Get Loud - POST EVERYWHERE
I'm venturing my way out to AA this weekend for the Michigan-Notre Dame game. Let's get loud and make Michigan the toughest place to play in America. A few pieces of advice for the beginner (and expert) fan. It's easier said than done people.
Leave the keys at home. You'll probably lose them in your drunken stooper anyways. Instead, bring a handful of change to the game and an UNOPENED water bottle (this way you won't have to pay ten bucks for a bottle at the stadium). When inside, drink the water to sober up, and put the change in the bottle and you'll have something that's 100 times louder than your keys could ever make. I'll be at the game with possibly over a thousand dollars in pennies, so look for me.
Don't wait till 3rd and 4th down on defensive possessions to make noise. Personally, I think it's more important to make noise on 1st and 2nd down because it puts the other team's offense in a more difficult situation on 3rd downs, thus making it easier for our defense to make a stop. But anyways, the whole idea is to make noise on EVERY defensive play. [Also, good point made by a commenter. Don't wait till the opposing offense is set at the line to make noise. Shake those bottles and yell while they are in the huddle. Better yet, start yelling immediately when the previous play ends. Even better yet, DON'T STOP YELLING.]
When someone tells you to sit down (probably a Michigan man of the old generation) and stop making noise, ask them simply if they want Michigan to win. Most likely they'll say yes, and in kind respond, "Well sir, personally I believe it is my responsibility as a fan and spectator to stand up and cheer on our team to create a difficult atmosphere for our opponents." (Yes, say it like this in a sophisticated manner so that they can respect the message. If you talk like a smart-ass, that's when the old generation gets pissed and calls the usher/event staff).
Don't boo when you see Sheridan or someone who you think doesn't belong on the field get on the field. Rich Rod and his coaching staff know what they are doing. Have some confidence and trust in him. You get out there and hold up "In Rod We Trust" signs yet at the first sign of displeasure you boo. What is the deal? Get behind our players, even if it's a former walk-on who can't throw a 15 yard post. We should cheer louder to see scrubs get in the game.
Get there early and let's drown out those echoes that Notre Dame claims to hear. No Notre Dame chants/yells/screams should be heard. This is Michigan.
Anyways, I'll be providing Honest Analysis - University of Michigan v. University of Notre Dame when I get back to LA. Until then, go blue.
[Editor's note: Any current students need to get this message out. Print it out, post it in the dining halls, bathroom stalls, dorm hallways, at Charley's, at the Safe Sex Store, at Bubble Island, on South U, everywhere. It's easy to do. I'm not asking you to stand in the Diag handing out fliers (but if you want you should). Nobody will clown you or hate on you. If they do I'll throw pennies at them. Do your part as Michigan fans. Let's get this sh*t out there. Everyone needs to be on the same page. POST IT UP. And as I said at the beginning, it's easier said than done. Don't talk about it, be about it. POST IT UP. I will literally be at the game with rolls and rolls of pennies. Let's just say I had a good weekend in Vegas and the Michigan football team will be the beneficiary of that. POST IT UP.]
Leave the keys at home. You'll probably lose them in your drunken stooper anyways. Instead, bring a handful of change to the game and an UNOPENED water bottle (this way you won't have to pay ten bucks for a bottle at the stadium). When inside, drink the water to sober up, and put the change in the bottle and you'll have something that's 100 times louder than your keys could ever make. I'll be at the game with possibly over a thousand dollars in pennies, so look for me.
Don't wait till 3rd and 4th down on defensive possessions to make noise. Personally, I think it's more important to make noise on 1st and 2nd down because it puts the other team's offense in a more difficult situation on 3rd downs, thus making it easier for our defense to make a stop. But anyways, the whole idea is to make noise on EVERY defensive play. [Also, good point made by a commenter. Don't wait till the opposing offense is set at the line to make noise. Shake those bottles and yell while they are in the huddle. Better yet, start yelling immediately when the previous play ends. Even better yet, DON'T STOP YELLING.]
When someone tells you to sit down (probably a Michigan man of the old generation) and stop making noise, ask them simply if they want Michigan to win. Most likely they'll say yes, and in kind respond, "Well sir, personally I believe it is my responsibility as a fan and spectator to stand up and cheer on our team to create a difficult atmosphere for our opponents." (Yes, say it like this in a sophisticated manner so that they can respect the message. If you talk like a smart-ass, that's when the old generation gets pissed and calls the usher/event staff).
Don't boo when you see Sheridan or someone who you think doesn't belong on the field get on the field. Rich Rod and his coaching staff know what they are doing. Have some confidence and trust in him. You get out there and hold up "In Rod We Trust" signs yet at the first sign of displeasure you boo. What is the deal? Get behind our players, even if it's a former walk-on who can't throw a 15 yard post. We should cheer louder to see scrubs get in the game.
