Reflections

Submitted by Wolverine 98284 on

Homecoming 2015.  Northwestern 0, Michigan 38.  The third shutout in a row!  And, as we would be reminded, the first since 1980, my super-senior year (5th year).  Do I remember those shutouts?  In a word, no.

Mr. Peabody, set the Way Back Machine.

My first Michigan game was as a freshman in 1976.  I attended most home games through my undergraduate years.  In 1976, there were 5 shutouts, including a 22-0 beat down on OSU.  1 shutout in 1977.  4 shutouts in 1978.  1 shutout in 1979.  Then the 3 in a row shutouts of 1980.  Obviously, shutouts were not unusual.  Crushing opponents was the norm.  In 1976, Michigan outscored opponents 432-95; 1977, 353-124; 1978, 372-105; 1979, 312-151; 1980, 322-129.

During those years, I was one of the quietest 100,000.  The loud, screaming, annoying little kid sitting behind me was encouraged to shut the hell up (turned out it was a fraternity brother's still-in-junior-high little brother - but that is another story).  During my undergrad years, we came to watch a game.  Audience participation was not required.  Why?  Because it was not the norm of the day and, more importantly, the team did not need it.

Over the intervening years, things changed and eventually I moved out west.  Throughout the football landscape, audience participation became a means to impact the game.  I mean, we had always heard of the Texas A&M 12th man, but that was them, not us and what did it really mean?  I had no idea.

I've heard Autzen Stadium was loud.  I'd heard Ryan Field was loud.  Turns out, both schools had been using the noise as an offensive weapon to interrupt the opponent.  I live north of Seattle and the Seahawks' 12th man has been around for nearly 30 years.  But it wasn't until 2004, with a new stadium and the noise-reflecting, angled roof, that the impact of the 12th man really hit home to me.  The fan's noise is deafening, to the point where it physically hurts to be in the stadium.  I liken it to standing between an EA-6B Prowler's exhaust nozzle and a jet blast deflector on an aircraft carrier:  It will literally liquefy and shake the snot out of your sinuses (a great cold remedy).  The QWest Field noise and its impact is well documented.  Washington Huskies used QWest Field well while their stadium was remodeled.  At QWest and Husky Stadium, the fans are making noise whenever the opponent has the ball.  Not just when they are approaching the line of scrimmage, but in the huddle and during time outs:  Whenever communication needs to be interrupted.   I'm learning.

Fast forward to 2012, Michigan is playing Northwestern and my frat bro and I get tickets.  He lives south of Seattle and has also learned the impact of fan noise.  During this Northwestern game, like always, most people are viewers and not participants.  My bro and I try to get the folks near us to make noise.  We are mostly ignored.  A few people bring out keys to shake...WTF?  That is not noise. 

Late in the 4th with 30 seconds left, Devin hits Roy setting up a TD to tie the game.  I'm screaming like a little girl.  Up until that moment, the Big House contained the quietest 100,000 on the planet.  But worse, throughout the entire gamethere was a feeling of trepidation, of despondency.  The entire game!  This was not my Michigan.  I'd not experienced any trepidation during a Michigan game since 1989 when, during the last 5 minutes of the UM vs UCLA game, it looked like Michigan was going to lose.  Michigan made a comeback to win it 24-23 and the place exploded.

Fast forward again to the 2015 Utah game.  My frat bro and I make the drive.  Wandering around before the game, we hit a couple pubs.  In one, a local asks if we brought our ear plugs.  His buddy said, "They've got 110,000 in their stadium, they KNOW what noise is."  I did not dissuade them.

The Ute fans were very congenial:  Hand shakes and thanking us for coming.  Most asked, "No matter what happens tonight, please kick BYU's ass."  Apparently they hate that school in Provo.  I did not bring ear plugs and found myself sticking fingers in my ears.  Polite people yes...but extremely loud.  Excepting the outcome, a great experience.  There was a lessen learned though:  Doing 88 in an 80 zone in Idaho is frowned upon!

Fast forward to the afore mentioned homecoming 2015.  Two organizations my bro and I belonged to were having 35th reunions.  We got tickets and had a great time getting together and swapping lies with everyone.  I am amazed though, at the change in the atmosphere inside the Big House.  Upbeat, loud, confident.  Whenever Northwestern had the ball, the crowd was making real noise.  Another frat bro, a member of the alumni band, was on the field.  He said it was loud on the field, not as loud as some stadiums, but loud.

