Mailbag: Robbie Moore, Four-Year Scholarships, Bowl Attendance Criteria, Buckeye Lingo

Between two Michigan fans:

"Yeah, I've been to a bowl game once.  It was the Rose Bowl, and we lost to USC.  No, not that year...nope...yeah, wait no...wow, that's before my time...y'know, the most recent one...oh, wait, that game, yeah. 

Miami is not an Applebee city even though it is in Florida.  The 99 season game against Bama would have been a good one to go to. 

Even though I am clearly biased, Scottsdale is not the Applebee's of the United States. Its an incredibly poche resort town for the weatlhy. The insight bowl is in tempe though and the fiesta is in glendale and can understand said beef with these Phoenix suburbs.

Thanks for the Robbie Moore reference.  I remember him as well.  I remember him sitting on the goal while the refs tried to sort out a fight on the other side of the ice.  I remember him building a little wall of snow in front of the goal, and the ref telling him to get rid of it. 

He was what they called "colorful" back then, but he was also probably the best goalie Michigan had in the 50-year gap between Willard Ikola and Marty Turco.  His numbers don't look that impressive today, but hockey was a very different game in the mid '70s.

I was in Orlando for three days or so for the shuttle launch this past spring/summer. It is a pretty decent time. You can go to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter/Universal Studios for a day. You can go to Epcot for a day. And then you can just drink for a day. It's not like you're going there to live. You're just exploring the city, there'll enough touristy things to do.

I was also in Jacksonville for the Gator Bowl, and while it wasn't as great of a bowl location as New Orleans, it was still a good time. Game day is spent tailgating and going to the game and crying as was the case last year. And then you also have New Year's Eve to knock off a day on the trip. You can also spend New Year's Day at the bar watching bowl games if your game isn't on that day.

Going to bowl games is just a good excuse to take another vacation in a location that you wouldn't normally go to and show your support for something that you do love. And yes, I will be in Dallas this September and exploring the Ft Worth area.

Think of the strip malls, my friend!  The strip malls! 

The Cyclorama used to be free... you go in and it's just this overwhelming barrage of imagery surrounding you and about forty to seventy other people, half of which are old dudes who are hell bent on proving that they know more about Civil War military tactics than the other guy by spending ridiculous amounts of money on replica shell casings at Army surplus stores.  They're like those guys in the row behind you who claim to be able to recognize plays according to the center's feet, stuff like that.

As for the Cyclorama-- as an art guy, I'll actually say it's kind of a lost cause.  Paintings are not only about technique and subject matter-- they're also about composition. What angles are created as the Nude Descends the Staircase?  What negative space is activated by the Mona Lisa's powerful triad?  How does Caillebotte dissect the picture plane?

Well, the Cyclorama is impossible to look at this way, simply because there's no way to look at even half of it at once-- it's just this endless plane of gore and horses and dudes with awesome mustaches.  When you get in there all those Civil War gurus ooh and ahh over it like the Nazi archaelogist in Raiders of the Lost Ark... but as all-encompassing as it was, I have to admit I was, like, 'meh.'  It's so overwhelming that you kinda get bored really quickly.

Nowadays you have to pay extra to go in and look at it, which is ridiculous because everywhere you look in that town there's murals and billboards and ads featuring soldiers riding horses with bayonets drawn or sabres stuck through their neck.  Good clean American fun.

So I'd say save your money.  Go on the ghost tour.  Or the outlets.  Seriously, just get out on the battlefield-- that's where it can still be fun and profound, especially on the South side.  Wheatfield.  Devil's Den.  Little Round Top.

Now back to your regularly scheduled programming about The Joy of Packed Powder Skiing by Brian Cook.

Having lived in a college town associated with a lesser football school (Indiana) and attended a lesser football school (Purdue), I've had experience with several bowl cities, although I can't provide valuable information about any of them.

Birmingham, no longer in the rotation: sucked. (Freezing rain on New Year's Eve. WTF? This is the South. Also, everything was closed after the game. srsly. I don't care that it was 1986.)

Atlanta: probably outstanding, but I went with my dad, my brother and a friend, so we didn't really experience the Atlanta night life.

Memphis: probably decent, but see above.

Tampa: um, not too bad, I think. Not sure. This was also around New Year's, so there was a lot of drinking involved. I remember most of the first half, some of the second, and a nice little bar somewhere. This was not with my dad.

In short, if you can drink there, it's probably tolerable. If your team has just blown a significant lead in part because the head coach cannot stop chasing the 2s (something highly unlikely to happen with Hoke), drinking is a requirement, so any city would be OK. Being in a city where it's significantly above freezing is a Good Thing as well.

