Intimidating Atmosphere at Michigan Stadium

Submitted by imdeng on

NDNation provides proof that we have indeed moved away from the reputation of being mostly silent. The night game was awesome, the stadium seem to pulsate - and ND fans agree that it was an intimidating environment. Nice!

attending an ND/Michigan game at Michigan Stadium is a heck of an experience. The place is intimidating. Michigan Stadium intimidates by its sheer size and the orchestrated enthusiasm of the UM fans. It’s like being in the midst of a vast, impressive army

Link: http://www.ndnation.com/boards/showpost.php?b=football;pid=236831;d=all

Tater

September 14th, 2011 at 9:20 AM ^

I know a lot of people here hate piped-in music, etc, but it is a pretty good way to get a formerly-flaccid crowd to stand at attention and make some noise.

Herbie seems pretty amazed at how much the sound is now trapped by the new structures.  You could almost hear him thinking "I would have been on my back even more if the stadium was like that when I played against Michigan."

Hail-Storm

September 14th, 2011 at 9:34 AM ^

I was suprised how muffled the sound was when I went to get my Icy Chill. As a student, if I ever left to the concourse, you still easily hear what was going on. I hope that means the sound is really staying in.

profitgoblue

September 14th, 2011 at 11:00 AM ^

I knew it was very loud UTL when, during the last few minutes, people were singing The Victors and I couldn't hear the band at all, even aided by the microphones.  Impressive!  Nice work everyone!

 

gbdub

September 14th, 2011 at 10:11 AM ^

I think the issue isn't that music is used to get people making noise. The issue people have is that a) the music selection is mostly me-too minor league hockey fare - nothing about it is unique to Michigan and it adds nothing to Michigan football tradition and b) the music has largely replaced the Michigan Marching Band - a truly unique piece of the Michigan football tradition. So we've replaced something unique, organic, and traditional with something recycled and corporate.

unWavering

September 14th, 2011 at 10:39 AM ^

Well, I would argue that the Michigan Marching Band isn't quite unique.... there are hundreds of other marching bands that play similar things at similar points in the game.  Not that I don't like the band, I just don't think they set us apart too much.  The halftime shows are usually great, and more imaginitive than other bands, and they remain fully intact.

Also, don't you think a lot of potential recruits could be turned off by a strictly "old school" atmosphere that was around when their grandfathers were their age? 

EDIT:  I do agree that some of the music choices were/are very sophomoric, but you can't really stray into anything too original or unique because people won't know it or like it.  Popular music sucks nowadays.... but it's what the people want

gbdub

September 14th, 2011 at 12:11 PM ^

The Michigan Marching band is at least as unique as Michigan Football. After all, lots of schools have football teams, but there is only one Michigan. Do you root for all football teams equally? After all, they aren't unique. The MMB has been around since 1896. They were the first to win the Sudler Trophy. Many of their cheers are unique or original to Michigan. And if you want to hear "Sweet Caroline" and "Don't Stop Believin'" over and over again, well, they have arrangements of those too. Either way, they have far more history and tradition than PopEvil (or the White Stripes) and that history is tied together intimately with that of the football program.

And even if you buy none of that, marching bands in general unique to college and high school football, and I think an important part of the atmosphere and tradition. There's a reason the lead-in music to college sports TV shows usually have a drumline percussion lick: it screams college sports.

[EDIT] And if recruits are "turned off" by a Michigan tradition... maybe Michigan isn't the right place for them. That seems to be Hoke's attitude, and it was certainly Bo's (and both have been widely praised for that attitude).

 

unWavering

September 14th, 2011 at 12:55 PM ^

I hear what you are saying, Sweet Caroline gets on my nerves, as do the White Stripes.  It's just that an outsider not schooled in UM tradition would probably view Michigan gameday atmosphere as stale and boring if we relied solely on the MMB for downtime entertainment.  You can't even hear the band in half of the stadium, a problem which will only get worse as  the stadium gets bigger.  There's a fine line between historic, majesic tradition, and old, crotchety and boring.  We need to tread carefully.

gbdub

September 14th, 2011 at 1:46 PM ^

Since the band can be miked now, hearing them should be a non-issue (just get the amping right). I'm just crotchety because it seems like the piped-in music has steadily gone from just for warmups to replacing the band in high-emotion moments (3rd down, after a big score) with no signs of stopping. One thing piped-in music can never replicate is the sense that the music is part of the crowd - the band, after all, is made up of students, many (most?) of whom are rabid football fans. You can feel their energy and it feeds your own.

