interact with a couple of thousand of the best fans in the land (plus a few drunks and opposing fans) and get paid less than $5/hr to boot. I'll be one of the 35 to 40 yr veterans before I'm done. Go Blue!

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turd ferguson

August 25th, 2016 at 1:13 AM ^

I never have a problem with people standing at Michigan Stadium, unless they're really being dicks about it.  A parallel thing that pisses me off, though, is people thinking they're entitled to sing every damn lyric at a concert because they paid for a ticket.

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gbdub

August 25th, 2016 at 11:14 AM ^

Yeah, the people singing along and trying to film on their shitty phone cameras - yeesh.

Last concert I was at had a group of 40-something moms (all tarted up and drunk off their asses) with their apparently much tamer teenage daughters. The look of embarrassment on the girls' faces while drunk mom exhorted them to stand and get loud for every song was worth the price of admission.



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UMxWolverines

August 25th, 2016 at 1:17 AM ^

Unless you're old or the game is in hand there's no reason you should be sitting. We stood pretty much all of the MSU game last year and outside of the last play it was great.

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Tuebor

August 25th, 2016 at 2:05 PM ^

Here is a secret. If everybody is sitting the sightlines are the exact same as if everybody is standing.

 

Sure, we all stand for big plays and in celebration of scores.  But there is no need to stand the whole game.  Just do what the people in front of you are doing.  If they are standing then stand, if they are sitting then sit. 

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stephenrjking

August 25th, 2016 at 1:37 AM ^

I like standing during big moments. I like standing in excitement as a big moment takes place. I like seeing better from a higher level. But there are 110,000 people in close proximity. Not everybody feels the same way. I think people should be considerate of those around them. I can respect rival fans, older fans who want to sit, young fans who want to jump around and make noise. But I have a hard time respecting people who are so selfish that they refuse to give the least bit of consideration to the wellbeing of other people at a game. My least pleasant memories of going to games are, without exception, times where I have encountered (usually with a family member) people who are obnoxiously selfish and rude. Some drunk guys crowding my daughters (8 and 10, one of them at her first ever Michigan Football game) last year in Minneapolis, for example. The boor who spilled beer on my wife at the Joe in 2004 and spent the whole game loudly whining, no apology considered. That kind of thing. Stand up for the good stuff. But if people around you want to sit, be considerate. Sit down when you can. Give up standing for the occasional play. Be polite, and you might even encourage others to stand at those crucial moments a bit more. Be considerate. Michigan is a family. Try to get along.

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Hail-Storm

August 25th, 2016 at 10:38 AM ^

I've had two encounters where some old guy felt that he deserved more space than he had. The first was during Notre Dame game in 2009 (one of the greatest gaames I've attended at UofM). The guy I was sitting next to sat with a wide stance trying to push me over.  I was already sitting further to the right than I should  He complained to me multiple times until someone finally spoke up and asked if it would help if they sat in their seats in the row in front of us. There was also a gentleman that was around 350 a few seats to his wife's left that was obviously more of the problem.  Luckily my non engagement payed off and he left me alone.  

The other time was the OSU game in 2011. What a beautiful day and great game, but man, other people. First was the obnoxiously drunk OSU fan to start the game.  For some reason she decided my wife and I would be fun to taunt. We again played the don't engage game until my wife finally asked her to leave us alone. She got bored and bothered someone else. Then this old guy spent the 1st quarter leaning up against me. I just went with it, because whatever, I'm at The Game and it's beautiful out.  He eventually blows up and claims I'm in his spot. I show him how I'm not sitting on his cusion and stand straight up when I stand up.  His wife did switch seats and apologize (note she was much bigger than him and we had plenty of space after the switch).  Enjoyed the rest of the game, but man.

Rule of thumb, no matter what your age, don't be a dick.  You are entitled to a lot less than you think you are.  This goes for season ticket holders too. 

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ChicagoBigHouse

August 25th, 2016 at 1:40 AM ^

I think if your section is seated, you should sit too. Just due to politeness and respect for others sitting behind you who can't/don't stand for most plays. And cheer loudly. With lots of high fives for your neighbors.

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TrueBlue2003

August 25th, 2016 at 1:42 AM ^

"sit" sections. Sort of like student sections.  Season ticket holders would be able to elect one of the sit sections before each season.  I'm sure this has been discussed on here ad nauseam but I haven't seen it.

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mtzlblk

August 25th, 2016 at 2:06 AM ^

Michigan. At no other stadium....in the world....does a large contingent of fans demand that others sit down on a regular basis. It is preposterous. If you don't want to stand and be loud, give up your tickets to someone that will and watch on TV where someone won't obstruct your view while sitting on your ass.

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mtzlblk

August 25th, 2016 at 1:58 PM ^

except I get out plenty....aside from Michigan games, a short list of places I have seen sporting events:

-I live in San Francisco, so (though I don't much like pro sports at all) - SF Giants, Warriors, 49ers and Raiders

-several Stanford and Cal games over the years

-Boca vs. River Plate at El Monumental, Buenos Aires

-a few weeks ago attended Liverpool vs. Barcelona at Wembley in London

-numerous Arsenal games while living in London for three years, a few Chelsea, West Brom games also

-Camp Nou in Barcelona for El Classico Barca v Real Madrid circa 2000

-Blooming vs. Oriente Petrolero in Santa Cruz Bolivia - huge rivalry, people in opposing team sections fire major bottle rockets (mata suegras/mother-in-law killers) at each other during games. Had my wedding reception at the "clubhouse" there

-grew up just outside East Lansing and on M away weekends went to lots of games at Spartan stadium

-relatives in Columbus have season tix, so road-tripped there for many games

-road tripped to away games at Wisconsin, Penn State and Purdue while attending Michigan.....

I stand at games when appropriate and the action dictates it.......never once in any of those instances was I ever told "down in front", at M stadium totally different story.

Sure, I'll try to get out more. 

It was the "down in front" people Bo was referring to when he called M fans "the wine and cheese set." 

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ThadMattasagoblin

August 25th, 2016 at 2:14 AM ^

Whenever I go to games at away stadiums, everyone is standing. At Michigan we always have the down in front crowd. It would be cool if we could have standing sections and sitting sections.

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B-Nut-GoBlue

August 25th, 2016 at 4:33 AM ^

Those advocating standing/sitting sections are forgetting about the large amount of tickets sold on the secondsry market to people who don't give 2 shits about said section rules.

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MGoDillon

August 25th, 2016 at 4:43 AM ^

Almost got kicked out before for standing at the end of a close game. Old couple behind me kept bitching to the usher and the usher said if I don't sit then he'd have to make me leave. I was pretty mad



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