Big changes to Michigan Football Youth Day

Submitted by Wolverine Devotee on

It will truly be an actual Youth Day experience. The eBay whores will have to find some other way to shamelessly hound Harbaugh for autographs. 

Thing has completely done a 180 from what it was in 2011. It was basically an eBay whore gathering that clogged lines, forcing many of actual fans, many of them children, to leave empty-handed as the event didn't last long.

 

The Michigan Football Youth Day will have a strong emphasis on youth and will include activities around the stadium themed for kids. The traditional autograph session will be held at the concession stands around the concourse.

Youth, eighth grade and younger, that sign up to become members of the Kids Go Blue Club can enter into a contest to ask a question to Coach Harbaugh, Michigan's J. Ira and Nicki Harris Head Football Coach, during the media day portion of the day. Five (5) Kids Club members will ultimately be chosen. Coach Harbaugh will be meeting with media from 12:40-1:10 p.m.

The 2015 team will be introduced on the field in the south end zone to the fans in attendance starting at 1:15 p.m. The players will be introduced by their position coach, and a group photo will be taken at the conclusion of each position group. The official team photo will be taken after the conclusion of the player introductions. Select fans will be allowed on the field during position group photos and will have the opportunity to watch the official team photo as it is taken in the west stands.

Following the conclusion of all photographs, players will make their way to the concourse to sign autographs for 60 minutes. Members of the 2015 team will be seated in the concession stands throughout the stadium concourse. Players will be divided up by position groups and will be positioned around the main concourse.

Members of the Kids Go Blue Club presented by the University of Michigan Credit Union are eligible for exclusive access to the field for team introductions as well as autograph priority. Head coach Jim Harbaugh will sign autographs for a group of select KGBC members on the Mortensen Plaza, located between Michigan Stadium and Crisler Center on the east side concourse.

 

Full release on MGoBlue

Wolverine Devotee

July 27th, 2015 at 5:04 PM ^

I can't stand that there are people that essentially 'hire' kids to get autographs from athletes that won't sign. And in most cases they're eBay whores.

As for Harbaugh, I met the guy so that's good enough for now. I'm sure I'll see him again in the not so distant future...

Moe

July 27th, 2015 at 5:08 PM ^

Back in my college days, I had a buddy on the football team.  We'd always meet him outside of the tunnel outside of the stadium after games, win or loss.  Seeing these disgusting 30+ year old guys hawking multiple helmets/jerseys/footballs for players to sign after a loss was horrible.  And nothing the players could do but try to be friendly and sign.  

Gucci Mane

July 27th, 2015 at 9:20 PM ^

I have no problem with someone getting an autograph and selling it. Why is that such an issue for you guys ? (I'm seriously asking, because I see no problem).

Mr. Owl

July 28th, 2015 at 1:17 AM ^

I can't speak for everybody here, but for me what killed the autograph thing was being asked for mine.

I used to me a minor-league celebrity.  I was a DJ on a radio station.  I was never much into autographs... had a few, but nothing where I would go overboard for one.  Then when people started wanting mine I just felt it was weird.  I mean, I'm just a guy who plays music & tells you what it is for a living.  I probably make less than you.  I think it was the last time I went out with a listener... I'm rapping to her, thinking I'm smooth and getting somewhere.  Yeah.  She digs what I'm saying.  I got this.  Then, she shyly says "Can I ask you something?"  Uh.  Yeah.  "I don't want to seem forward, but can I have your autograph?"

At that point I realized that nothing I said was worth a damn.  The ONLY reason I was there...  The ONLY reason I was getting anywhere with her... Was that I was the guy on the radio.

So when you have to have this guy's autograph, you mostly want an autograph from someone in his position.  Whether you want Jake Rudock or Shane Morris to write on a piece of paper has nothing to do with your respect of who he is as a human being, and everything to do with who wins the competition for the job.  If he turns out to be good, then YOUR autographed thingy is better.  The other guy could quit football and cure cancer, yet his signature means nothing if the other guy won the national championship.

So for an autograph to be something so superficially valued, how sad and disgusting is it that people will not only pay lots of money on ebay or wherever for them, but that on the other end you have people who will practically assalt people for that autograph?

