Michigan had 15000 people at their spring game

Submitted by ThadMattasagoblin on

Obviously spring games don't mean a whole lot, but it's kind of embarrasing when schools like PSU, Nebraska, and Ohio draw 50,000 plus. It would be a great tool for recruiting. The way to get a respectable amount of people to show up would be to have it a few weeks later in the spring in order to get warmer weather, making it a true game, better advertising (many of my friends don't even know that there is a Spring Game), and by having other events going on throughout the day such as locker room tours, autograph sessions with guys like Charles Woodson, Lloyd Carr, Desmond Howard, a youth football clinic etc.

Wolverine Devotee

April 7th, 2014 at 6:59 PM ^

Were you there? If you didn't watch on BTN, it was absolutely dreadful. Many grumbles in the crowd wondering when the actual scrimmage would start. Everything I thought it would be.

Maybe when Michigan has an actual spring game that is actually fun for the fans, they'll draw better numbers. The last spring game 13 years ago.

Hell, 1997 was a spring game and they had 2,000 people. You read that right. 2K.

The spring game tradition here is not giving a shit about the spring game. I can't even put together a complete spring game history for my superguide because the University doesn't keep any record of the event. The results or non-results I have are google news archive searches.

Michael From TC

April 7th, 2014 at 10:20 PM ^

Perhaps Brandon can sneak in a question to some recruits about how the atmosphere in off-season activites impacts their decision, if it does at all.

 

Basketball games on recruiting trips, spring games, BBQ.Stuff like that.

 

I personally think the atmosphere would play a decent role, especially on the kids that only able to make 1 or 2 visits, and this being their first one.

JohnnyV123

April 8th, 2014 at 12:37 AM ^

I feel like I should be embarrassed to say that I went to the spring game as part of my bachelor party. I've (again...should be embarrassed) never been to Michigan Stadium despite many offers to go previously.

Although it was cool to see the team and we had a lot of fun hanging out beforehand, the lack of a game sucked all the energy out of the people I was with who were for the most part much less invested in Michigan football. They perked up a bit when they saw the scrimmage only to lose interest again once they kept bringing the football back to the same spot after a few plays.

Probably going to be tough to convince that group to go again...and I'm marrying a Sparty. Le sigh.

TOUCHmyBANNER

April 7th, 2014 at 7:00 PM ^

I used to look forward to it.  Now it's jut not worth driving 2.5 hours to see.  Same boring stuff every year now.  I was so bored watching it on TV that I started painting my room while it was on.

ThadMattasagoblin

April 7th, 2014 at 7:02 PM ^

I wouldn't give a shit about it if it wasn't for recruiting but Ohio had 80K at their spring game to years ago and Alabama had 92K a couple of years ago. What do you think a potential recruit thinks about seeing a stadium that is 4/5 empty vs. one that is nearly full.

M-Dog

April 7th, 2014 at 7:27 PM ^

I'd rather not have a guy who makes his choice of where he will attend college based on uniformz.

I'd rather not have a guy who makes his choice of where he will attend college based on the weather.

I'd rather not have a guy who makes his choice of where he will attend college based on the party scene.

I'd rather not have a guy who makes his choice of where he will attend college based on NFL connections.

I'd rather not have a guy who makes his choice of where he will attend college based on Conference reputations.

I'd rather not have a guy who makes his choice . . . oops, there's nobody left.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Unicycle Firefly

April 7th, 2014 at 7:07 PM ^

I haven't been to a spring game since 2010. The locker room tour was awesome, and we all got to walk on the field and exit through the tunnel afterward, which was cool. The weather was cold and gray, so I would definitely be in favor of moving it back. More access to players and events would be great and a big draw, I'm sure.

