Happy Birthday Michigan Stadium!
On October 1st, 1927, Michigan Stadium hosted its first game against Ohio Wesleyan and won 33-0. Since then there have been many great moments in the Big House, including its rededication game and Brock's Walk this year.Today the stadium celebrates its 83rd birthday. In honor of the stadium, please list your greatest memories from games witnessed inside The Big House. Go Blue!
October 1st, 2010 at 3:46 PM ^
In your face Ohio Wesleyan.
October 1st, 2010 at 3:47 PM ^
Can we photoshop Lloyd Brady into the first game celebration?
October 1st, 2010 at 3:49 PM ^
Mazel tav, it's a celebration bitches, la heim
I wish for you a hundred more years of success
October 1st, 2010 at 3:50 PM ^
we have the same lighting situation...
October 1st, 2010 at 3:52 PM ^
Not for long friend.
October 1st, 2010 at 9:10 PM ^
same flag pole as well.
October 1st, 2010 at 3:50 PM ^
ND game last year. Enough said
October 1st, 2010 at 3:52 PM ^
A great and exciting game, no doubt, but it does not compare to some of the epic battles when the B10 Championship (or in 1997 the Nat'l Championship) was on the line.
October 1st, 2010 at 3:50 PM ^
Hands down, my greatest moment in Michigan Stadium was 97 OSU game. Woodson's punt return, clinching the Rose Bowl, and partying on the field with the team and thousands of fans after the victory, it just doesn't get any better.
Other amazing moments include 2004 MSU game, after almost getting kicked out of the stadium for arguing and then watching Braylon lead us back to stage an amazing comeback.
One other incredible game was the 2005 PSU Manningham game. Hard to beat a game winning TD with 1 second left.
October 1st, 2010 at 3:53 PM ^
For writing almost the exact same post as me, but having the ability to type it just a few seconds faster. I bet that the 1997 OSU game left the same mark on about 109,000 others as it did on us.
October 1st, 2010 at 4:30 PM ^
But I was there for Manningham and handing PSU their only lose of the season. Top two or three best sports moments of my life.
Also, that ND game last year was good. I have been to my share of games but the feeling in the crowd was a little different after that victory. We felt like we were back. The two guys next to me have had tix for over 30 years and said that was one of their favorite Big House moments ever. GO BLUE!!!
October 1st, 2010 at 7:40 PM ^
a phrase I will never forget
"CHARLES WOODSON DOWN THE SIDELINE"
just listening to it gives me chills
October 1st, 2010 at 3:50 PM ^
The 1997 OSU game, hands down. That was the most electric I have ever seen the stadium. When Woodson and David Boston almost came to blows by the far endzone, the place almost exploded.
Perhaps my best sports memory was rushing the field when we won that game. We were singing The Victors and high fiving with all of the players about 30 minutes. Absolutely awesome.
October 1st, 2010 at 3:50 PM ^
Griese to Tuman to beat Iowa in 1997... or Navarre to Braylon for the dagger against OSU in what was at the time the largest crowd in history... lots of good memories. May there be many more!
October 1st, 2010 at 3:52 PM ^
Dreisbach to Mercury Hayes.
October 1st, 2010 at 4:12 PM ^
"4th Down,,FOUR seconds left.... It's gotta go to the endzone, and it's GOTTA to be a touchdown"................................
Best ever.
October 1st, 2010 at 4:18 PM ^
Good one! I unfortunately was not at that game... a little before my time. I do remember watching it on TV with my dad though!
2002 - Brabbs DOMINATING Washington... awesome game and possibly the loudest I have ever heard the crowd at Michigan Stadium (have not been to a game this year, work and all)!
October 1st, 2010 at 3:51 PM ^
Looks good for 83.
October 1st, 2010 at 3:51 PM ^
Well I have only been to two unfortunately, but I'm still young so plenty of games in The Big House to be had for myself. I was at the Toledo game in 2008, and shit was that disappointing. My second game was this last weekend against BGSU. Of course, my greatest memory was us whooping the shit out of BGSU.
Thanks for all of the memories (past, present, and future) Big House!
