Fan Day open thread
August 14th, 2011 at 11:39 AM ^
In line in my MGoBlog tshirt. Been here since 10, this better be Denard's line. Nobody seems to know.
August 14th, 2011 at 12:01 PM ^
Gate 10, closest to section 38
August 14th, 2011 at 12:02 PM ^
Where r u?
August 14th, 2011 at 12:10 PM ^
Probably about 30 yards back from the gate.
August 14th, 2011 at 11:59 AM ^
Uh, dude. They're opening the stadium a full hour before the players come on the field. I may be wrong, but I believe you just might be in line to enter a stadium you won't have to be in line to enter.
August 14th, 2011 at 12:00 PM ^
Right, but once the stadium opens everyone will rush to 31 and 38, the QB lines.
August 14th, 2011 at 8:25 PM ^
Was in the Wide Receivers line with my dad. Had a blast. Roundtree, Stokes, Terrance Robinson, Jackson, and Dileo, especially, were great. Robinson and Dileo actually thanked me and my dad for coming (I'm sure we weren't the only ones he thanked, but I thought it was a nice touch).
August 14th, 2011 at 10:41 PM ^
wanted to get Martin to sign, ended up with the whole defense! My 7 yr old son was super stoked, told every player "Go Blue!" as they signed his ball, he got a ton of high fives from the guys and a big fist pound from Mike. Even got to hit the field and play catch with my son at the Big House. A very good day and one he can remember for a long time.
August 14th, 2011 at 11:50 AM ^
I dislike how they split up the Quarterbacks. They did that last year and instead of not knowing where Denard was, they had no idea where Tate was. I demand change!
August 14th, 2011 at 11:52 AM ^
It's so stupid...this is supposed to be "Fan Day" and they are jerking us around.
August 14th, 2011 at 12:01 PM ^
There's a chance that they don't even know...
...football players tend to have a mind of their own, especially during autograph sessions and whatnot. So it's not like the marketing department rehearses these things with the players. And it's kind of up to the DOFO too as to what happens and when because I'm assuming they're practicing today.
However, most schools keep all the positions together. But then again most schools aren't Michigan, and if you did that at Michigan...the QB, RB and WR lines would be super long...and no one would be elsewhere and it would mess up the flow of the entire autograph session.
Anyway, I can't imagine if you're there now that you won't have time to get any and every autograph you want.
...just don't be that guy that wants to take a million pictures with the players and holds up the line, we hate that ;) ...enjoy, let us know how it went!
August 14th, 2011 at 12:47 PM ^
They know he's a star and everyone wants his autograph. It's dumb. If the took the time so split them up and put them in different lines how hard would it be to say "Denard will be in section ___"
August 14th, 2011 at 2:03 PM ^
I don't know if people are in line to get in the stadium or in the stadium trying to pick a line where he'll be.
But if you're trying to promote "TEAM"...why would you put nameplates? It would mess up the whole autograph session logistically unless you moved Denard away from his teammates by himself.
Is that going to happen? Not a chance. And I don't think you or anyone else would want it to happen.
You'll get your sig, enjoy being at the Big House. People always want to find something to complain about. It's college football.
August 14th, 2011 at 1:40 PM ^
You sir deserve your own uniquely numbered “This Is Michigan” yellow card.
August 14th, 2011 at 12:16 PM ^
Anybody know how crowded/long the lines were at the garage sale this morning? Just curious.
August 14th, 2011 at 12:47 PM ^
at 8:30 and it wrapped around back of the baseball stadium. took about an hour to get in.
August 14th, 2011 at 2:04 PM ^
It depended when you went. I got there at 10:30 (30 minutes before it theoretically closed*) and there was no line to get in and not too much of a crowd inside (although the line to buy with credit cards was pretty long).
*It actually closed around 11:20 or so.
August 14th, 2011 at 12:18 PM ^
I'm heading out there. No autographs. I just want to chill in the stadium.
August 14th, 2011 at 12:42 PM ^
Same here. I want to check out what my new season seats look like.
August 14th, 2011 at 12:49 PM ^
too bad from here..........of course I am currently in Oregon. Somebody give Denard a big hug for me.