Dave Brandon is an expert at marketing gimmicks, so it doesn't seem like a big stretch for him to come up with some cool new events or contests to get more fans in the stadium without charging them exorbitant amounts of cash. Maybe bring in some under-privileged kids for an all-access day or have a designated period after the scrimmage for players to mingle with fans/kids on the field.

bluebyyou

April 7th, 2014 at 7:34 PM ^

Because Michigan graduates so early, it would seem that they try and move the spring game/scrimmage up to accommodate the academic calendar.

I was there Saturday, and the day turned out to be not bad...high 40's and sunny.  Only a day or two before, the weather forecast for Saturday wasn't nearly as good as things turned out.  I happened to be in Ann Arbor over the weekend, but I'm not about to drive four hours just to freeze my ass off to see a scrimmage.

LordGrantham

April 7th, 2014 at 7:11 PM ^

What's embarrassing is labeling that a "game."  It was a boring practice with a couple drives thrown in at the end. They're lucky that many showed up.

unWavering

April 7th, 2014 at 7:17 PM ^

"Lucky"

What makes you think they even care if people show up?  It's free, and it's a practice (coaches have said this many times over).  I don't know why people are acting like it's a benefit to the program or it makes a big difference one way or the other.  I mean, sure, I would like it if it were more interesting and a game-like atmosphere, but that's not really what they're trying to do with it, so why be mad about it?

LordGrantham

April 7th, 2014 at 7:50 PM ^

I'm not mad, but if you're going to invite fans to an athletic event, I think you have a responsibility to make it somewhat entertaining and not just a series of drills that aren't going to interest anyone from 20 rows up.

And no, it was not made clear by the athletic department that this was largely going to be a practice.  Michigan Football's twitter account started the hashtag #UMSpringGame the week before, and MGoBlue referred to it as "The Spring Game" several times both before and after the event.  I think were people were rightly surprised and disppointed by what was on the field Saturday.

Lou MacAdoo

April 7th, 2014 at 10:30 PM ^

I believe the coaches and administrators know better than us. But you'd think they would want to impress the recruits as much as they possibly can and a competitive game, later in the spring, with a bigger crowd would do that. It looks like nine big ten universities have their spring games on April 12th including OSU. Maybe they feel it's an advantage to have it before then, or maybe they don't give a shit. I don't get it.

FreddieMercuryHayes

April 7th, 2014 at 7:26 PM ^

Amen.  I said it previously, but it's like they want to piss off their fans.  We have bodies on the lines now.  They should do that senior draft that Hoke has been talking about since he came here, and play a damn game.  Sure it may waste one practice when they could do drills, but it at least it gives the fanbase something to be excited about.  They kind of need fans to have a football program.

rbgoblue

April 7th, 2014 at 7:11 PM ^

Well for Hoke's first 3 years, he hid behind depth as an excuse for not playing a spring game, basically saying "We'd love to split up teams and play a spring game but we dont have enough OL and DL in the program yet."  Well I think the depth on both lines is now solidified (bodies - yes, talent - too soon to tell), so there aren't any excuses for not doing it any more.

I hate to look down the road and admit that they are doing something right, but watch MSU's spring game in a few weeks.  They will draft teams and play a full contact spring game in front of 40k+ fans.  They pushed the date back about as far as possible to get optimal weather and will have a ton of recruits out to watch it from the sidelines and will create an exciting atmosphere.  No reason why we couldn't do this as well.

Snow Sucks

April 8th, 2014 at 2:34 PM ^

Fine. MSU will play a full contact game. If some important player(s) get injured, they will wish they hadn't done a full contact game.



It's just a glorified practice, people. It is more important to protect the players than please the fans in April. You will be able to see actual games in 143 days.

ThadMattasagoblin

April 7th, 2014 at 7:14 PM ^

I'm not whining about anything. The Big Chill was great for the hockey program, real Spring Football like the big boys would be great for the football program. There's no downside to trying to make it like the SEC or the other 3 big ten football powers.

Wolverine Devotee

April 7th, 2014 at 7:18 PM ^

Apples and oranges. The hockey game was an actual regular season CCHA game against a rival that counted.

A spring game is an exhibition event put on for the fans.

