Wave Etiquette
It was awesome to see the wave at Saturday's game; I'm glad that we were finally in a position to be able to do it without worry that the game could go either way. However, it appears as though, in the wave's nearly year long absence, that those students who start it have forgotten the three basic rules of the wave:
1. Never, ever, start before the fourth quarter.
- Don't start before the fourth quarter, because you never know what's going to happen in the rest of the third
2. Never, ever, start while the other team has the ball.
- If the other team has the ball, as fans we are supposed to try to throw them out of their rhythm. If the fans are preoccupied with watching the wave, or anticipating its arrival to their section, they won't bother with third down screaming or anything like that.
3. Never, ever start if Michigan is not winning.
- Obviously.
If you remember, the wave started with about 9 minutes left in the third, with Western having the ball and they ended up having one of their longest drives of the game (15 plays for 80 yards).
At least we had the lead.
September 7th, 2009 at 1:50 PM ^
1) No wave. Ever. It's lame.
September 7th, 2009 at 1:52 PM ^
I came to watch the game, not look around the stadium and try to time when to stand up and throw my arms in the air.
September 7th, 2009 at 2:07 PM ^
for writing that. I HATE the wave.
September 7th, 2009 at 2:23 PM ^
It is so Michigan. We have the best wave in all of college football. What other teams do a fast wave, or a slow wave, or a split wave.
Yes the way looked like shit Saturday but the fans are out of practice. Give them a few more blow out wins later this season and I'm sure that they'll be back in typical "Michigan Wave" form.
Now I HATE the alumni who sit at the 50 next to the student section who can never get the wave going. I also HATE how when we do the M-I-C-H-I-G-A-N cheer how those lazy bastards can't even say "C". It's completely ridiculous this isn't an opera it's a football game. I wouldn't be sad if all of those people gave up their precious tickets and went somewhere else
September 7th, 2009 at 2:30 PM ^
Where are you sitting?... I know a few people that have field passes and they actually say that the G is the quietest letter. The sound of the C doesnt make it over to the student section
September 7th, 2009 at 2:34 PM ^
And this year I was in the southwest corner? (Section 14). The alums at the 50 are ALWAYS the worst. I can hear EVERY other letter but the one that I sit closest to. It's completely pathetic.
September 7th, 2009 at 2:36 PM ^
The 50 is the hardest place to see the wave start. You can't hear the students yelling to start it, and you can't see it when you are paying attention to the game. It takes 2 or 3 boos for people to realize what's going on.
September 7th, 2009 at 2:41 PM ^
What does 90% of the people in that section think that the game is over or that it's halftime? Because when the hell else do they stand up. Process of elimination should show that the only likely option is that "Hey they must be starting the wave I should stand up".
The worst fans in all of Michigan Stadium are those seated from around section 16 to the student section. Refute me if you sit there but you guys suck.
September 7th, 2009 at 2:46 PM ^
Ha, yeah, I have/do sit there. The people there are much more interested in paying attention to the game. Also, most of those people are former players and current players' families. It's hard to sit on the fan side of the wall and participate in the mindset that you're part of the fan base and not part of the team, per se.
September 7th, 2009 at 2:25 PM ^
I agree with those who hate the wave. Its only been done for what 25 years and it's time to put it out to pasture!
September 7th, 2009 at 2:29 PM ^
The best wave ettiquette is to recognize that women no longer have to wear corsets, either.
What's next, The Macarena?
September 7th, 2009 at 1:53 PM ^
Touche.
September 7th, 2009 at 3:26 PM ^
How can you hate The Wave?
September 7th, 2009 at 1:53 PM ^
...but IIRC, back in my day (Class of '05) the wave was a fixture of the third quarter. But I could be misunderremembering.
September 7th, 2009 at 2:43 PM ^
You are correct sir. The wave was typically reserved for late in the 3rd quarter.
September 7th, 2009 at 1:57 PM ^
Was always done in the middle/end of the third quarter. It should never be done with the game anywhere close (I.E. 14 points). Basically it should be a privilege to do the wave.
September 7th, 2009 at 1:59 PM ^
It was more popular a few years ago, but our coaches have come out and said that they don't like the wave, so I don't really like to do it.
September 7th, 2009 at 1:59 PM ^
You always start the wave when Michigan is on Defense I thought.