I went to the Michigan-Bama game at the Orange Bowl after the 99 season (my senior year), and it was a lot of fun. I am probably a little biased since it was my first (and only) bowl game, but I had no complaints about it. Highlights include:

- wearing shorts the whole time

- NYE on South Beach

- waiting at the hotel for the bus to the stadium and watching my friend almost get into a fight with Tom Brady's uncle after my friend wouldn't shut up about how much he hated Brady and wished Henson had started all year

- chatting with the Bama fans before the game

- sitting in the end zone for every one of Michigan's scores and the missed extra point by Bama

Wins the mailbag.  Buckeye the pejorative ftw.

I'm also someone who has only been to one bowl - the Rose Bowl we lost to USC (no, not that one. No, not that one.  The one with the Braylon drop, the "kick-deflection" INT, and the throwback pass to Leinart).

If the BIG is going to go after new bowl games, realistics or not, I nominate the Music City Bowl for a lower tier bowl. Nashville has an awesome night life and some very cool cultural stuff as well. Definitely a city that doesn't suck and that I think a lot of fans would enjoy visiting for a day or two. I don't think many people visit it as a destination so a bowl would be a great draw.

Because how you could like Santa Fe when you have disdain for San Antonio set off my "whaaaa...?" meter.  (Which is now sadly gone, but is a great trip, if an absolute crap venue to play a football game in from a viewing to a ref'ing standpoint. But it's a town that there's something to do for people of all ages, historical and modern).

I guess the question lies in "what do you like to do in a city, other than skiing?"  Because I can't say I see a huge difference between say Houston and Dallas or, Atlanta. (huh?) I mean, what's the difference between Tampa and Atlanta? I'd wouldn't say historically Atlanta has been the #1 on the crime free city list. (And my best friend lives in Denver, and other than "skiing", it's not like there's a whole hell of a lot to do there that you can't do in any major city).  So really, I guess it depends on what floats your boat. And for some, it's really just staying home, whic his cool, too.

My personal rankings-

1. The Rose Bowl - ok, being in LA is actually kinda sucky. Nothing is close to anything. The team and University hotels are literally many miles away from where you play...and where you play is away from any of the action.  Yeah, great, you can hang out with the team in Beverly Hills looking at stores with stuff you can't afford to buy, but, well, yeah.  I guess if you wanted a vacation where you took a day off to go to a bowl game, you could get by the beach, and do, well, beach things.  But the bowl itself lives up to any and all hype.  Great big beautiful stadium. The mountains slowly turning colors as the sun sets.  Usually a match up of some greatness. And less corporate than most any other bowl game (though that isn't saying much).

2. (new to the list) Sugar Bowl- doesn't really count, because we only go every 30 years, but I'd go again if they invited us next year. The town is obviously a blast...even more so if you're young (and single), but still things to do for all ages.  The Stadium can be within walking distance, and that at least has a college feel to it as everyone heads in and out.   The Stadium is very pro-ish, but has good sightlines.  A big game, and different. And the food, mmmmm...

3. Orlando/Citrus/Cap 1- OK, the Stadium is lame, and in a ghetto. Not a bad view, but at least usually an interesting game. But again, it comes down to what you want.  Stay at the Peabody, watch the ducks come out in the morning, and then there's a lot to do.  If you're not a Disney guy, you're actually a lot closer to Universal (which is more fun, frankly, if you're older and like movies and such) or Sea World, or go on the cheap and see something like Gator World or some local flavor fun. And if you're completely on the other end of the spectrum, it's not like there's a dearth of famous strip clubs down there. And down by the hotel you basically have a long, walkable strip of an outdoor mall, movie theater, a row of restaurants of all sorts, activities, and really stuff for anyone to do.  And it has a 50-50 chance of being warm.

4. (RIP) Alamo - Yes, the Stadium is for basketball. Yes, even if it's not the Sun Belt, the refereeing is going to be the most awful you encounter outside of Spartan Bob.  But the Riverwalk is amazing.  Bars, great Mexican food, shopping, boat rides, museums, the uh, Alamo, all right by the hotels.  And the Stadium is a block away.  And if you have a car or something, more to see, and a pretty great zoo.

5. Outback - I tend to agree, Tampa is kinda....meh. Hotels seem kinda old. If you're into fishing or ocean activities, there is probably stuff to do. Not THAT warm.  Nice Aquarium and such, but it's really for New Year's Eve young street drinking (New Orleans REALLY-lite) that I can see some fun.  Stadium has a pirate ship. Whether you see that as a positive or negative is a personally preference.

