100 (Or More) Reasons We Love the Big House

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October 20th, 2009 at 11:32 AM
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Enjoy Life
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100 (Or More) Reasons We Love the Big House

If all you want to do is "watch" the game, probably the best spot would be sitting in front of your big screen HD TV with the DVR.

I always prefer to actually be at the Big House. I'm sure I could come up with my own list of 100 reasons but it is always more interesting to see what the MGoBlog Community thinks.

To make it a little more interesting, let's do this in kind of chronological order: pre-game first, followed by the game, half-time, and then post-game (but, of course, feel free to post ideas as they come to you).

I'll start:

#1: Tailgating with family and friends before the game. (Michigan football has definitely brought my family closer together and means I see family and friends more often than I would otherwise.)

#2: Arriving in the stadium early enough to see Michigan warmups.

#3: Watching the circle of Death Unity.

Life should not be a journey to the grave to arrive safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What A Ride!" HST

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October 20th, 2009 at 11:34 AM | #4 tailgating on State Street (Score:1)
Keeeeurt
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#4 tailgating on State Street

Me fail english thats unpossible!

October 20th, 2009 at 11:35 AM | #5: The Hydration Station (Score:1)
The Original Seth
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#5: The Hydration Station

October 20th, 2009 at 11:36 AM | #6 (Score:1)
FabFiver5
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#6: No unnecessary advertisements inside.

"That's tremendous, Jim."
October 20th, 2009 at 11:37 AM | #7 (Score:1)
03 Blue 07
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The fact that Fielding Yost had the foresight to build the stadium to one day hold 150,000 spectators.

October 20th, 2009 at 4:41 PM | #7.1 (Score:1)
jam706
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200,000 actually, the man was a visionary

Now MGoBlogging from Seoul

October 21st, 2009 at 9:04 PM | No (Score:1)
jmblue
Joined: 11/07/2008
MGoPoints: 28961

He originally wanted to put in footings strong enough to support 200,000, but decided to scale it down to those that would "only" support 140,000.

October 22nd, 2009 at 5:10 PM | But, (Score:1)
Engin77
Joined: 07/02/2008
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Americans were lighter and narrower back in 1927.

Taking it one week at a time

October 20th, 2009 at 11:38 AM | #8 (Score:1)
Seth
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#8 Advanced Wave Techniques

(Blogger alias: "Misopogon") This team is under construction. We thank you for your patience.

October 20th, 2009 at 11:40 AM | I find it hilarious that I (Score:1)
Yostal
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I find it hilarious that I did not see yours before I posted mine, and yet, somehow, we had the exact same thought. Great minds!

Craig Barker || The Hoover Street Rag || Twitter

"The Michigan fanbase: a cynical, Eeyorish bunch even in the best of times."

October 20th, 2009 at 11:39 AM | # 8- The Michigan Stadium (Score:1)
Yostal
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# 8- The Michigan Stadium wave
# 9- The one central tunnel that allows Michigan to run out from there and tap the banner.
#10- The eagle on the press box.
#11- The art deco lettering on the press box.

Craig Barker || The Hoover Street Rag || Twitter

"The Michigan fanbase: a cynical, Eeyorish bunch even in the best of times."

October 20th, 2009 at 11:43 AM | # Something (Score:1)
GoBlueScott
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The smell. Just, the smell.

Leaves, crisp air, hot dogs broiling, whiffs of smuggled in booze staining #20 jerseys, mushy grass from people scampering up the hills and making it muddy, sunshine on co-eds faces, belches of beers from tailgates, a distant sniff of bar-b-que from the golf course ... memories, dude.

October 20th, 2009 at 11:46 AM | #13 (Score:1)
NHWolverine
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The endzone scoreboards -- yet another piece of history in the Big House.

"Well, I think I made my position clear there."
- L.C.

October 20th, 2009 at 4:03 PM | Not that historic (Score:1)
jmblue
Joined: 11/07/2008
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They were installed in 1998.

October 20th, 2009 at 4:46 PM | Clarification (Score:1)
NHWolverine
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Granted they were replaced twice but I was getting at the fact that the Big House is the first stadium in the country to have an electronic scoreboard to keep game time.