Get there early and let's drown out those echoes that Notre Dame claims to hear. No Notre Dame chants/yells/screams should be heard. This is Michigan.
Anyways, I'll be providing Honest Analysis - University of Michigan v. University of Notre Dame when I get back to LA. Until then, go blue.
[Editor's note: Any current students need to get this message out. Print it out, post it in the dining halls, bathroom stalls, dorm hallways, at Charley's, at the Safe Sex Store, at Bubble Island, on South U, everywhere. It's easy to do. I'm not asking you to stand in the Diag handing out fliers (but if you want you should). Nobody will clown you or hate on you. If they do I'll throw pennies at them. Do your part as Michigan fans. Let's get this sh*t out there. Everyone needs to be on the same page. POST IT UP. And as I said at the beginning, it's easier said than done. Don't talk about it, be about it. POST IT UP. I will literally be at the game with rolls and rolls of pennies. Let's just say I had a good weekend in Vegas and the Michigan football team will be the beneficiary of that. POST IT UP.]
September 8th, 2009 at 12:22 AM ^
across the stadium a few years ago and this Rivals poster posted pretty much the same thing. His handle was Mjarecki I think. He said something to the effect of "I drank the water put the coins in and made a noise maker. But then I didn't know what to do with my pom pom so I cut a hole in the top and put the pom pom in it and made it a pom-pom noise maker, shaker! BRILLIANT!"
Needless to say he never posted again and got Boom-malleted to kingdom-come. Is that you MJarecki because some of us NEVER forget!
September 8th, 2009 at 1:02 AM ^
Nope, that wasn't me. I'm a LA product who graduated from Michigan in '08 and just an honest fan. I'm realistic in terms of what I expect from Michigan and give credit where it is due, home or opponent. I also have lots of opinions and thoughts that I like to get feedback on from other fans of Michigan. I'm very open to having my opinions changed.
Hahahaha, this should be my profile on eHarmony.com
September 8th, 2009 at 12:33 AM ^
They didn't let me bring in my water bottle last saturday.
September 8th, 2009 at 12:35 AM ^
Because both me and my dad brought in a water bottle each that was not opened. Normally they let you bring it in if it's not opened and say "no dice" if it is opened (for like booze and such)
September 8th, 2009 at 11:15 AM ^
Good call I think it was open, makes sense for the boozing.
September 8th, 2009 at 12:38 AM ^
Good stuff, OP.
Again, it comes back to the noise, but you're right. We seemed to make significant strides in the noise department this past weekend, but there's more work to be done there.
I don't understand why it's so hard for people to make noise ALL THE TIME. Any age, shouldn't matter.
September 8th, 2009 at 12:42 AM ^
Step 1: Cup your hands
Step 2: place hands around mouth
Step 3: Open mouth
Step 4: Use your hands to project your voice toward the field
Step 5: Yell like hell
If you leave with a voice you're not a real fan.
September 8th, 2009 at 12:42 AM ^
I love the enthusiasm for the game, but am not as enthusiastic about being "denarded."
September 8th, 2009 at 10:55 AM ^
This is the first time I've noticed that tag, and gave it the literal lol. I'm thinking a home-brew rendition of that song would be a great replacement for the tripe that ABC/ESPN play at the breaks.
September 8th, 2009 at 12:47 AM ^
Since when is the Big House's field the frozen tundra? Isn't it synthetic?
Also, don't use anything associated with Chris Berman. It's unbecoming and just feeds his ego. He's like a Gremlin, except it isn't just after midnight. Never feed him.
September 8th, 2009 at 1:13 AM ^
I've been put in my place. I just called it that cause even though it'll be 70 degrees I'll feel like I'm freezing cause of this 100 degree weather out here.
Agreed on Chris Berman. I want CB's legs to stop at his knees; he would look hilarious.
September 8th, 2009 at 12:50 AM ^
"I'll be at the game with possibly over a thousand dollars in pennies, so look for me."
Really? I'll be looking for you. Where exactly are you sitting?
September 8th, 2009 at 12:53 AM ^
A 1,000$ worth of pennies can:
1. fit in a water bottle
2. Even if it did fit the pennies would have no where to go and thus would not make much noise.
3. The water bottle should be filled I'd guesstimate anywhere from 25-50% for maximum effective-ness which would be let's say about a buck.
Maybe he'll be giving out the pennies to others who want to add the noise maker.
September 8th, 2009 at 1:11 AM ^
1. Obviously $1000 worth of United States pennies would not fit in a water bottle. It would not fit in a 5 gallon water jug. Trust me, I've tried it.
2. Yes, I tried shaking the 5 gallon jug full of pennies. Alas, it did not make any noise.
3. Agreed. The water bottle should be filled to 36% for maximum effectiveness (no hyphen needed), which comes to $2.73 or 273 pennies.
