fan being shushed and almost arrested WTF?????

Submitted by foreverbluemaize on

I was at the game on saturday in sect. 18. A guy was aobut 7 or 8 rows down and was standing up, trying to get others around him to stand and cheer as well. Soon after an usher came down and asked him to sit down and be quiet. I and several others began to insist that the usher look around since the entire section adjascent to us was all on their feet. The usher gave up and went up but a few minutes later came back with the police. The heckling continued as I asked if they wanted us to use a golf clap. Upon talking to this guy it was his first time in the Big House and I hope it will not be his last. The guy was litterally doing nothing but pumping up the crowd and appearantly one of the "down in front" A&^-holes did not like it. I told him to check this blogsite and I would put something in on it so he could read it and get some more feedback. I trust that this board of UM fans will not let him down. I told him he did nothing wrong and that some people are just ridiculous. Maybe he will read this and be encouraged by this board.

James Burrill Angell

September 21st, 2009 at 4:30 PM ^

You (and the guy standing up) are in the right. For too long our fans have been somewhat sedentary. I believe we refer to them often as "Old Blue" and "Old Timers". Not sure this will ever go away short of the Athletic Dept trying to create a section for those that wish to be quiet and seated. At least your guy didn't get tossed.

Bane of Gargamel

September 21st, 2009 at 4:44 PM ^

A few years ago, I had a run in with an Usher that did not originate with a blue-hair complaint. Someone hooked me up with some row 5, 50 yard line tickets and my seat just happened to be on the end, right next to the tunnel. When everyone stood up to high-five the team on their way to the field the usher actually threatened to have anyone standing in the aisle kicked out (despite the fact that everyone on the other side of the tunnel was allowed to go crazy). The whole damn experience stunk of "ordinary citizen driven mad when given a morsel of power".

More to the point: Is it possible that the root of the sometimes stagnant atmosphere is not Grandma and Grandpa "Hip Replacement" but rather the ushers who are more than happy to react to their complaints?

joeyb

September 21st, 2009 at 4:50 PM ^

Grandma and Grandpa "Hip Replacement" got their seats by donating a ton of money. The ushers are always going to be morre than happy to react to their complaints because, if they don't, they will lose some of that income.

UMxWolverines

September 21st, 2009 at 5:44 PM ^

I'm highly doubt that. The season ticket waiting list is like 3 years isn't it? i'm sure if grandma and grandpa were replaced with some young people, they would be willing to donate money too. You have to have a pretty good income to get season tickets anyway, so i doubt they would lose anything.

foreverbluemaize

September 21st, 2009 at 4:53 PM ^

I must say that I am glad for ushers. I appreciate what they do (for the most part). If there is someone in the stands that is being excessivley obnoxious (when I say that I mean excessive profanities [I have young kids and would rather not expose them to that] or something to that extent) but perhaps they need to have a policy where the first time they come down and just say "please watch the profanities some people have been compaining". If it continues then I can see calling the police but this usher was just way out of line. I felt bad for the fan.

Redacted

September 21st, 2009 at 4:46 PM ^

Telling him to sit down - I can see the argument, don't necessarily agree with it, but I don't know the makeup of the section. This old dude is probably like 100 years old and can't stand anymore and wanted to see.

Telling him to be quiet - Fucking ridiculous, and I wouldn't have been opposed to someone accidentally spilling their nachos on the old whiner. (Unless of course the fan was swearing, and I can see telling him to clean up his language)

Sidenote: Telling someone in public that you are going to write a post about them on MGoBlog is a certain blend of creepy/nerdy.

MCHammer-smooth

September 21st, 2009 at 4:49 PM ^

Same thing happened to me last year in the same damn section. I've told the story before and I'l tell it again, only abridged. Old dude threatened to fight me, asked if 32 was my IQ (Atrain jersey on) his daughter? told me she does cancer research and shes a season ticket holder ( I responded well youre doing a shitty job and I am too) I was also shown a badge by her husband and told Id be arrested after being called a punk kid 1 too many times I went to the usher ... told him what happened he told me I am wrong, I paid for the seat not to be able to stand and if I stand 1 more time I will be kicked out. The old guy would later ask if I wanted a twizzler, the jackass. A guy in front of me stood up and the usher came back down and yelled at him too and told him what he had told me.

Tweeter

September 21st, 2009 at 4:55 PM ^

these lines. A few years back, dont remember which game, but an older gentleman in front of me told me i was clapping too loud. Twice during the game he asked, politely, for me to stop. I do claim to have the loudest clap in the world, but still. Its not like I was blocking his view. I was behind him and it was too loud for him. Although I did not stop, if he was not so polite I would have flipped out.