Haven't been to, but heard some about- Orange- Miami is Miami; if you're young, and hot enough that you're not only going to be looking, I'm sure it's a blast.  If partying isn't your game, I can see how it might not be great.  (Ocean things from above apply, with more warmth).  Holiday Bowl- not even a matter since we really can't go to it, but I've heard such mixed things about San Diego. Think it's a fun young party town, but if that's not your bag, it can seem kinda boring.  But others love it.  Gator Bowl - the name is about all it's got going for it; the history (and the play date).  Because even before the awful game, I haven't heard anyone say anything nice about the trip down there. Bad weather, worse town.

Been...around- Been to Houston, I like the city, as big cities go.  The game isn't in July, so I imagine the weather is a lot nicer.  Scottsdale- not sure how close that is to anything interesting. Phoenix is very pre-fab new city.  If it was closer to get to the Grand Canyon, might be great, but that might be a cold trip in December. (I'm glad we ended up in the Sugar for a lot of reasons).

I guess what it comes down to, unless you're visiting another country, experiencing another culture, and/or seeing something historic in a city....what people do in all of them is basically all the same. Eat in restaurants. Drink in bars. Go see sights. Check out opposite sex. Watch a football game.  Some cities there's more variety of choices in each category, but I'm not sure there's a whole lot of difference in what you actually DO.  If you like doing those things in another place, having the oppressively long winter broken up a little, and maybe seeing some new things, go for it. If not, you can really do most of that stuff without leaving Ann Arbor. 

I'd say a couple of tips for a good bowl experience: Go with people you know. A shared experience is better. If you're not a dirt poor student, try and stay in and around the team hotel.  Don't be a douche and bother every one you see, but it at least gives you a team feel, and makes you feel part of the experience, and understand the Michigan family. (caveat- if you're one of those assholes who acts like you do on the liveblog in real life, go away....far away. They don't need or deserve it.  If you want to sympathize and share in the joy or pain, go for it. You'll like it).  And you might just find yourself after a big bowl win sharing a drink in the bar with Brandy or someone.  It can be fun. But I'd go for more than just the game. Because that's a lot of money for just a win or a loss. Enjoy everything that's around it.  And if at all possible, make it a trip that you'd have been glad to make even if there wasn't a football game attached.

I am mostly with Brian, except for Arizona (Scottsdale or Tempe or Phoenix.) There is enough to do there, and you can go skiing within three hours. I wouldn't rule it out as a destination. As an aside, you can also go skiing within a couple hours of LA. I'll never forget spending time in the snow in the morning, and eating out on the beach for supper.

I lived near Tampa, and didn't bother going to the bowl game when Michigan was there. I don't know . . . the beaches are nice, but I don't think I'd make much of an effort to go. If I was going to go to Florida, I think I'd go spend time in the Keys, and go to a game in Miami.

I also personally think New Orleans is overrated. I guess it has character, but wandering around the French Quarter with thousands of drunk fans? Seeing girls flash bewbz? Sounds like Columbus to me. Maybe its because I just don't like the stadium in N.O., but love the Rose Bowl. I went in 1993 when I lived out there, and again in 2007.

Regarding going to bowls, with kids, I will never willingly choose to go to a bowl scheduled mid-week a week or so after New Year's. I hate that bowl games are no longer on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

What does Charlie have against Bing? There are much more buckeyey (sp?) search engines out there.

I heartily endorse bringing back "Buckeye" for this kind of term.

I have baseball-loving/yankee-hating friends who, recognizing that "retarded" is not a very sensitive or appropriate term, yet still encountering all kinds of situations, products, and people that absolutely scream for such usage to be applied, began using the term "Jeter" as a replacement.  

So:  "The bowl selection process is utterly Jeter."  or "What kind of Jeter goes to a Dan Brown book signing?"  etc etc

Buckeye works just like that.

Orlando is a solid place, depending on your idea of what's fun to do.  My brother and I went for Purdue/Maryland a few years back.  (He's a Boiler.)  I like golf, I like miniature golf, I'm of the opinion that you're never too old for Disney World and EPCOT and the like, and Orlando, like every city, has watering holes, so I had a good time.  The nice thing about Orlando is that they play two pretty solid bowls there within a few days of each other, so you can't help but run into quite a few other fans.  For example, there was a really nice Arkansas couple behind us at mini-golf.

Truthfully, though, I just like traveling and I could reasonably enjoy myself just about anywhere for a couple days.  Even Birmingham or Shreveport.  No city is ever its stereotype, it's what you make of it.  But Orlando is pretty good.  I mean, other than the fact that I have family in Atlanta I'd hella rather go to Orlando than Atlanta.  I don't get the attraction.

Just, don't overload yourself on expectations for the stadium itself.

Tampa is getting a bad rap here.

In addition to the weather and the beach, Tampa has two very cool things. Cigar City Brewery and Ybor City. The hipsters amongst us may know Ybor City from the Hold Steady.