4. Obviously the $1000 worth of pennies is not just for me. I'd have nowhere to put them. I will be handing them out freely as pennies are worth nothing.
5. Obviously I will not have $1000 worth of pennies. But I will have a large farva amount of pennies.
September 8th, 2009 at 12:08 PM ^
what are the odds any other university, short of stanford, harvard, or the like, has students guestimating the financial threshold, in pennies, of a water bottle?
i'm still split on how proud i am of that.
September 8th, 2009 at 1:21 AM ^
I'm trying to get better at the sarcasm, but this damned internet keeps getting in the way.
September 8th, 2009 at 11:49 AM ^
Everyone should buy a pack of Altoids ... use half before the game and then shake that around ... we all should also wear cargo swishy pants and put an assortment of pennies, tic tacs, altiods, nuts and bolts in the cargo pockets of our swishy pants. During the game everyone should 1. yell their lungs out B. shake the altoid cans D. rub your legs together frantically and 3. never sit down.
September 8th, 2009 at 1:19 AM ^
yell, scream, stomp your feet, all the time
September 8th, 2009 at 1:32 AM ^
$1000 worth of pennies would weigh approximately 550 pounds.
September 8th, 2009 at 1:35 AM ^
Hahaha, only Mike Barwis could carry $1000 worth of pennies. And maybe if Mike Barwis is the only one who can carry $1000 worth of pennies, and I will be carrying $1000 worth of pennies...
(No, I'm not Mike Barwis. I'm Korean and weigh 170 pounds. My phone number is 323...)
September 8th, 2009 at 1:39 AM ^
There is another point that has been bothering me about the level of noise - I'm like 15 rows up in the student section, and it seems pretty obvious that students don't start making noise until the opponent is set at the line. Is there some reason (besides lack of involvement!) that prevents everyone else from yelling during the huddle? I know we are making it hard to hear for the opponents, especially when they're by the student section, but I wonder how much more effective it would be if we started 12 seconds earlier every down.
September 8th, 2009 at 2:07 AM ^
I attended the WMU game, and that one will be my last one in a while as I'm moving to CA on Wednesday.
I can tell you I did my part to start making noise as soon as the play clock got to 25.
But Michigan fans, even the students, are notoriously hard to motivate earlier than expected.
After each play was over, it took them a good minute or two to stop talking to their friends, quit milling about, and make some good, solid noise for the next play.
I think fans in general need to start making noise earlier. How this is to be accomplished is anyone's guess.
September 8th, 2009 at 10:21 AM ^
The student section seemed pretty loud throughout the whole game, but I do agree that we/it needs to keep making noise while the opposing team is in the huddle. It kind of surprised me that we didn't.
Doing it when they're in the huddle would be far more effective, wouldn't it?
September 8th, 2009 at 4:06 PM ^
I suspect it's cultural. Most students don't learn gameday etiquette by having it rationally explained to them; you just absorb it by being there. Students have started making noise when the opposing offense sets at the line for at least a decade now - it's just habit. I'm not sure how many of those screaming have thought about what effect their noise actually has on the players, or how making it harder to hear in the huddle is likely more damaging to, say, a wide receiver than making it hard to hear while he runs his route. They just start making noise when everyone else does because that's when they're used to doing it.
That being said, if enough of us start the noise earlier, then maybe those around us will catch on. If we can get a critical mass of people making noise earlier on, then the rest of the fans will figure it out.
September 8th, 2009 at 1:58 AM ^
Because sorry to say, Notre Dame has one of the best student sections in the country. And I want Michigan to be the best student section in the country. Flat out. As douche-y as Notre Dame fans can be and are, they are at the games early and loud. They are unified and that's why Notre Dame is a tough place to play. 30,000 less fans but probably two or three times as loud as the Big House. Michigan should (and will) be the loudest stadium. Period.
September 8th, 2009 at 3:48 PM ^
I'm not sure about their student section, but their fans on the whole seem to be even more reserved than UM bluehairs.
September 8th, 2009 at 2:12 AM ^
I preached this all six years I spent in Ann Arbor to no avail.
PLEASE People. Yell all the time! Get in the game, and don't give me dirty looks when I'm the only one yelling. I may be drunk, but I'm yelling for a reason.
September 8th, 2009 at 3:10 AM ^
Mike Martin can lift $2000 worth of pennies with one arm.
September 8th, 2009 at 3:55 AM ^
... because it has been broken in three places in the Sparty game, which of course we won.
September 8th, 2009 at 7:58 AM ^
Just stand up and swing your all in sham-wow and yell like hell. That worked for me Saturday.
September 8th, 2009 at 9:21 AM ^
Sophomore year (2005) a buddy on my dorm hall brought his only pan and a wooden spoon to the ND game and beat the crap out of the pan until it was no longer considered cookware. Man that thing was L-O-U-D ...