One guy who I worked with was a widely known and respected (and hated) talk show host.  On his last day people he worked with for years lined up to get his autograph.  These people thought nothing of the old guy who would steal food from the fridge and always left with a bag full of paper plates & plastic utensils.  They were on awe of his fame.

Our society is broken.

As for my former coworker, when I told him we had to break up the party and get to work he asked me with a huge grin "Do YOU want my autograph?"

You actually made me think of this... My response was "Sure, if you brought your checkbook."

 

uofmdds96

July 27th, 2015 at 9:01 PM ^

I Tweeted at Kurt Svoboda, Associate Athletic Director for external communications and public relations, asking why the day was changed and the time shortened and he said, "many factors at play w/ date and time. We know that it isn't ideal for all parties but look forward to a fun day."
Hopefully my daughter will be chosen to ask Harbaugh a question and she can aske him to again make it 2 hours on a Saturday. Lol

JHendo

July 27th, 2015 at 5:19 PM ^

Sure beats ND's "The Corned Beef and Cabbage,  5 Hail Marys and a 5th of Scotch Head football coach."

But in all seriousness, I'm not a huge fan of sponsored titles, but it's a lot more common than you think.  ND's is actually the "Corbett Family Head Football Coach."

Ronnie Kaye

July 27th, 2015 at 5:44 PM ^

Anyone cutting and pasting from MGoBlue.com should delete those words. I know anything official from the university has an obligation to use the title but no one else does. It just reminds me that some stuff from the Brandon Era unfortunately can't be erased.

PeterKlima

July 27th, 2015 at 5:56 PM ^

This was not unique to Brandon. Why hate on it? schools like MSU are actively marketing the ability to sponsor the head coaching title...they just can't get the support.

In reply to by PeterKlima

Wolverine Devotee

July 27th, 2015 at 6:00 PM ^

I heard they're going to endow the head coaching position out there as the "Hugh Jassole Head Coach"

In reply to by PeterKlima

Ronnie Kaye

July 27th, 2015 at 6:02 PM ^

Because it looks ridiculous. "J. Ira & Nicki Harris Family" is clunky, awkward wording.

phork

July 28th, 2015 at 10:52 AM ^

I also never said I was smart, but I also have never seen it used before.  In fact this recently just happened, as in June this year.  Its still all kinds of ridiculous, but since I guess ND modelled the football stadium after yours ND looks to be copying the Brandon era to.

LSAClassOf2000

July 27th, 2015 at 5:51 PM ^

Actually, with as much excitement and general hype as there has been with this particular hire, I would not be shocked if they broke it out into two lines, one extending south from the stadium into downtown Milan or thereabouts, the other going east, extending down Stadium to Washtenaw and through Ypsilanti, terminating somewhere in the Ecorse & Telegraph area in Taylor.

scanner blue

July 27th, 2015 at 6:55 PM ^

The last two years they lmited the number that could even get in line for Hoke or the QB's. Two years ago they had 200 wristbands for both groups  with priority going to Kids Go Blue members. ( Dry run for the failed wristbands for early arriving students policy.) Last year they just ushered in a select number of people to get in line and then just shut off access. Again KGB members got priority. I should know, I was basically a bouncer turning people away from the QB line, mainly families but a few who were looking to profit. That being said I could sell you a mint condition (almost) maize and blue HOKE wristband check Ebay. ...s/.

uofmdds96

July 27th, 2015 at 9:07 PM ^

We were allowed in an hour early to wait in line to be guaranteed the 1 autograph we picked that was the perk. I thought that we were going to have the run of the place for an hour before everyone else, not so.first year we did Devin and the QB's, last year we went for Peppers. All they really care about are Kalis, Wormley and now Peppers.

Jevy

July 27th, 2015 at 5:38 PM ^

When I see stuff like this it makes me feel like a creep for collecting autographs. Lol I completely understand tho. At the spring game there were literally 55+ Y/O men running back and forth from their car grabbing footballs, mini helmets, photos etc. It just pissed me off knowing what they were going to do with all that stuff.

allintime23

July 27th, 2015 at 10:37 PM ^

This is great news. I take my boys every year and although it's fun it gets a little strange with the creepy autograph hounds. I'm glad they changed things and made it more for the kids.




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