August 14th, 2011 at 12:53 PM ^
If it is like last year Denard should be with the OL, last year he was the starting qb and Tate and Devin were with the TE's
August 14th, 2011 at 1:16 PM ^
I've gone to many fan days, but recently I've just decided to wait about a 30 minutes to an hour after the game at gate 1 outside the tunnel. Just buy some memorbilia from the M Den, make sure you got a sharpie and you'll get whoever you want.
August 14th, 2011 at 1:20 PM ^
Not sure how true it is but my mom is waiting and said someone who works there told them all the qb's are going to be at gate 38 which sucks cause I based it off last year and told her to wait at 31. Doubt she will be able to wait in 31 and 38 in an hour and a half
August 14th, 2011 at 1:31 PM ^
Everyone just ran to our line in sec 38 about 500 people...
August 14th, 2011 at 1:29 PM ^
Rumor is denard is in sec 38. Everyone is running to my line...
August 14th, 2011 at 1:47 PM ^
Let me know if he ends up in your line as I have someone still waiting in 31 just in case but figure knowing my luck I picked the wrong section for her to wait in.
August 14th, 2011 at 1:57 PM ^
He is here in sec 38.
August 14th, 2011 at 1:59 PM ^
gonna pull a chat n cut I see....
August 14th, 2011 at 2:44 PM ^
Yep, classic chat n cut. If I had the power, chat n cuts would carry an automatic prison sentence.
August 14th, 2011 at 2:00 PM ^
I hope everyone is wearing sunglasses so Denards smile wont blind you.
August 14th, 2011 at 2:02 PM ^
No...i'm in SC...yea my mom said he walked by her towards 31 and then turned around and went the other way...kinda annoyed they said qb's were in 31 and 38 but then put all qb's in 38 and the line is too long now for her to switch...two years in a row now
August 14th, 2011 at 2:04 PM ^
August 14th, 2011 at 2:05 PM ^
I just noticed some "Go Green Go White" graffiti on the sidewalk along Hoover. Has that been there since last fall?
August 14th, 2011 at 2:07 PM ^
At least their spelling was correct this time..
August 14th, 2011 at 2:31 PM ^
When I went in 09, I thought it would be a great idea to wait in a 2 hour+ line that stretch all the way around and out Glick fieldhouse to get RR's autograph...yeah...
August 14th, 2011 at 2:42 PM ^
It's a good deal. But otherwise the AD and Marketing have done a piss poor job of organizing this. Gates opened at 1 pm, and by 1:15 pm all the schedules, magnets and posters were gone (except for those lame Big Ten ones, and some advertisment flyer that all but one girl in marketing abandoned to fly all over the place). So they either didn't bring nearly enough, or they should have had a limit (always creeps me out when I see some 50 year old dude with 20 posters in line for signing). And even though there's lots of staff by the gates, and keeping people from going into the Stadium by the lines, there's no one organizing the lines. So they're just going all over the place, and you have to cut through almost every line just to walk around the place. You can get into the Stadium in certain sections, and see the running and almost fully operational screens (see my post above), but really, for "fan appreciation day" they have NOTHING going on but the signing...and you'd think they'd have something going on to entertain kids or for people that standing all morning in line for a 19 year old's signature isn't a thrill. But nada (though they are selling stuff at the M-Den...that you could get at any M-Den). So if you're not there yet, and not in line, save yourself the trip.
August 14th, 2011 at 3:20 PM ^
Devin was at section 31 so that worked out at least...and never said I would have chat and cut, just was curious if the rumors were true as Shoelace walked right by my mom to section 31 and then went back to 38....if I was there I would have just waited in 38 so when she finished I could have the item for when I got up in line, but I live out of state and teachers start way too early down here forcing me to always miss fan day.
August 14th, 2011 at 3:57 PM ^
This was the worst fan day I can ever remember. I was pretty close to the North gates (30 yards) before they openned and sprinted to section 38. Even then when I got there I was a good 20 yards to the stairs going up to section 38. I literally moved about a foot a minute until about 2:40, when the ushers started closing down the line. Denard left at 3:15, 15 minutes earlier than what was announced. What made my line so freaking slow is families taking pictures with Denard with each of their kids, rather than just one family photo. Then there were the steady stream of people cutting in line while the ushers weren't looking. This was by far the worst fan day experience I have had since 2006, when I first started going. They did run out of the good Michigan posters. I was lucky to have my wife grab one as soon as the gates openned while I headed to section 38. We didn't get to Denard. We didn't get to me a single player this year. While my wife was waiting in line, she had me check out the other lines, and even the special teams was going out the gates to the stadium. Marketing and stadium officials really screwed the pooch today. I have decided unless Dave Brandon and marketing are going make drastic changes, then we are not going again. Too many damn ebay autograph hawks clog up the lines with duffle bags full of footballs and helmets.