My own example is "Livin' on a Prayer", an admittedly cheesy song, but one that was used frequently during the epic comeback that was Braylonfest. If you just pipe-in the Bon Jovi cut, it sounds the same every time. There's energy and emotion there, but it's canned and artificial. But when the band played it from inside the heart of the student section after a ridiculous Braylon catch, I could feel the joy, the celebration, and the faith in the team come through in every note. Maybe it's just because I've played an instrument and I know the emotion that goes into it, but the feeling was real. The Bon Jovi cut of that song triggers memories, but not with nearly the same intensity that the MMB cut (from one of their albums) does.

Sure we can replace all that with more professional-sounding studio cuts of popular music, and the acoustics may be better and the bass might rumble more, but you lose something real when you do.

maizenbluenc

September 14th, 2011 at 12:11 PM ^

is Intimidation. On a key third down, the MMB is supposed to play Intimidation. I don't know about everyone else, but the cliff-hangy nature of Intimidation makes me want to hold my breath.

On the flip, 7 Nation Army seemed to get people going a lot more, but then they continued the chant a couple times in those last few minutes, instead of really make a lot of noise. I also agree RAWKing 7 Nation Army is less than unique.

Personally, I'd prefer MMB come up with something new that builds energy and gets people yelling.

BornInAA

September 14th, 2011 at 9:27 AM ^

Michigan Stadium, this "Intimidating Atmosphere" and "Home Field Advantage" meme is old year after year. 

If you put out a good team performance, the crowd will cheer. If you suck wind they will not.

Everyone thinks Camp Randall is some sort of advantage to Wisconsin. But before the Alvarez era, they were one of the "little 8" and nobody had trouble winning there for 40 years.

 

 

M-Dog

September 14th, 2011 at 9:25 PM ^

Also, Penn State was not all that until they put up the 2 upper decks which act like the awnings at Autzen and Washington.  You want even more noise at the Big House and cheaply?  Put up awnings over the suites structures on each side of the field.

Webber's Pimp

September 14th, 2011 at 9:34 AM ^

Love it! 

I was sitting on the north side of the stadium around the 15 yard line. I can tell you it was louder than hell. I hope this was conveyed to the TV audience tuning in...Having sat through many Michigan games at the stadium during the early '90's I can definitely say it was a completely different environment from the old silver fox / latte sipping days. It was rowdy up in there and that's just how I like it...

 

Question: how long have we been doing the piped in music? I for one loved it! If you are looking to create a rowdy environment - ACDC and the White Stripes are a great way to go...It's great to see we are getting with the times! No more complaints about the quietest 100,000 fans you'll ever see....

HouseThatYostBuilt

September 14th, 2011 at 9:59 AM ^

I'm not sure that an ND fan is the best judge of how loud a stadium can be. My buddies and I went to Notre Dame game last year, and the crowd was really tame.

That being said, I do believe the stadium was the loudest it has ever been on Saturday.

triangle_M

September 14th, 2011 at 10:35 AM ^

Was the Hopkins fumble / Robinson run in for the touchdown.  On that play you can hear the general crowd backgroud noise on the goal line, which is pretty loud, then as the ball comes out it turns in to a "ooooo" then as Denard scores the place just erupts.  To me, listening to the crowd tells the story.  Also, in my alleged mind, its really the turning point in the game  because it meant the fates were smiling on us.  

umchicago

September 14th, 2011 at 10:57 AM ^

i saw hopkins plow into the line and thought that ain't going anywhere. we better make it here on 4th down. i sit down then hear the crowd erupt. i look at the scoreboard and see denard scampering in. i thought, sh*t, that's the greatest ball fake ever. i thought for sure denard handed that off. then the replay shows the fumble and i'm like wtf, as i'm jumping around screaming and yelling.

True Blue Grit

September 14th, 2011 at 2:23 PM ^

that play.  It happened fast and we couldn't see that there had been a fumble.  I actually thought at first it was some sort of trick play (like a fumblerooski).  I later found out it was actually Stephen "Butter Fingers" Hopkins that dropped it. 

But, I'm glad I didn't hear the "down in front" crap in our section during that game.  We've had a few "sit-on-their-ass'ers" in recent years who gave me and the guy next to me a hard time for standing up and cheering.  Fortunately, they seem to be less and less in recent games.

WolverineHistorian

September 14th, 2011 at 12:01 PM ^

The crowd sounds good on TV but they don't sound as loud as past games.  And it must be an ESPN thing because I'm sure that might have been the loudest crowd ever at the big house Saturday night.  It just doesn't come across on TV.

In the days when ABC stood alone and the big games weren't "ESPN on ABC," you notice a difference.  Watch 97-Ohio State, 03-Notre Dame, 04-MSU, even 2000-Wisconsin.  The crowd noise sounds louder than UTL.

