The final touch to the Big House
So, I would like to start off by saying that the stadium renovations look magnificent. Having seen them for the first time for the UConn game, they truly bring a majestic and powerful addition to an already impressive structure. However, with the likely addition of HD scoreboards and the soon-to-be addition of permanent lighting, I asked myself, "Crisler arena has banners, Yost has banners, where would the listings of our National Championship years go? What about Big Ten title years? Heisman winners? Etc."
This made me think that it could be a nice addition to the plain, solid navy boxes to have maize text across the top or bottom of the structure listing our title years, or even an iconic saying such as "Welcome to the Big House" or something similar to having "Michigan" above the old press box. I think it could spruce up the boxes and be the final touch for the best stadium in the country. I'm sure our football team would enjoy, and be proud of, having the program's accomplishments on display just as our basketball and hockey players do. Thoughts?
EDIT: Ok, to make myself more clear, I'm not talking about bringing back the halo, I don't want banners, or any large, gaudy signs. I'm saying that perhaps we can honor our past players and teams that brought greatness to Michigan Football in a way that many stadiums do around the country. I understand that the words "change" and "Michigan Stadium" do not sit well with a lot of people, but I figured that if Dave Brandon is pushing Michigan Stadium into the 21st century, that something like this could be accommodated, and probably more now than if we waited for 10 years. After all, once we got rid of the old press box, does it even say "Michigan" anywhere inside the stadium, aside from the OLD scoreboards?
DOUBLE EDIT: So after hearing about the other "memorials" to past teams in other concourses, I had to use the Google machine for pictures. I like what they did there, and I didn't get a chance to see it as the tunnel to my seats were directly in front of the gate I entered. I think that is classy and done well. Therefore, I now rescind my opinion on the matter, though I still thought it was A LOT of blue on those things.
September 16th, 2010 at 8:05 PM ^
NO.
The Big House doesn't need fancy signs and gaudy, tawdry embellishment. It's an iconic structure whose beauty and awe is derived from its simplicity. It's minimalist approach is what makes it so special. You remember the halo? We don't need to bring that back.
We have commemorative plaques and displays throughout the stadium. Banners or signs are tacky (for football), and would do nothing but make us look insecure.
September 16th, 2010 at 8:06 PM ^
I'm not saying tacky. I don't think anyone would want that. What I'm saying is, currently, our National Championship years are listed on the bottom of the scoreboards that rotate in and out of "Go Blue" (if I recall). I'm suggesting that they find a more permanent home painted in a classy way on the solid blue structures. Essentially move them from the scoreboards that will be replaced, to the boxes. I think everyone would agree that it would be preferable to have nothing than something tacky. But who's to say just moving them from the scoreboard to the boxes couldn't be done in a classy way?
September 16th, 2010 at 8:02 PM ^
We could stick them onto the glass of the boxes.
How about some maize-and-blue Elivis impersonators, with little Wolverines dancing in cages? Wait, I know; air fresheners. But instead of little pine tree things, we'll have actual pine trees!
Thoughts?
September 16th, 2010 at 8:03 PM ^
I agree. Their is a lot of blue there. I think doing something to spruce it up is a excellent idea.
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<br>Not sure exactly what though.
September 16th, 2010 at 8:07 PM ^
i too thought the blue siding looked a little bland. big ten championship years, national championship years and "Michigan Stadium" would be nice. a listing of hall of famers or a "ring of honor" wouldn't be cool with me since michigan is all about the team, the team, the team. and definitely no mottos or even the fight song -- remember the halo?
September 16th, 2010 at 8:07 PM ^
The East and West Concourses have the National Championships and All-Americans listed. They look fine where they are.
September 16th, 2010 at 8:43 PM ^
We already have a "Ring of Champions" (or something like that) in one of the four plazas outside the bowl. The championship years are engraved on the four pillars. And now we have the little displays in the concourses. That's enough.
September 16th, 2010 at 8:11 PM ^
I think this is an AWEOSME idea. I think it would be a goo idea to put like a maize little around the stadium top too. Maybe to look a little more unizue. We should also have a couple night games. I've always wondered why UM being the bestest ever doesn't have night games. Wheat do you all think about this idea?
September 16th, 2010 at 8:20 PM ^
AND MAIZE JERZEEZ!!!!
September 16th, 2010 at 8:22 PM ^
oh mann. that would be an absolutely awesome ideas. i think we should go to white pants and yellow jerseys, and go to
September 16th, 2010 at 9:43 PM ^
WITHS SMOKZ MACHINGAS, OH MAN...
September 16th, 2010 at 8:13 PM ^
I know what your thinking and I think it could be pulled off. however, I think its been attempted two different ways with no success for different reasons and I like whats done now
1. Halo....nuff said. The outside of the stadium has always been the most intriguing of any I've seen. It even bothered some the boxes made it look bigger from the outside....and...maybe it did lose a bit of that feeling, but, the change is welcome and looks great.
2. Current scoreboards....They were awsome, but, look cheap now don't they? How about that roadside billboard scroll at the bottom of it. Things get dated faster then you think and the scoreboards are now the eyesore...still nice....just not as nice as the rest. Simple holds longer
So what works? you DO have to honor. Well, the deals they have up in the concorse are very nice....AND....that is the one area of the stadium that is blah. Its just enough
The problem with adding anymore to the stadium is your attention now is always being pushed down to the field. The way it should be. Don't but butterflies in the outfield for the special kids.
September 16th, 2010 at 8:21 PM ^
We actually got rid of the rotating billboard thing at the bottom of the scoreboards a couple years ago. There is now an LED mini-scoreboard thing there, which displays some game stats.
September 16th, 2010 at 8:16 PM ^
The "halo"...
The '59 Edsel ...