On another note, while I think the piped in music could be better utilized (better speakers and only at opportune times), I have enjoyed listening to some of the old timers complain about it. I really wish that as a prerequisite to getting season tickets for UM games, you have to attend a game at the Swamp, LSU, or even Ohio st. I dont think the person next to me this year has made one peep at all, even during the Notre Dame game.

corncobb

September 21st, 2009 at 4:57 PM ^

I had a similar experience a few years back at the Michigan/little brother Halloween game. We were on the edge of the student section in OVERTIME at one of the greatest comeback victories I have ever seen, and some hobbit looking woman told my brother and me to stop standing up. I told her that once she was able to get the other 108,000+ to sit down and stop cheering Braylon's TD's, I'd sit too. She threatened to get an usher, and I told her that this isn't church and that I would be happy to speak with an usher as soon as this awesome game was over.

She needs to get raked in the face with a golf shoe.

willis j

September 21st, 2009 at 4:58 PM ^

my wife's first ever football game ever this last sat and my first in the big house. Ive been to many more at Browns and Pittsburgh stadiums, I was at last years AFC Championship game.

My wife's first comment was "wow there are a lot of old people here."

Old like, 65+ im talking about.

I was shocked, even after reading about all of it, I was still shocked. There were these 3 poor little old ladies that I would help cross the street 4-5 rows down from me. Covered in clothes so the sun wouldn't hit them. I mean, maybe this isnt the place for you? Lots of old guys behind me who didn't know who our kicker was and hadn't heard of Denard Robinson and wanted to know if he red-shirted last year.

I mean, its a football game. Not a Saturday get together for chit chat.

I dont like to judge, they have a right to go to the game just like we all do. But its a football game. I don't go to a golf tournament and scream and yell and just like I don't go to a football game and sit there and golf clap. You have to know your surroundings and know the proper etiquette. And when you go to a football game you have to know people are going to stand, scream, cheer etc.

cougar blue

September 21st, 2009 at 4:59 PM ^

18, row 68 seat 31 & 32... I did not see it but that is BS. I stood when everyone else did and did not have a problem. But on 2nd thought there were a lot of snobby older people.

One lady said: "BO would not have played this many freshman." And I said if they were this good he would, and she gave me a look like I could suck it. Her husband just looked at me like I was an idiot...

So I guess I could see that... for crying out loud it's not the opera.

mtzlblk

September 21st, 2009 at 5:00 PM ^

Some of us folks go to the game to relax and to have people cheering, making noise and supporting the team out loud can really put a damper on that. I shouldn't have to listen to someone scream and yell all afternoon, the players know we are behind them implicitly, and because we clap when they touch the banner. We don't have to tell them every 30 seconds. What do you think car keys are for?

I, for one, think that the hushed stadium effect is more intimidating than having 108,000 screaming fans like any normal college football stadium. It exudes a calm confidence and firmness in our resolve, not to mention a certain elegance as a fanbase that undoubtedly puts them off their game.

I have been coming to home games for 85 years now and donate huge sums to the athletic department on a regular basis. I wake up at 6:30 a.m. on Saturdays and get a special Game Day sponge-bath. I have earned the right to sit still in a quiet, contemplative state while my wine and cheese settles.

You can cheer and stand up when they score a touchback, or when Ricky Leach throws a long bomb completion. I heard he was hurt this week and wouldn't play, is that true? What about Dan Deirdorff?

Zone Read Left

September 21st, 2009 at 5:10 PM ^

At the Notre Dame game 2 weeks ago there was a highly intoxicated ND fan in his 30's sitting next to me in the student section. He physically threatened me and has being a huge douchebag and taunting all the students. We were all trying to just ignore him and enjoy the awesome game. We gave him plenty of space to stand but for some reason he went to the usher to complain. The usher turns to us and says "this man is a guest in MY house. If any of you say anything to him you will be arrested". WTF???!!! We were all totally pissed. The fact that a Michigan Usher gave some obviously intoxicated trashy ND fan the benefit of the doubt over Michigan students who were being respectful is disgusting.

BlueGoM

September 21st, 2009 at 6:39 PM ^

Next time, when dealing with an abusive fan, go to the ushers first. The ND fan sounds like he got to the ushers first and probably told them a ton of lies about how he's being harassed, and not the other way around. Also let's just say that UM students are not necessarily saints, either, so the ushers aren't usually willing to put up with complaints from students. Just sayin'.

If you want to complain, here's the guy to go to:

Rob Rademacher, assistant athletic director in charge of game-day operations

Athletic Department
University of Michigan
1000 South State Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2201

Don

September 21st, 2009 at 5:15 PM ^

I was on the fence about the issue of PIM, especially with respect to the precise nature of the music being played. I hate metal, loathe hip-hop, and Neil Diamond is too pathetic too even write about.