"Well, I think I made my position clear there."
- L.C.

October 20th, 2009 at 11:50 AM | #14 (Score:1)
NHWolverine
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The 50-yard line Block M. Let's you know whose house you're in.

"Well, I think I made my position clear there."
- L.C.

October 20th, 2009 at 11:51 AM | #15 (Score:1)
chillmodious
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#15 - The bandleader doing the reverse forehead plant, or whatever it's officially called (backbend?).

#16 - Inflatable penises with "Tressel loves me" written on them in sharpie being tossed about the student section during the M-OSU game.

Who has been putting out their Kools on my floor?!?!

October 20th, 2009 at 11:52 AM | #16 addition (Score:1)
NHWolverine
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and 'Rudy Swallows' during UM-ND.

"Well, I think I made my position clear there."
- L.C.

October 20th, 2009 at 3:56 PM | Bandleader? (Score:1)
Engin77
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You mean the drum major?

Taking it one week at a time

October 21st, 2009 at 2:54 AM | Yes! (Score:1)
chillmodious
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The dude with the tall hat and baton. Thank you for clarifying..I'm not up on my band-related terminology.

Who has been putting out their Kools on my floor?!?!

October 20th, 2009 at 11:55 AM | #17 (Score:1)
CleverMichiganR...
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Being able to trust your drunken friends and random people to throw you in the air and count at the the same time.

The world looks better through maize mirror tint. 

Still waiting on backup.

October 20th, 2009 at 11:59 AM | #18 Lifting fans of the (Score:1)
Court Wenley
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#18 Lifting fans of the opposing team to count off. (ND 2006 we lifted a domer, it was 31-0 or so at the time)

October 20th, 2009 at 12:01 PM | #19 (Score:1)
The King of Belch
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Looks great on TV, expecially in November when I'm toasty warm on my couch and they show some guy at the stadium in a sweatshirt about to croak from Hypothermia.

But seriously--It is a fantastic TV stadium and this year seems a LOT louder.

That being said, it is what it is.

October 20th, 2009 at 12:07 PM | #20 (Score:1)
nightavenger
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being a part of "the largest crowd watching football anywhere in America today"

October 20th, 2009 at 12:08 PM | #21 (Score:1)
UMphd
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Sitting in my same seats for the last 13 seasons, having the same people around meet my parents, my girlfriend (who became my wife), saw her pregnant with our children and now know the children who come with us to every game.

Aaaand, watching a quality football program win games and play the right way.

October 20th, 2009 at 12:15 PM | #22 - CIDER (Score:1)
Six Zero
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Hot freakin Cider in the October air

October 20th, 2009 at 12:12 PM | #22 - The sonorous voice of (Score:1)
Yostal
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#22 - The sonorous voice of Carl Grapertine floating through the seats as he bids you "Good afternoon, and welcome to Michigan Stadium."

#23 - the right corner of the north end zone, home of Desmond's catch, Mercury's catch, and the Braylon Edwards show.

Craig Barker || The Hoover Street Rag || Twitter

"The Michigan fanbase: a cynical, Eeyorish bunch even in the best of times."

October 20th, 2009 at 1:02 PM | As much as I love Carl... I (Score:1)
Bando Calrissian
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As much as I love Carl...

I really miss hearing Howard King welcoming me to "the Michigan Football Stadium for this the XXth meeting between Michigan and (opponent)."

I guess in my mind, Carl will always be the voice of the Band, and Howard King will always be the voice of the Stadium. Although they couldn't find a better replacement for the whole deal than Carl.

October 20th, 2009 at 2:00 PM | No Offense (Score:1)
UM Indy
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but pretty sure Mercury Hayes' TD was in the south end zone.

"Better to have died as a small boy than to fumble this football" -- John Heisman

October 20th, 2009 at 2:03 PM | (Score:1)
UMphd
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The game-winning, game-ending catch vs. Virginia was in the north end zone.

October 20th, 2009 at 4:08 PM | no the people... (Score:1)
GOBLUE4EVR
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in the south end zone get to remember the colorado game....

@GOBLUE4EVR

October 20th, 2009 at 5:45 PM | As well as the Manningham (Score:1)
jmblue
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As well as the Manningham ('05 PSU) and Carter ('79 IU) TDs.

