Bygone Traditions at Michigan Stadium

use to "row" where they'd all sit down and grab the person's shoulders in front of them and rock back and forth? It seems vaguely familiar but I numbed enough braincells during that time that I certainly could be remembering something that never was.

The instruction "Recycle!" would be shouted out mid-4th quarter, and all of the wine and beer bottles would be passed down. There was about one wine bottle per person in the whole section. Amazing amount of drinking. I remember guys getting pony kegs into games. Those were fun games. Somebody brought a keg to the Navy game my freshman year. We won, 52-0. It seemed like such a good idea, somebody did it again for Purdue. We won, 51-0. btw, the marshmallows and TP were what really pissed off Bo. He hated that stuff. And I think Bo asked Don Canham to really crack down on letting people in with stuff to throw. And that was what led to a bigger crackdown on stuff brought in to drink. The bit about slamming the opposing mascot into the goalposts; about 90% of the time it was staged, and the mascots cooperated. Otherwise, it is, uh, sort of an assault and battery. By far, one of the greatest off-field spectacles in the modern history of Michigan Stadium was when, in the middle of a horrific pummeling of Norhtwestern, our cheerleaders (all men, gymnasts and divers, mostly, and incredibly talented at doing flips and tumbling and trampoline stunts and stuff NO cheerleaders do now) did the usual schtick of running the Wildcat mascot into the South goalposts. Whereupon our guys would usually run back to the student section, waving triumphantly at having posted the opposing mascot. But the Wildcat got up, and in the only known display of public sadomasochism I can think of at Michigan Stadium, he waved the Michigan cheerleaders back, and had them ram him again. Then, after that, one more time. The whole Stadium just went crazy. One of the funniest things I've ever seen there.

Yes, we used to row in the student section. We also used to do popcorn, where students would simply jump up and down randomly. I can remember one game where the entire stadium was doing popcorn! I also miss the days when you could actually bring coolers into the stadium. They banned this after my freshman. While alcohol was technically not allowed security never checked. Can you imagine bringing in coolers of beer today? Damn, that was f-ing awesome.

Students NOT chanting "Youuuuuuuu suuuuuuuuuck" during Temptation.

I already miss chanting "Who Cares!?" at the opposing team roster announcements. You can have AC/DC or whatever back in it's place, thanks.

I, for one, got pegged with many a mallow while on that field during the 3rd quarter. And this was while conducting and playing "Rocky the Flying Squirrel (Bullwinkle)." However, if they've gotten rid of the mallow tradition, they should bring back the tune. On the plus side, those mallows that were stuffed with coins definitely hurt, but, they did allow me some change to do some laundry. :)

I miss Michigan Replay. If for nothing else, Across 110th Street. The new show is not quite as good. And as for either...it's 2010...think someone could pop for an HD home video camera?

absopure used to set up a little tent and hand out FREE water! this was before people used to drink water, i guess, but i remember getting crazy looks carrying around a cup of free water. also, the ground directly in front of the tent was about an inch thick of waxy paper cups that people just chucked on the ground and got trampled.

Hot dog guy wasn't likely enduring enough to make it as a tradition, but that was fun. I think the glory days were when my parents and grandparents went to games. My dad told me the Big House used to be empty enough that security would let you bring in coolers and you could kind of claim a little area and camp out. They'd show up hours before the game and tailgate IN the Big House and drink for the entire length of the game while watching Bo coached teams. Those sound like the glory days right there.

Does the band still eat apples in the 3rd quarter? I remember seeing that at my first game in the late 70s and don't think I have seen it in the last few years. Of course, beverages play a much larger part of my day now than when I was 7.