Late in the 4th, up 38-zip, from the south end zone seats starts the defense chant.  Brian interpreted it as encouraging the D to finish the shutout.  It could have been.  My buddies and I participated, but our interpretation was it was a tribute to the team, to include the fans.  The atmosphere was fantastic!

On that note, I conclude with a request for the MSU game:  MAKE NOISE.  Do not let MSU go into a huddle without it.  Do not let MSU get to the line without it.  If MSU is our toughest opponent to date, noise is required.  Every false start, every delay of game, every misalignment, every busted play can be directly attributed to miscommunication.  Those in the stands are the disruptors.  MAKE NOISE.

PS, sorry about your sore throats on Sunday.  A win will make the pain worthwhile!

Comments

UM Fan from Sydney

October 15th, 2015 at 11:46 PM ^

I need this damn game to be here already. I mean, it's finally Friday, but man, this week, though...dragging.

VicVal

October 16th, 2015 at 7:35 AM ^

I grew up in AA, and remember those games well.  It seemed like the norm was to beat opponents by dozens and dozens of points while they got none.

Of course, I suppose the only tickets people were willing to give up to a little kid were ones to games Michigan was expected to win in a blow out.

But it forever set my expectations for how Michigan should win its games--emphatically, and without letting the other side see the end zone.  I've been so confused for the last decade, wondering where the heck my wolverines have gone.

I do remember the stadium getting loud.  Awe-inspiringly loud.  I suppose, in retrospect, it wasn't the eardrum-shattering decible level of a rock concert.  What I remember, though, is this wall of sound giong back and forth across the stadium: Go! Blue!  The eerie stillness sometimes, when our team was out there, and the roars of approval when they scored.

It was loud. It was loud because even in an open bowl, 110 thousand people yelling in glee at the top of their lungs make a lot of noise. They don't need the sound-reflecting roof, or crappy loudspeaker music, or anything but the cheerleaders (or seat mates) starting the chant or a good score.  It was the loudness of a football game on a sunny fall afternoon, not the screaming pitch of a concert or jet plane.  Just people, giving it their all in a massive open space.

I was a kid. The romance of that pure, genuine atmosphere seeped into my soul, warped my perspective. I understand, on an intellectual level, that shutouts are incredibly rare, and that winning by 70 points is almost unknown.  I expect it anyway.  Yeah, I know.

I had tickets to the Northwestern game.  I gave them to my brother, so he could see his son sing with the MMB. He did, too, actually caught a glimpse of him on the field.  I suppose the flame red hair probably made him easier to spot. Anyway, as I jumped up and down in my living room, screaming at the tv, as is my wont, I felt the team of my childhood return. The bone-chiling, awe-inspiring sound of an entire stadium erupting in a gleeful chant as another Big Ten team was put in its place.

Tomorrow (TOMORROW! Finally!) my son is going to the game. Third generation alum, that boy, he swears his first words were Go Blue.  He's a laid-back type, seldom in a hurry, not excitable. Tomorrow, though, he'll be yelling, the way he does only during Michigan games. He'll do his part, I know.  Stomping on third downs, roaring when Michigan scores.

I hope he loses his voice by Sunday.  That'd be good.  As you say, the pain will be worth it.

Go blue!

(Er, sorry for the length. I got carried away, I guess. Good memories, good to have that feeling back.)

bluepow

October 16th, 2015 at 11:30 AM ^

I also feel the passion of those childhood days re-emerging; it feels so right.

Let's not kid ourselves though, the walls make a tremendous difference; they are literally (used properly!) game-changers.  Also loudspeakers do suck.

GO BLUE!  

bluepow

October 16th, 2015 at 9:28 AM ^

This is why I am getting on a plane in six hours.  I want to make a difference and because of those beautiful slanted blue walls I know I can.  So ready to BRING IT!!!

Everything changed in 2004.  We can, and must, intimidate.

Jevablue

October 16th, 2015 at 10:23 AM ^

I used to obsess over the weather going to these games. Especially the last 7 years.  Last week I almost bagged it over having a nasty head cold.  And then I thought: "What if Harbaugh heard about that?"  And I got my ass to the game, and frankly I think it helped me get well faster.

That simply would not have happened last year.  I guess we all need a kick in the ass every once in awhile. And yes, I will be loud tomorrow.

MadtownMaize

October 16th, 2015 at 5:36 PM ^

was at the Rose Bowl. Not that I disagree with your assessment that Michigan Stadium has not been very loud historically, but in the case of that game I woud bet that The Big House was empty when Michigan recovered the onside kick.