Now, if you said the old Blue-White game hockey used to have, then that would make more sense.

alum96

April 7th, 2014 at 7:47 PM ^

"A spring game is an exhibition event put on for the fans."

I think that is part of the point of the OP.  Is is that fan friendly?  Take away what is happening on the field, there are simple things that can be added such as an autograph session, that are cheap and only take time.  The attitude of the spring game seems to be like the football program is honoring us by even bothering to let us watch.  There is no football program without the fans and maybe they take it for granted since 105K-110K show up every game no matter what.  It looked awful on TV being so empty.

I do think its pathetic that only 15K can be drawn in but what was shown Saturday was a glorified practice ... not something appealing for all but hard core fans.   Say what you want about recruits but if I go to a spring game at Happy Valley or Columbus and I contrast and compare I would come away not that impressed.  I'd wonder why fans in those states are coming but not to Michigan.  Everything goes into most recruits minds - is the spring game going to make or break a recruit?  No.  But the atmosphere around the program does and the spring game is one among many things that are easily compared. 

Wolverine Devotee

April 7th, 2014 at 7:56 PM ^

Brandon can't do much in the on-field action entertaining department. Then again, he pretty much is a coach so I am surprised that these spring events have been getting worse each year.

IIRC, prior to RR talking about wanting to break Bama's spring game attendance record in 2009, nobody thought anything much of a spring game around here. I was at the 2007 one. That sure as hell wasn't a game. Had a wonky scoring system, but that was about it.

Here are my spring game records. These are the most recent results of what I could find in the google archives.

  • 4/12/1997: 22-20 White
  • 4/18/1998: 20-17 White
  • 4/17/1999: No Score Kept
  • 4/15/2000: 23-22 White
  • 4/14/2001: 21-7 White
  • 4/13/2002: No Score Kept
  • 2003: Cancelled due to field being replaced
  • 4/10/2004: No Score Kept
  • 4/16/2005: No Score Kept
  • 4/10/2006: No Score Kept
  • 4/14/2007: 42-41 White
  • 4/12/2008: No Score Kept (Invitation-only held at Saline HS)
  • 4/11/2009: No Score Kept
  • 4/17/2010: 49-37 Blue
  • 4/16/2011: 14-7 Blue
  • 4/14/2012: 17-0 Blue
  • 4/13/2013: No Score Kept
  • 4/5/2014: No Score Kept

I'd love to see a game. Would be neat. But there were game formats in 1997 and 1998 the attendance SUCKED. Weather plays a huge factor.

Spring game is football's version of the whole Midnight Madness craze. Honestly, I rather have the spring game be just a regular Schembechler Hall practice without all the bells and whistles if it means having the results Basketball has had since they did away with the Michigan Madness thing they tried in 2009-10.

alum96

April 7th, 2014 at 8:34 PM ^

Those are good points to the historical aspect and the comparison to Midnight Madness is probably a nice parallel.  Don't agree on the location aspect - you have a stadium with its own name brand; embrace it and utilize it.

That said, things change - marketing changes - and this is a marketing opportunity.  And like many have said, we're all a bit surprised Brandon has passed on this marketing opportunity. 

Obviously other schools have taken the spring game more seriously.  Those schools (the top ones) don't need to do it for attendance reasons - they draw 90-100K a week as well.   So why are they doing it is question #1.  And after you get answers to that question the next is to ask are those tangible (or intangible) benefits - if any - worthwhile to chase?  It appears either question #1 is not being asked or the school sees no benefits.