If UTL took place on old school ABC, that would be pretty sweet.   

eth2

September 14th, 2011 at 10:58 AM ^

IMHO, the level of energy and noise at the Big House at the Under the Lights game exceeded any other game at Michigan Stadium I've attended.   For context, I've witnessed ~50 games at the Big House and at least one at every other B10 stadium except Nebraska (will be there next year) and the new stadium at Minnesota.

Have been at bigger games, e.g., the 1997 Ohio State game, but not a more exciting atmosphere.  The only similar atmoshpere I've experienced, but as an opposing fan, was the 2006 game at Penn State, a white-out night game.  That was intimidating, well at least until Alan Branch killed Anthony Morelli.  

Whether or not the UTL experience would carry over to other night games is debatable, but I do think having one night game a year would be great for the fans and for the program.   I also feel that the RAWK music does have it's place and definitely made a difference in terms of pumping up the crowd, especially Seven Nation Army.   That said, having the MMB perform is hugely important (except no more gimp costumes...creepy) and should always be a central part of the game experience.   I think saying it's RAWK music or the MMB is creating a convenient false dichotomy.  You can and should have both.   

 

 

MGoBender

September 14th, 2011 at 11:34 AM ^

All sounds good.  I think we can be better though.

Cue seven nation army to get everyone going and then cut it right as the other team breaks the huddle.  Then students and fans go from chanting "ooohh" in unison to the song, to just plain loud screaming.

It can be louder if we're focused on making noise loudly and not just getting poeple to participate.

mackbru

September 14th, 2011 at 11:47 AM ^

Given the degree to which the new additions have served to keep the sound inside the stadium, why don't they just seal that level more fully? Maybe run plexiglas or somesuch between the new boxes/pressbox and the new scoreboards? Wouldn't cost much. Would increase the sound significantly.

The Barwis Effect

September 14th, 2011 at 12:09 PM ^

Everyone thinks Camp Randall is some sort of advantage to Wisconsin. But before the Alvarez era, they were one of the "little 8" and nobody had trouble winning there for 40 years.

Camp Randall was renovated and that helped increase the noise level there.

As did the playing of "Jump Around" by House of Pain.

msoccer10

September 14th, 2011 at 1:18 PM ^

wasn't intimidating. It was Talo Cruz "Dynamite" after Smith scored and then after the game was over. Everyone was dancing and so happy. The football was the thing, but the music amplified it and now everytime I hear that song I get flashbacks.

BlueinLansing

September 14th, 2011 at 4:23 PM ^

in my 30 years attending games, my ears hurt.  I sit closer to the top under one of the suite structures.  I have noticed a definite echo and reverberation of sound.

 

It also may have been the huge guy next screaming at the top of his lungs.

Nacho Mama

September 14th, 2011 at 4:38 PM ^

I have been to a few SEC games.  I went to the 2007 Auburn-Alabama game. That is intimidating.  Fans are in their seats 45 minutes before the game screaming their heads off. 

UTL was at that level.  A week ago, Pop Evil introducing the players as they hit the banner coming out of the tunnel was not our best moment.  But  7 Nation Army was loud, intimidating, and awesome. The fact UM fans didn't turn on this team and sit quiet is solid.  But hats off to Dave Brandon and the administration for creating this kind of atmosphere. this has nothing to do with old school v new school.  this is about involving the fans into a credible 12th man, building a reputation for being a tough environment to play in, and heightening the experience for the fans. It doesn't take anything away from the games.  

ThadMattasagoblin

September 14th, 2011 at 4:58 PM ^

Just play the victors during key plays instead of 7 nation army.  If more people cheer for that then the victors then we have a problem.  I want a world where we can have night games, conference championship games, new scoreboards without new uniforms, advertisements, and piped in music. 

Mr. Blue

September 15th, 2011 at 12:43 AM ^

I had to watch the whole game on TV from Texas, and the sight of the scene at the Big House was beautiful and other-worldly from what one expects at Michigan. The design of the lights is very slick, a thin bright line atop the towers. The blue in the crowd blends into the night and the maize is highlighted by the lights. The pom-poms added a lot too. The whole place was a living, moving, screaming maize mob.

The 4th quarter got so intense I had to leave the room once to focus on my breathing because I thought I might be on the edge of having a heart attack. Seriously, it was nuts. 

I think it would be  very intimidating to opponents and very attractive to outsiders and potential recruits. Colin Cowherd is a bit of a ballbag, but his take on it right at the beginning of his interview with Hoke sums up how it would look to an outsider (Herd doesn't typically talk much or seem to care much about Michigan as far as I know.): http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=6965847

 

Go Blue Beau

September 15th, 2011 at 1:25 AM ^

I thought the music played during the game helped big time. It got everyone in unison and was easily the loudest game I've ever attended. My favorite part was I didn't get a down in front during the game either. Not once! Made me so happy.