September 7th, 2009 at 1:59 PM ^
I'm all for it between the third and fourth quarters in blow out wins. It doesn't really affect the game, and will occupy those [what seems like] 5 minutes of commercials between plays
September 7th, 2009 at 2:22 PM ^
expire a while back. I ignored it as did most in my section. If it is to continue, let it be during the 3rd/4th qtr break. If we get to the point of dominating every team we play and the games are "boring" late in the game, well maybe then. I think there should be at least a 4-touchdown lead rule.
Personally, I think it should be banned. It does nothing to support the team, nor distract the opposition.
September 7th, 2009 at 2:27 PM ^
and I too felt the wave was ill timed. It was also a very poor version of it. In my day, class of 97, the Michigan wave was a well coordinated visually appealing activity. On Saturday it was half ass. I agree that we should not be doing a wave during critical moments. However, if done well, the wave is a great game day tradition. It also looks fantastic in our bowl and reveals a collective consciouness as the wave undulates around the stadium, speeding up and slowing down, then splitting and reforming.
September 7th, 2009 at 3:28 PM ^
I'm not a huge wave fan, but I can't really criticize the timing of it on Saturday. We were up 31-0 in the third quarter. That's pretty much a standard wave-starting situation.
September 7th, 2009 at 3:01 PM ^
but only in blowouts. It's a diversion.
September 7th, 2009 at 3:16 PM ^
The dumbest diary discussion ever.
September 7th, 2009 at 4:41 PM ^
But at least we are discussing the wave, not how/why we lost to a MAC team and the 3rd straight season opener.
September 7th, 2009 at 3:19 PM ^
In all my years of games (7) the rules of the wave have always been this:
1. The wave only starts in the end of the third / beginning of the fourth quarter.
2. The wave is only initiated when Michigan is playing defense.
3. The wave is never done when the game is close.
4. The wave is initiated by the student section by the students in the corner of the endzone (and in the front rows).
5. The wave goes in this order - around, speed up, slow down, reverse, split.
Outside of fans forgetting how to do the wave - the wave was relatively well done and was done according to the rules.
And yes - the wave is a part of game day at Michigan... and we have the best in the land.
September 7th, 2009 at 4:39 PM ^
Mostly taken from this post at HSR: http://hooverstreetrag.blogspot.com/2008/09/how-to-do-wave-at-michigan-…
It's always done in the 3rd quarter, up by at least 2 scores, and Michigan is on defense. And this should be the sequence:
1. Original wave, 2 times around
2. Slow wave, once around
3. Fast wave, once around
4. Reflected wave, once around
5. Split wave, once around, then it dies once both get back to the student section
This was mostly lost last year since we only did it once, and even that was as bad as this past Saturday's effort.
September 7th, 2009 at 4:51 PM ^
Appreciate the input. I've been going to games forever, and in the nineties I could have sworn it was "never before the fourth" and "only on offense". Perhaps things have changed, or perhaps I am "misunderremembering" them.
However, regardless of the then/now rules, it still felt out of place on Saturday.
September 7th, 2009 at 5:24 PM ^
I do wish we had a traditional "activity" during the game; like the jump around thing at Camp Randall. Well, not exactly like that, cuz its a little stupid, but everybody in the whole damn place is involved. Maybe I'M stupid, and what we really need are fans that actually WANT to be involved. Cuz, DAMN am I sick of being shushed and told to sit down. (in row 8, mind you.) Either way, the wave is a little bit high school. Maybe between every 3rd & 4th quarter we should have a chicken in the opposing team's colors torn to shreds by a live wolverine, gladiator style. All sponsored by by Michael Vick and apparently, in the not too distant future, Tyrelle Pryor.
September 7th, 2009 at 6:03 PM ^
The Wave, because of the bowl shape of Michigan Stadium, creates a basically unparalleled wave when put up against the rest of football's waves. Because the Big House is iconic of Michigan football, and the wave works so well there and has been done there for so long, I believe it's legitimate to say that the wave is a Michigan tradition.
It seems hypocritical of those who dislike the "RAWK MUSIC" to also say that the wave should be put to rest given that the wave is a tradition.
And jeez, you don't have to have your eyes glued to the field every millisecond when we're up 31-0 - relax and follow the wave!!
September 7th, 2009 at 11:22 PM ^
Honestly, I think starting the wave when we are on defense is the dumbest time. We students should be focused on creating white noise for the opposing offense. If anything the stadium becomes more quiet during the wave. I know it is done when we are blowing the team out. However, I want the stadium to be hostile for the opposing team even if we are up by 80.
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