September 8th, 2009 at 9:50 AM ^
I'm with you, but if you're literally the only person standing up in your section, it's not your right to try to make everybody else stand up. Have a clue and pick your battles. You can still be loud from a seated position.
September 8th, 2009 at 10:00 AM ^
you're less likely to smack someone in the head with your water bottle that way anyhow
September 8th, 2009 at 11:21 AM ^
sorry dude, but it's a football game. if you can't stand up then sit your ass on the couch. i will stand up whenever i want.
September 8th, 2009 at 11:50 AM ^
Cheer as lously from your seats? That may be the dumbest thing ever. If you dont want to stand up, or if people standing up bothers you, here is a fool-proof remedy:
STAY THE HELL HOME!
We don't need your type of "fan" at the Big House. Do us all a favor and move to Columbus.
September 8th, 2009 at 1:14 PM ^
How about showing just a little consideration for an old alum who has held season tickets since 1964, has had two total hip replacements, can yell pretty loud from a sitting position--but would still like to see the game, Dude?
Are you really telling me to keep my ass on the couch at home?
September 8th, 2009 at 2:13 PM ^
Yeah, he is.
September 8th, 2009 at 12:04 PM ^
tell that to mike valenti. while everyone on the MSU team failed to succeed during the epic 2006 ND game, mike valenti DID HIS JOB AND GOT THOSE OLD ASSES OUT OF THOSE SEATS! HE DID HIS JOB BUT EVERYONE, FROM THE STARTERS TO THE BENCH WARMERS, CHOKED. MIKE VALENTI IS A HERO AND THE SPARTANS ARE AWF- oh wait, they're winning? oh. MIKE VALENTI LOVES WINNERS. MIKE VALENTI LOVES THE SPARTANS!
September 8th, 2009 at 12:09 PM ^
+1 Sir
I always wondered how he finds the love he needs- MIKE VALENTI LOVES WINNERS. MIKE VALENTI LOVES THE SPARTANS! As they are total opposites.
September 8th, 2009 at 12:18 PM ^
he flops constantly on that merit and thinks he's allowed to since he went there. his show is entirely gimmick with selective phone calls where the only UM fans allowed to speak are either a) the stupidest people that Washtenaw Community College rejected or b) MSU schtick. so of COURSE he sounds impressive when he "shuts 'em down." i'd LOVE for brian to go on there and rosenberg'em
September 9th, 2009 at 12:41 PM ^
Where did you get your picture of tate and denard?
GO BLUE
September 8th, 2009 at 4:01 PM ^
It's hard to get people around you to be louder, and participate if you remain seated the whole time. I always try to get people in my section involved, and this time it worked pretty well. For a while, I was the only one on my feet and screaming, but it eventually spread to a few of the bluehairs around me. Not once was I asked to sit, or to quiet down. We need everyone to help.
September 8th, 2009 at 4:36 PM ^
My point is that if you are the ONLY person standing in your section, don't be the asshole who won't sit down because you're trying to prove a point. Just because the other 99.9% of people aren't standing up like you doesn't mean you're a better fan.
Unfortunately, that's the price we twenty-something recent alums must pay when we sit in alumni sections. I'd like to think the really awesome old couple in their 70's who have been sitting behind my family for 35 years have just as much right to see the game as I do. Thus, if no one else is standing up, I'm going to sit down, too, and yell from my seat. It's common courtesy.
September 8th, 2009 at 9:52 AM ^
This is exactly what most of the sororities at UM do during rush.
September 8th, 2009 at 11:33 AM ^
I bet I could find an old "how to do recruitment" pamphlet from my days as a traveling rep that would follow the same pattern, just with less bold/italics.
September 8th, 2009 at 12:35 PM ^
with the amount of noise coming out of the student section and further more with the amount of people who literally could not speak on sunday around campus .... beat the irish
September 8th, 2009 at 12:52 PM ^
Well then how am I going to get to the game?
September 8th, 2009 at 5:21 PM ^
Hell ya! I mean most of the people in the stadium are able to stand up. I mean if you're a 70 year old guy with a hip and knee replacement, ok then don't stand. but that doesn't prevent you from yelling! It doesn't irritate me as much that people don't stand, just that they don't make a peep!
If you're a healthy person capable of standing, then stand and yell like hell! If you aren't, yell sitting down!
And buy all in towels! There wasn't much participation outside of the student section. and i noticed that when a team is about to kick off, a lot of people waved their hats and such. spend the $7 and buy a towel and wave it like that every down!
Lets raise hell this saturday! Go blue go!
September 11th, 2009 at 8:17 PM ^
Yes all fans going to the game make as much noise as possible to get the game going. Do anything you can because this is a big game.
September 13th, 2009 at 2:26 AM ^
Nice work socal, some people have mentioned they saw the change in a bottle thing today, and the noise was a serious factor in the game.
Woo!
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