October 1st, 2010 at 3:55 PM ^
You need to pick some better games. The atmosphere at MAC games is NOTHING compared to what it is like when ND, Sparty, PSU or OSU comes to town. I seriously advise you to try to get tickets to one of those games. You pay a bit more, but it is SO worth it.
October 1st, 2010 at 4:12 PM ^
Oh I plan on it. Hopefully I can catch one of those games this year (Wisconsin, Iowa or something), but if not definitely next year for sure.
October 1st, 2010 at 7:09 PM ^
October 1st, 2010 at 3:56 PM ^
I'd have to go with Notre Dame last year. Seeing as I am still young and have just recently acquired season tickets, I hope for many more great memories this season.
October 1st, 2010 at 3:56 PM ^
my best moment in the Big House was the Henne to Mannignham TD for the win over Penn State.
October 1st, 2010 at 4:32 PM ^
gives me chills watching that one. I ran into a PSU fan at LAX a couple years ago and he still remembered every play that lead up to that and hates Michigan for that exact game.
October 1st, 2010 at 10:54 PM ^
I was there for that one. I was sitting in the other end zone. As soon as the ball left Henne's hand, I couldn't tell where it was. I had to watch the crowd reaction to know whether we scored or not.
October 1st, 2010 at 3:56 PM ^
95 pigskin classic was a good game
October 1st, 2010 at 4:11 PM ^
Finally, someone else for Dreisbach to Hayes.
October 1st, 2010 at 3:59 PM ^
My first football game at the Big House with my Father. 1985 against Purdue. Prior to the game I was told they should be called the Spoilermakers because they also screw up good seasons for great teams. UM won 47-0. After the game I overheard my Dad say to his buddy they should be called shit. Coincidently, this is the same day I learned the word shit.
October 1st, 2010 at 4:06 PM ^
On a day where it rained, and then turned to freezing rain, which turned to snow for a few minutes, then back to rain. Only the truest-blue loyal believers were there. If anybody else on this board (I know there are a few) was there, they are among the rare disciples.
One other oddball Michigan Stadium recollection is watching the Lions play the Colts in the only NFL game (preseason) ever played there. Nobody cares about the Lions less than I do. My memory is so interesting, because that is probably the last time that I ever cared about what the Lions were doing. It was a fun day; one of the hottest, most thirst-inducing days I've ever spent there.
AC scoring in the Indiana game was huge fun; it was actually more confusing and hallucinogenic than the replays show, because ot the preceding out-of-bounds play that half of us were talking about as the final play started.
October 1st, 2010 at 4:12 PM ^
Totally agree about the AC catch. I was an undergrad and we always sat/stood on the top row in the student section so friends could find us. My roommate was soooo disgusted that we were about to tie Indiana he stormed out of the stadium and was staning outside yelling at us to join him and that we were idiots for staying. We were yelling back that M had the ball and was moving down field. Needless to say, he missed one of the biggest plays of my generation. Ho, ho!
October 1st, 2010 at 4:06 PM ^
i've been to four games--western michigan last year, and the three home games this year as a student. so i'd have to say my greatest moment was for the uconn game this year. seeing the festivities for the rededication was great. i love how the city starts to transform on fridays before home games. here's to many more great memories, both this year and in the coming years!
October 1st, 2010 at 4:15 PM ^
My freshman year when we beat OSU to make it to the Rose Bowl and everyone rushed the field. Greatest memory of the Big House!!!!
EDIT: Along with 3OT against MSU and Manningham against PSU. Hoping to add to the memories the next 2 weeks after Indiana.
October 1st, 2010 at 4:09 PM ^
Both on the same date. Has to be a sign
October 1st, 2010 at 4:23 PM ^
My first OSU game as a freshman and the Buckeyes came in ranked #5. Michigan had a tough season and came in unranked with a 7-4 record. Todd Collins, Tyrone Wheatley, Amani Toomer, Derrick Alexander, Merc Hayes, Ty Law, etc. put a beatdown on OSU 28-0. There was mass celebration in the student sections and many frozen marshmallows thrown at OSU fans!
Worst memory - Kordell Stewart's 1994 Hail Mary. No words can explain . . .
