Game Day: The Compromise

One of the reasons that people want Dave Brandon gone is because of the changes that he's either instituted or furthered to the gameday experience.  As evidenced by the regents' fireworks vote, this is a big deal.  And while the fan base is mostly united about the fact that Brandon needs to go, I don't think we're at all on the same page about his successor should do to this experience.  I think this disconnect may mean that further in-fighting is inevitable, and this may prove to be a very big challenge for whoever replaces Brandon as an AD (assuming, of course, that he IS replaced).

Let's unpack that conflict for a minute.  You could frame this in a nearly infinite set of ways, but I assert that Michigan's football experience was, from 1960 until probably around 2006, defined by stability, schedule, and adherence to tradition.  Each game had the same pattern - kickoff is at noon, or, with much exasperation, 3:30 in a pinch.  Team comes out for pre-game walkthroughs, band comes out, banner goes up, team goes out, band plays at halftime.  The same great traditional cheers every time.  The team wears the same uniform, or, if the uniform changes, the change is slight and is phased in gradually.  Carl Grapentine's voice from the heavens.  The Victors is played after points and turnovers.

The rigidity and consistency of the "schedule" of a Michigan football game that simply isn't there for other programs, even those with a similar age to their legacy and tradition like Alabama, USC, or, notably, Ohio State.  Only Notre Dame really tries to define game day the same way.  As another poster put it, our tradition is the spectacle that carries the gameday experience.  As John Bacon put it, Michigan football is the antidote to the cultural excess of the Super Bowl or the Olympics.  At Michigan, we jump to touch the banner and we know it will live forever.

I think the essential conflict that is coming is this:  Group One thinks that this rigid order is the "essence" of what makes us Michigan from a fan experience perspective.  Group Two thinks that Michigan is about winning and sees the "schedule" as a side-car to it; something awesome that must be changed up every now and again.  Group One sees change as heretical to the tradition that defines us.  Group Two sees change as an exciting possibility to impact an antiquated experience that feels long in the tooth.

These groups need each other.  We can't just cater exclusively to one.  I needn't explain why.

So here's what I'd propose: let's make the night game the dividing line.  It was a big success because it was different, so let's play that up.

1.) All games, with the exception of one per year, "roll back" to the "schedule" of the traditional stadium experience.  We "unwind" the piped-in music, video features that play between plays, third-down hype music that doesn't come from the band.  No special uniforms during these games.  The Ohio State game is always one of these games.  The focus here is on the tradition and power of Michigan football, with the removal all elements of the game day experience that weren't around between 20 and 15 years ago.  What Bacon described as "excess" is forbidden and the past is revered with respect.

2.) We continue having one night home game per year, and all the "schedule" rules disappear completely for this game.  Maybe we keep elements of the "schedule," but nothing is off limits; the "Super Bowl atmosphere" we strive to avoid 7 Saturdays a year is actually the goal we try to acheive during this game.  This home game should be against a marquee opponent - maybe MSU for the years when they're on the slate or our big out-of-conference game/PSU for years when they're not.  During this game the apparel sponsors present the players with three choices and the players vote on a special uniform that they'll get to wear.  Even the helmets are subject to change.  We could even push the boundaries by inviting star performers to perform during the half-time show.  Katy Perry's gameday appearance was awesome last week; let's wind her up and let her be bizarre in the middle of the marching band.  Students are given a special "one-game" shirt that they design and wear.  I'd even support something like a fireworks show for this game and this game only.  This game should also remain our marquee in-season recruiting event.  You can't argue with the impact UTL I and II had for our Rivals ranking.

We cannot ignore this divide, and we can't have one Group win out completely.  So this is my idea of compromise.  What's yours?