October 20th, 2009 at 12:14 PM | #25 (Score:1)
msoccer10
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Greatest endzone to do the Heisman pose.

October 20th, 2009 at 12:14 PM | #22 according to my son - peeing on the wall (Score:1)
michigandadof4
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He has matured and become a die hard fan, but his response from his very first game when he got home was:

"Mommy I peed on the wall".

Michigandadof4

October 21st, 2009 at 8:20 AM | used to love peeing on the wall (Score:1)
eganrut
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Kinda miss it now

October 21st, 2009 at 4:49 PM | Poor Aim (Score:1)
StevieY19
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It's a wall! It's impossible to miss...

Oh.

MIIIIIIIIICH

October 20th, 2009 at 12:16 PM | #26 (Score:1)
BiSB
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Row 97: Where your "seat" is a section of halo to lean against.

They no longer call me Bisbiño

October 20th, 2009 at 12:23 PM | I can only imagine..... (Score:1)
Blue in Yarmouth
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I love seeing it on TV and can't wait to see it for the first time. I am planning on coming with my brother to the 2011 OSU game and I will be on pins until then. The only thing I can say I don't like about the Big House.....Is that it is 2000 miles from my home, other than that, it sounds like perfection to me.

October 20th, 2009 at 2:05 PM | I had my first (Score:1)
willis j
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game earlier this year. And it was the greatest day ever.

October 20th, 2009 at 12:29 PM | #27. The Victors Walk (Score:1)
MWW6T7
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#27. The Victors Walk

"Tequila on the reg, chicks on the reg, fashions on the reg.  Living the life most men can only dream of" - Kenny Powers

October 20th, 2009 at 12:32 PM | #27 (Score:1)
Wolverinefaninwisc
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Hail to victors after every score!

October 20th, 2009 at 12:33 PM | #28 ND plays there sometimes (Score:1)
Irish
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#29 ND plays there sometimes :)

Current Smug rating: "lethal"

October 20th, 2009 at 3:47 PM | I was gonna say, (Score:1)
Engin77
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that ND only gets to play there once every two years. :)

Taking it one week at a time

October 20th, 2009 at 4:10 PM | #29 (since it was skipped) (Score:1)
jmblue
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The red brick around the bowl. Much classier than the plain concrete that OSU and MSU have.

October 20th, 2009 at 12:42 PM | #30 THE BIG HOUSE (Score:1)
champswest
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Every college football fan in America knows about............
THE BIG HOUSE!

"I hate losing more than I like winning." - Zack

October 20th, 2009 at 12:53 PM | #31 Drumline step show #32 (Score:1)
Wide Open
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#31 Drumline step show

#32 Band marching off to the stadium with a sea of humanity following it.

#33 The team running out of the tunnel and touching the GO BLUE banner.

#34 The roar of the crowd when the PA announcer gives the out-of-town scores and a rival is losing.

October 20th, 2009 at 12:52 PM | The unobstructed sight lines (Score:1)
bluebyyou
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The unobstructed sight lines

October 20th, 2009 at 12:54 PM | The crowd (Score:1)
buckley
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Quietest 100,000 plus you'll ever hear.

/Sad but true, unfortunately.

Preparation is not suddenly accomplished, it is a process steadily maintained.
 

October 20th, 2009 at 12:59 PM | Have you been to a game this (Score:1)
MWW6T7
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Have you been to a game this year? With the new additions it is much louder.

"Tequila on the reg, chicks on the reg, fashions on the reg.  Living the life most men can only dream of" - Kenny Powers

October 20th, 2009 at 12:58 PM | 35, 36, 37 (Score:1)
MGoStoob
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35. walking through the tunnel to your section as a freshman and seeing the Big House for the first time ever.

36. the sense of pride of returning to Ann Arbor and reuniting with friends, family, ect.

37. alumni batton and cheer guys at homecoming

eye of the tiger, mouth of a teamster

October 20th, 2009 at 1:48 PM | Right on for #35! As I (Score:1)
KBLOW
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Right on for #35! As I started reading the thread I was definitely going to add that if no one else did. I can still see that moment in my mind's eye from 18 years ago.

There are no corners in space.

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