August 14th, 2011 at 4:26 PM ^
2 year old with me, and just wanted to maybe get any signature I could, but they put all four lines (special teams, linebackers, D-line, secondary) into 1 mega line that also didn't move. I wish they'd do a better job on letting kids get stuff instead of dude selling a signed football.
Still had a blast though, field was awesome, and my daughter seemed to like climbing on the bleachers better than anything else. Just wished I could have gotten a momento for her first trip....
August 14th, 2011 at 4:35 PM ^
I am glad your kids had fun because that is all that matters. My main problem are the ebay hawks that annoy the crap out of me. These people have the worst manners and consideration of others. These are the people with a duffle bag full of footballs and helmets. They also tend to be the people cutting in line or handing off stuff to get signed the when the ushers are not looking. If some of the ushers actually did their jobs, it would solve many issues.
I guarantee there will be a bunch of denard memorabilia on ebay tonight and it annoys me. There were a bunch of kids behind me that waited in line since 11 am and they didn't get to see a single player. I feel bad for them.
August 14th, 2011 at 6:51 PM ^
Who collects mini helmets sells them. I have about 200 in my man cave. All signed by someone.. Most Michigan... I bring a lot of mini helmets to things like this... (not this one in particular, I dint attend this year) but I enjoy getting them and saying hello to people who have brought me great joy over the years.
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<br>Just wanted to point out that some people do collect to collect from their fab teams and players.
August 14th, 2011 at 6:57 PM ^
That I would never ask a player for more than one auto. Only need one. I might have 10 helmets, but it's for different players not to get a player 10 times. And I never sell anything. It's all stuff for my man cave.
August 14th, 2011 at 7:53 PM ^
Signed by the same guy. And that you're trying to get multiple signatures from different players if you're bringing multiple items. But you're right, I don't mind an adult collector, so shouldn't paint with a broad brush. It means more to have it signed in person than buy it off EBay or something.
August 14th, 2011 at 4:42 PM ^
And I STILL couldn't agree more. I saw 50 year old guys with a roll of posters that had to be in the dozens in line. They need like a one item per person signing limit or something. And this is coming from someone who's never gotten an autograph in his life. I just feel for people who sincerely waited forever in line, often with little kids, and are waiting for some dude who should know better hogging everything.
And I've been to most of the fan days for years....just to get the feel and smell of Michigan football in the air. (What does Michigan football smell like, you ask? Victory). And this one I stayed under an hour, and left. I wouldn't have been there that long if they didn't have the new screens. And there was no presence by staff, other than up by the signing, and over by the gates.....gates guys who had already collected more than their fair share of posters and such. (Aren't they getting paid to work?). Complete Cluster F.
And I know people love the Stadium, and they've had a lot to show off the last couple of years.....but I'll be the heretic and say it was more organized when it was at Glick and Oosterbaan. Lines, rows with cords, circling around for the coach indoors, cheerleaders roaming, rather than spread out to 8 corners of continent.
You would think that hiring a big time firm like IMG would makes things very professional, but every thing I've seen makes the marketing department look more rinky dink than it ever did before. And it hasn't been a really well run department since Canham left. But still better than this.
August 14th, 2011 at 7:14 PM ^
Oh I completely agree. I think it comes down holding fan day at a smaller venue like oosterbaan or glick or having more stadium officials or ones that actually do their job rather than shooting the shit with their buddies while 30 ebay hawks cut in line right in front of them. Plus it was completely disorganized due to players being switched around at the last minute like putting the special teams, D-line, D-backs all together at the last second.
I tweeted Brandon and my wife sent a very professional email. I doubt it makes a difference but at least we got give constructive criticism. I just feel really bad for many of the kids in Denard's line.
August 14th, 2011 at 7:34 PM ^
August 14th, 2011 at 7:50 PM ^
The players or coaches. I'd guess they were as pleasant as usual, in giving up their Sunday. It was at the organizational end it was lacking.
August 14th, 2011 at 7:34 PM ^