Enjoy the game. Get there early and bring $10-20 for parking depending on how far you mind walking. Afterward, celebrate the win over @ Blimpie Burger. Don't mind the rude service, it's all part of the experience.

Congrats. I don't remember much about my first game (I was only 4 and I feel asleep during the 3rd quarter!) but I'm sure it will be an awsome feeling for you! I don't have season tickets, but my uncle does and I usually go to 3 or 4 games a year and I'll probably be able to get a ticket to that one. Wear a shirt that says "I am house of pain from mgoblog" and come to our tent lol. We have random people we've never even met come up and get some food from time to time anyway! We are in the crisler parking lot right across from the port-o-potties lol.

It was in the mid 80's and we played Maryland when I first entered Michigan Stadium. It has been something like 24 years since I had that moment. Everyone has that breathless vision of entering the stadium for the first time. All I can say is good for you and take a deep breath before you enter.

Congrats! Coming in off 94, there's parking all the way along the road right up to the stadium. Try not to pull off too early, though. If you see a lot with $20 parking, chances are there's a lot half a mile further up also $20. There's a nice little lot on the west side of AA-Saline road, just south of an assisted living facility and a church that probably makes more money selling parking for home games than they do in donations all year. Dad and I like to park there, though it's not much for tailgating. Plenty of other good lots too, but that one is an option. They don't park you in, and getting in and out isn't too much trouble. Best thing about Michigan Stadium, I think, is that you don't realize how big it is until you step into the bowl itself. So much is below ground level. I think my first game there would've been when I was about 5 or 6. We were quite poor then, so getting to a Michigan game (even if, I believe, we could touch the top wall) was just amazing. Oh, and don't worry about the cost of pop. As opposed to every other stadium I've ever gone to, the color doesn't wear off the Michigan cups later, so you have a keepsake to drink from on fall Saturdays for years.

Glad to hear you're in business... I'm a PA guy as well and the first time I made the trip it was also from the Northeast. Get to the game super early-- WALK EVERYWHERE-- go see all of the statues at all the corners, go walk the bleachers regardless of where you're sitting. Remember that scene in Rudy when Ned Beatty walks into ND Stadium and says "this is the greatest thing these eyes have ever seen?" That's gonna be you, brother, in about 2 months...

At some point walk down State Street to where it intersects with Hoover. The party at this corner is crazy. I love taking State to Hoover on the way to my tailgate just to see all the happy people. Congrats man. You've never felt goosebumps like you will when the band comes out.

drive in on 94 - get off at the Ann Arbor Saline exit (175?) and turn left. Then you go up and down a hill, and you'll see a $20 parking lot on the left by a mailbox. This is before the aformentioned church above, but this place is where I've been tailgaiting since I was 6 yrs old. It is a huge expanse of land, and I always park underneath the willow tree (anyone here is welcome to join me for beer & brats any game). The walk is about 12 minutes from there to the staduim, but I drive 5 1/2 hours and tailgate for about 3, so the walk isn't bad at all. Oh, and you want to head the same direction you were driving to get to the Big House - or just follow the masses of UM fans... The only thing I remember about my first game experience is walking into the tunnel and seeing the whole thing loom before me. None of us here can put into words what that feeling is like, but everyone I bring to the Big House raves about it. I wonder how different that effect is now that the staduim is much taller? I always get goosebumps when the guys run and jump to touch the banner. Something about that is just really cool. If we are ahead in the 3rd quarter (by God I hope we are way ahead by then) you will see the wave like you've never seen it before. They do a regular wave, a fast wave, a slow-motion wave, and sometimes even two waves going in opposite directions. As far as post game activity, my favorite is Ashley's in downtown AA. Their beer list is literally a book, and they have hundreds of choices. They have beers from all around the world ranging in proof from the avg. 3.5% all the way to one that's 30%! Don't have more than 2 high alcohol beers, or you will never make it home. Glad that you're making the trip, and I'll bet it becomes a yearly tradition for the both of you. Go Blue!!!

Damn, you are going to have a blast..... I remember the first Michigan I went to... I lived in Tennessee at the time, and my Dad took me up to the horseshoe to see Michigan play against Ohio St.....I was probably 4 or 5 at the time, and I was scared out of my mind hahaha...

but here are some things to expect: 1) Bring a few pairs of fresh undies because you may shit yourself when the band takes the field and/or people get really excited (see Wisconsin game last year... that was insane). 2) If you enjoy standing during the game, which I really encourage you to so you can get the most out of the game and annoy old people, expect any old person to yell at you multiple times to sit down. It's a common occurance. 3) If I were you, I would look to save some money on parking by not parking at Pioneer High School (right across the street from the stadium. You should get there a little earlier than you think you need to be, and look for parking at a house near the stadium, or you could park a little farther away on a side street for free. Overall, good luck.

Your main concern is to stand up during the game and yell.