After reading these accounts of the various incidents involving the down-in-front crowd, I'm now of the opinion that the RAWK music should be played loudly, incessantly, and obnoxiously, if it will serve to drive the blue-hairs crazy and out of the stadium.

maizenbluenc

September 21st, 2009 at 5:21 PM ^

Back in the mid 80's, the home team could get penalized if the fan noise got so loud as to disrupt the game. We students invented the "Sssshhh" wave because Bo was mad at us for getting us penalized doing the wave -- I mean "Bo" mad :-)

Anyway "they" made you sit down and keep it down in Sect. 24 back then as well. "They'd" call the ushers in on you if you didn't conform. Sounds like the "fans" in section 18 are still in the old days ....

Now of course, noise is considered an acceptable home field advantage. Maybe Rich Rod can get the "down in front" tradition changed too.

justthinking

September 21st, 2009 at 5:21 PM ^

I won 2 tickets to the ND game. 25 yard line, behind the team and 4 rows from the field - an aisle over from the students section. We stood on our seats the entire game and cupped our hands and screamed every time ND went into the huddle. I've been to dozens of games over the last 30 years, and that was the first time I'd ever been able to just go ballistic the entire game. I envy those in the student section now more than ever.

Sitting up in section 36 this weekend, but it just won't be the same until someone breaks a long one for a TD, and then we can slap high 5s and sit back down again.

I realize not everyone can stand the whole game, but at least try and make some friggin noise while you're sitting there.

I'll savor the ND experience forever.

BrnAWlrne

September 21st, 2009 at 5:39 PM ^

I was in section 6, row 9 on the end for the Western game...my section stood majority of the game, however, just across the aisle they complained about people standing at some of the moments when we should all stand and cheer. So sad!

kdhoffma

September 21st, 2009 at 5:42 PM ^

if you are too old to stand up on occasion, then you should be requesting handicap seating. When my 80+ year old grandmother came up for my graduation at the big house, I made sure to get handicap accessible tickets as I knew she would have trouble navigating the stairs.

Rally towels, piped in music, a new offense that puts up 35+ ppg: these were all brought in to get the fans out of their seats and into the games. It's time the AD retrains the ushers about acceptable fan behavior in the 21st century.

Geaux_Blue

September 21st, 2009 at 6:57 PM ^

uhhhh not that i disagree that people who want to stand should be able to do so in another section, at relevant times, etc. but the handicapped section is not for "people who can't stand during the game" but, instead, for people who cannot functionally go up and down the stands.

Blueisgood

September 21st, 2009 at 5:44 PM ^

I've been a lurker for awhile and finally decided to join up. I know this topic has been beat to death but its just ridiculous. I've only been to ten games or so over the last 7 years but i've been to some good ones.(First overtime game in big house vs Penn st.> Manningham td vs. Penn St.> Wisky game last year) And all of them i go to i like to stand and try to get other people to stand and yell and I just get bitched at. Makes me not want to go sometimes.

There were six of us or so at an Iowa game a few years ago and people were knocking beach balls around. A few came are way and we hit them but there was this one guy in front of us who kept trying to grab one so he could pop it. Well he finally got one and tried to pop it, but he couldn't do it. Everyone around him laughed which pissed him off more. He finally got all the air out of it and put it down by his feet. We let it sit there for awhile and we finally grabbed it blew it back up. by this time the guy realized it was gone and was looking for it. Well after i got it blown back up i just threw it up in the air behind me, and the guy behind me spiked it off the dudes melon. He was furious, got up and left. He never came back but I don't believe the seat was his anyways.

I guess I really don't understand why people get pissed for yelling trying to support the team. It isn't a bingo hall, its the big house and its time to get loud. Anyways awesome site and go blue

MaizeZee

September 21st, 2009 at 5:52 PM ^

I was in section 18 for the ND game, I never had a problem there. We pretty much stood for the entire game except for time outs. I did hear a couple "down in front" but that stopped quickly once everyone realized that the game was too good to sit for. I'll be in section 19 this weekend, hoping all is well there.

D.C. Wolverine

September 21st, 2009 at 6:06 PM ^

I am making my first trip to the Big House this weekend for the Indiana game. I am definitely going to stand and cheer my heart out, since its my first trip. I am really excited to go, so hopefully nothing like this happens to me.

psychomatt

September 21st, 2009 at 6:11 PM ^

RichRod is the guy trying to build more excitement among the fans. Your story will help him understand the problem and give him ammunition in arguing with all the old forces that do not want change.

I believe the best idea would be to create standing sections (like the student section) and a very small number of blue hair sections where they can pretend to be at a game but stay seated and not really understand what is going on. But whatever the solution is, the more we complain and make noise the more we will be heard. This is just like politics. If you say nothing the blue hairs with the money will win out.

Geaux_Blue

September 21st, 2009 at 6:21 PM ^

i'm frustrated now. i'm coming PSU weekend for my birthday and have section 1, row 16 seats. tailgate, the whole 9 yards. and i'm going to want to stand. fi0hrwf0h98hf.