October 1st, 2010 at 4:53 PM ^
Kordell's hail mary - That was the first loss I ever experienced. It was painful, and I will always remember it. The entire stadium of 109,000 was dead silent. We went from screaming our asses off to walking desolutely up the aisles out of the stadium.
That was my worst loss for many years, until - Oregon, 2007. I have never been so disappointed in our fanbase as when they bood chad Henne off the field and started chanting "We want Mallett." I just about got into a fight with 4 fans sitting behind me.
October 1st, 2010 at 8:14 PM ^
I was a Junior in the student section and no one knew if what we saw actually happened. It was dead quiet and surreal, like the end of the world.
October 1st, 2010 at 4:23 PM ^
My first game ever 1991 v OSU. was in the endzone where Desmond posed. I was 6 years old, remember it like it was yesterday. This ignited my love for the team that continues to this day.
Some of my favorite memories in my life were in that stadium.
love the stadium
October 1st, 2010 at 4:27 PM ^
'95 and '97 against Ohio State.
October 1st, 2010 at 4:30 PM ^
Michigan - Penn State 2005 - My freshman year, I was next to some older guy, we hugged it out when Manningham caught the TD. I was also on the phone with a friend from high school screaming my head off
2010 Graduation - Cool to see the president in person
2009 Graduation - My graduation
Michigan - Ball State 2006 - Patrick Stewart led the marching band
Michigan - Michigan State - Mike Wallace speaking over the PA system
October 1st, 2010 at 4:51 PM ^
I think it was the 1997 OSU game -- Mike Wallace sat about five rows behind me; he was with filmmaker Ken Burns.
October 1st, 2010 at 4:36 PM ^
I thought, "Man, that's pretty old. I wonder which stadia are older." So I looked it up. If wikipedia is accurate:
- Michigan Stadium is the 27th oldest stadium in the country, counting only current FBS schools. Two exclusions are listed below.
- Kyle Field (TAMU) is listed as the oldest, but was not a full stadium until 1927. Thus, the oldest actual stadium in all of FBS is actually Bobby Dodd Stadium (GT, 1913).
- Beaver Stadium (1909), Camp Randall (1917), Ohio Stadium (1922), Spartan Stadium (1923), Illinois's Memorial Stadium (1923), Nebraska's Memorial Stadium (1923), Ross Ade Stadium (1924), and Ryan Field (1926) are listed as being older than Michigan Stadium. All are older than Michigan Stadium, EXCEPT for Beaver Stadium, which was actually built in 1960. Parts of the old structure were moved and rebuilt/expanded on a new plot of land. So yeah, they don't really count.
- Stanford is also listed as being older than Michigan Stadium, but not really. They tore down and completely rebuilt their stadium in 2005. Same location, but completely new.
- Minnesota (TCF Bank Stadium, 2009) has the newest stadium in the country.
- There are FIVE "Memorial Stadiums" - Clemson, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, and Indiana.
- Finally, there are 2 Spartan Stadiums - MSU and San Jose State. Hur hur.
October 1st, 2010 at 4:58 PM ^
Two places where anybody would say, "Ahh, this is college football..." The Yale Bowl, and Ohio Wesleyan. They are two locations you'd do well to pick, if you were doing a movie about some bygone era of college football.
October 1st, 2010 at 8:04 PM ^
October 1st, 2010 at 5:16 PM ^
Cal's stadium is also a Memorial Stadium and also opened in 1923.
(Wikipedia lists the name as "California Memorial Stadium" but I've never heard it called anything but Memorial Stadium, including by official university sources.)
October 1st, 2010 at 5:39 PM ^
I've heard that Michigan Stadium is also a "Memorial Stadium." I guess that the regents wanted to dedicate it to Yost, but Yost wanted it dedicated to the Michigan men and women who gave their lives in the wars. It's also the largest war memorial in the world. (Courtesy of someone on the board here...don't remember who, and I believe John U. Bacon(maybe...))
October 1st, 2010 at 4:50 PM ^
where did lloyd brady come about?
October 1st, 2010 at 8:16 PM ^
That question is like asking "why is the sky blue?" or "why does the sun rise?"