I Have Seen Evil Incarnate
I attended the game Saturday at Iowa. For those who are in favor of the “preprogrammed disco music” and the incessant noise blaring from loudspeakers, please attend a game away from Michigan Stadium.
The Iowa game experience was one of the worst of my life (and, I have been told, Purdue is much worse!). I have attended several games at MSU and thought they were pure, crass commercialism. Man, was I wrong!
The Iowa band was hardly even given a chance to play – before, during the game, or at halftime (and, this was homecoming). Constant commercials and noise blaring on the jumbotron drowned out any chance of hearing the band or hearing anyone cheer. Why would anyone bother to cheer when no one could possibly hear you? At one point I completely lost it and yelled (in vain). “Please, dear god, make it stop. Where is the mute button? I use my DVR so I don’t have to listen to this crap. Please, make it stop, Please make it stop.”
My family has had University of Michigan season football tickets for 4 generations. Until this year, do you realize how privileged we are to have a university that values and upholds tradition and the college experience?
For me, some of the many joys of game day (until this year): spending 3-4 hours without any artificially enhanced noise; the joy of screaming along with tens of thousands of other fans knowing we could actually be heard; singing the Victors, hearing the band play, and hearing other fans sing along; clapping and yelling the “Let’s go blue cheer.
The artificial noise has already started to drown out the fans and the band. We have started down a path that will lead to evil incarnate unless it is stopped.
October 11th, 2009 at 10:10 PM ^
come on now you need to get the spirit, a little Chumbawumba on the loudspeaker will make for a rawkus atmosphere
October 12th, 2009 at 2:47 PM ^
What's wrong with Chumbawamba? They were all the rage at tailgates during the '97 season...
Talk about getting knocked down and never gonna keep us down... lol
Cause, we'll be singing, when we're winning..
October 11th, 2009 at 10:13 PM ^
I always assumed it was just like Michigan Stadium everywhere. For the longest time the only away games I had been to was Notre Dame Stadium and the Rose Bowl.
Then the first time I noticed different was State and Purdue in the same season. What a joke. I could not belive that gong state plays on 3rd down. It was like being at a Toledo Storm game.
Thats the best thing about Michigan Stadium, its basically the exact same way it has been for 80 years. The games have the same feel to me as the did when i was a little kid going to games with my mom and dad. We would pack a bag with a blanket, hot cider, a few apples and head into the stadium. Listen to the band and watch Michigan kick some ass.
Now all of a sudden we MUST change what has been going on for 90 years, because Bill Martin went to a few away games, and heard zombie nation and music everywhere. WHY? We don't have to be like everyone else.
October 11th, 2009 at 10:20 PM ^
Four generations? Whoa.
October 12th, 2009 at 11:33 AM ^
Season tickets in the fam since forever, including Ferry Field and every year of Michigan Stadium's existence.
October 11th, 2009 at 10:31 PM ^
was a tie:
(1) the marching band standing on the field for 15 minutes to play nothing but the fight song when Iowa entered in pregame; or
(2) the "Hawkeyevision" (which had the audio system of an 8 track) playing "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey as Iowa re-took the field in the second half, and the only people singing the song loudly were Michigan fans.
October 11th, 2009 at 10:42 PM ^
"...Born and raised in south Detroit."
Ummmm, OK, so he was born in Windsor? You mean we're all cheering on a Canadian! DAMN YOU CANADA!!!!!!
October 11th, 2009 at 11:39 PM ^
Downriver, sucka
October 11th, 2009 at 11:57 PM ^
Are you one of those people who wears a helmet all the time?
Let's see, if I'm in Detroit and I go south, where do I end up?
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=detroit+mi&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US…
October 12th, 2009 at 1:11 AM ^
So he probably doesn't know what the fuck is south of Detroit. But I'm sure he didn't have Windsor in mind.
October 12th, 2009 at 1:24 AM ^
Exactly, that's the gag. I'm sure he said to himself, "Gee, Detroit is pretty badass, let's use that. And the southside of Detroit must be really badass, just like the southside of Chicago or other big cities. That'll make our hero sound like he's really an awesome tough guy." But there is no "South Detroit" - that's why it's really funny and lame that it gets sung out at sporting events like he was actually speaking to Detroiters.
Get it?! LOL on Steve Perry and all morons who think he's down with us. And double LOL to those who think he's specifically talking about Wyandotte. For fuck sake, get a clue!
Ala Foghorn Leghorn: "It's a joke, son! Dontcha get it?!"
October 12th, 2009 at 9:03 AM ^
It's an absolutely, 100% SUCK song, and Journey is probably the most overrated band... ever.
But I've got Wikipedia on my side, broski:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downriver
Not the best "source," but better than pure speculation, which is all you've got ;)
And yeah I get it was a joke... it just wasn't funny. lawl
October 12th, 2009 at 9:16 AM ^
I will say that I've seen an interview quote where the singer admits there is no "South Detroit" because Canada is due south. Can't look for it right now, but he said they used it because any other cardinal direction sounded bad in the verse.
October 11th, 2009 at 10:43 PM ^
Tom Hammond?
October 11th, 2009 at 10:56 PM ^
Keep those cards and letters coming to Bill Martin, Bruce Madej, Joe Parker, etc. We're the Leaders and Best. Let's respect the traditions of game day at Michigan Stadium.
October 11th, 2009 at 11:07 PM ^
We should feel grateful that we get to experience such a pure football enviroment that is a game at the Big House.
October 11th, 2009 at 11:53 PM ^
I've been to a couple of games at Iowa, and I really didn't like the incessant commercials on the score/video boards. Everything, and I mean everything, is sponsored by someone (usually Hy-Vee).
That said, I'm kind of surprised by what you said about the band. They have put on a nice halftime show every time I have been, especially because they have (or had?) one of the best baton twirlers in the country, and so they tended to showcase that.
October 12th, 2009 at 9:15 AM ^
Now that the Red Sox got swept, is it safe to say it's time to put "Sweet Caroline" out to pasture?
Conversely, now that two straight road opponents beat us after playing "I Gotta Feeling" over the loudspeaker, is it safe to say that some kind of new contract with the devil has officially been signed? Should we slice our palms and get in on this before it's too late?
October 12th, 2009 at 9:24 AM ^
I went to the game last season and it was an underwhelming stadium experience (except for the world's largest bass drum). Their video board is directly behind the visitors section (south EZ) and is sooooooooooooooo damn loud and constantly blares crap out (including commercial-type stuff). It was annoying.
Ross-Ade is decently large (67,000 or so) but I'd say there was more like 45,000 in the stadium that day. And there was little enthusiasm from the fans. Granted, it was a matchup of two 2-6 teams, but it was a gorgeous fall day - 60 degrees and sunny - and I thought that might bring out some more folks. However, the Purdue fans I encountered were very friendly and I'd go again (but it'd be better if Purdue was a better team so they'd pack the house).