New Coke ...
September 16th, 2010 at 8:26 PM ^
I almost forgot about the halo. The halo sucked.
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September 16th, 2010 at 9:47 PM ^
For the record, New Coke was not a bad idea, provided you accept New Coke conspiracy theories, which actually do hold together whenyou start poking holes in them.
September 16th, 2010 at 10:00 PM ^
Bring back Crystal Pepsi
September 16th, 2010 at 10:05 PM ^
Bring back Crystal Gravy.
September 16th, 2010 at 8:17 PM ^
September 16th, 2010 at 8:24 PM ^
Im ready to watch next year's game against Notre Dame under the lights baby!
September 16th, 2010 at 8:26 PM ^
I'm not you baby, pal!
September 16th, 2010 at 8:32 PM ^
Go away.
September 16th, 2010 at 8:33 PM ^
WTF DID I DO FOR YOU TO SAY THAT TO ME.
September 16th, 2010 at 8:38 PM ^
I'm not your pal, buddy.
September 16th, 2010 at 8:41 PM ^
Cool! I didn't know they did that. That's a nice bit of motivation for the team.
Everyone should click on that link for the great shot of a beaming Denard at the post-UConn press conference.
September 16th, 2010 at 8:32 PM ^
several ACC school football stadiums, a couple ot the PAC 10 and a couple of the SEC.
And I have to say, whenver I see the walls plastered with retired jersey numbers, the "ring of honor," the years that they won the league title back before the World War, I think, "cheesy." I think that they really must've had an angry old alumnus who was determined that his donation was going to go to a memorial of ol' Elroy, or some such character. And it always ends up looking like the decorations in a 14 year-old boy's bedroom.
September 16th, 2010 at 8:38 PM ^
Yeah, I get what you're saying and I agree. I just kept thinking, "My God, that is A LOT of blue."
September 16th, 2010 at 8:52 PM ^
What happened with the lettering that was on the old pressbox? They should put that on side of the new addition.
September 16th, 2010 at 9:01 PM ^
Its there. Black letters on one side, and the yellow on the other.
September 16th, 2010 at 9:05 PM ^
to the old exterior wall underneath the West Concourse, and on the East-side tunnel wall. Good places for both. Nothing was trashed, and yet those letters would have had no business going up on the new construction. Those letters weren't original to the Stadium, and they weren't even original to the second press box!
September 16th, 2010 at 8:53 PM ^
The entire stadium should be encased in a gigantic maize & blue funnel that will extend 9,000 feet into the sky, topped by a rotating Block M that will be visible from Toronto on a clear day. This wil (a) hold in the noise better, thus contributing to our home-field advantage, and (b) "let muthafuckas know."
September 16th, 2010 at 8:54 PM ^
September 16th, 2010 at 9:11 PM ^
Now, I think that Death Valley is one of the great scenes in college football. They have a nice stadium. Its a fantastic game-day experience. The Hill, Howard's Rock, etc., etc.
But somebody insisted on doing this:
Now, all I need to know is whether you can get those letters at Home Depot, or do you have to go to Lowe's? And are they the self-adhesive kind, or do you have to buy extra epoxy?
September 16th, 2010 at 9:16 PM ^
Yeah, that definitely was not the intent of my idea. Perhaps just having Michigan Stadium or something on it. I don't know, now I'm all conflicted inside.
September 16th, 2010 at 9:23 PM ^
Because I don't want you to be all conflicted inside.
When they start to do the exact thing you are describing, inside of Ohio Stadium, then you know it is a really, really bad idea:
http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=204778087
September 16th, 2010 at 9:31 PM ^
GAHH!!! Thank you. I have seen the light. My musings have been quelled.
September 16th, 2010 at 9:38 PM ^
It's what I am all about.
Go Blue!
September 16th, 2010 at 9:55 PM ^
Wow, I had no idea Jeff Davis was still alive in the 1970s. That's some longevity.
September 16th, 2010 at 10:03 PM ^
+1 for the Civil War nerd
September 16th, 2010 at 10:29 PM ^
Question and maybe a really stupid one. In the Clemson picture, what are the orange things on the stands. Are they seats or something? At the Shoe, I see red ones, but I dont think I have ever seen it in the Big House. Thanks.
September 16th, 2010 at 11:55 PM ^
They usually fold down, and the back covers a seat cushion. Keeps the seat dry, if you show up on a rainy day. But more than anything, I think they get used a public displays of donor status, that sort of thing. You pay for them, you see...
I've actually sat in one of those things at Camp Randall; it was perfectly nice.
Yes, you will see them at Ohio Stadium, at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, if I recall, and in Happy Valley and at the "other" Memorial Stadium now in the Big Ten, in Lincoln. They are all over. It would not surprise me if half the stadiums in the country had them.
September 17th, 2010 at 9:56 AM ^
Thanks, really interesting. Sorry for the stupid question.
September 16th, 2010 at 9:25 PM ^
NO
However, I want a Texas Stadium HD jumbotron that is also 3D. Every fan gets handed circularly polarized 3d glasses as they enter the stadium.
September 16th, 2010 at 9:34 PM ^
It's amazing, the action on the field is already in 3D!
September 16th, 2010 at 9:54 PM ^
the fear of putting up the stadium equivalent of a lower back butterfly tattoo.
but the blue does kind of look like it's waiting for something to go on it.
the right words in maize could be iconic. even if those words are just "michigan stadium" or "hail to the victors."
September 16th, 2010 at 9:57 PM ^
I take it you were a fan of the halo?
September 16th, 2010 at 10:05 PM ^
but from the pictures it seems like the problem was garish design, not the fact that there were words involved.
I guess my point is that a few words from the fight song printed in block type aren't going to suddenly look dated.