I'd argue there is a lot of potential goodwill being lost and perception of the "brand" being a bit sullied.  It looked like Northwestern out there if you change our uniform colors.  There are A LOT of kids now who are 5-15 who don't remember a powerhouse UM program because other than 2 years of their life there has not been one.   They hear their dads talking up the program but they sure haven't seen it. This is the type of event tailor made to start building lifelong UM fans in the ages of 5-15.  Meet the football players you see on TV up close? Get their autographs?  See their locker room up close?  Just about any 9 year old boys dream. Forget about any potential recruiting aspect.

ijohnb

April 8th, 2014 at 11:55 AM ^

all poor decisions when it comes to Michigan's football program.  I have completely lost touch with it, what it stands for, and what the brand actually is or wants to be.  I believe we are becomming a running joke nationally and the Spring Game or lack thereof just adds to the list. 

UMMAN83

April 7th, 2014 at 7:17 PM ^

enjoy some tailgating, and get into the stadium in April to watch the ball tossed around.  It is awesome and we have a great time.  Probably have gone for 20-30 years in a row. I lost count. Not sure what other schools are doing to get fans out.  There was enough organized events in AA this weekend.  Maybe the other schools have fans that just enjoy the day like I do and want to show a good face for those watching on TV or visitors to the stadium.  Who cares if its not a real game.  Support the program and grab a bite to eat in AA.  Simple things.

Tkriz

April 7th, 2014 at 7:23 PM ^

How do you think it would help recruiting? Just cause they could have visitors and show them a lot fans show even for a spring game?

alum96

April 7th, 2014 at 7:45 PM ^

That's a catch 22 but an energetic fan base all things being equal help.  One can counter that by saying "well yeah we have an energetic fan base, watch us 8 Saturdays a year" which is a good argument but you are battling top programs every day of the year for attention of recruits.  You can go to just about any campus on America - or at least the top 50 programs - and have an excellent Saturday experience in late September.   So it's a wash. 

I can't speak for any 16-17 year olds but if I went to Alabama in April and saw 90K fans for a spring game I'd be incredibly excited to be part of that passion.  And I dont think we need 90K fans, but to match PSU and OSU is not asking the world.  But the current product being thrown out there is not worth that many fans.  Brandon shows he can do an "event" well - I am surprised he has not taken this opportunity to "push the brand".

Tkriz

April 7th, 2014 at 7:50 PM ^

Maybe, but I think impact is minimal. I think auburn and Alabama showing up in NC games obviously has a bigger impact. If you go 7-6 when it counts, recruits probably wont care even if you have 90k at the spring game.

FYI.,,.I'm a 96 undergrad too.

alum96

April 7th, 2014 at 8:37 PM ^

Yes obviously winning on the field goes hand in hand with these type of events.  And frankly aside from a guy like Hand I cannot remember too many players that we have been seriously in competition with, with Bama and Auburn anyhow.  But we are everyday with OSU and OSU has both the winning on the field and this off field atmosphere.   At this point every thing we can equalize with regional programs is to benefit because it is not like we are going 12-1 or 11-2 every year and can toss away any opportunity to help.  This seems like such an easy thing to do at low cost to make it better. 

ThadMattasagoblin

April 7th, 2014 at 7:25 PM ^

You don't think that Alabama or Auburn benefit from having tons of people at their games? They've won 3/4 past national championships. If our coaches don't want people to see their game, then they should hold it at Al Glick Fieldhouse.

BlueBarron

April 7th, 2014 at 7:29 PM ^

The problem is it's just not that entertaining. An hour and 15 minutes of practice drills. 50 minutes of scrimmage. There is no game and there's very little to cheer for. Many people asked me what I did this weekend and I had to stop and think before saying "Oh yeah, I went to the Spring Game." It just isn't all that memorable.

The only nice thing is I took photos from the stands, so maybe I'll post them in a thread when I get around to editing them.

Tater

April 7th, 2014 at 7:34 PM ^

I am really surprised that David Brandon hasn't decided to start "Brandin" the spring game yet.  It is a perfect opportunity to maximize income and bring more attention to the program, especially instate.  

I am shocked that someone who occasionally comes off as though he would reach into a cesspool to grab a penny seems so uninterested in such an income opportunity.  

 

 

Dilithium Wings

April 7th, 2014 at 7:44 PM ^

15000 people too many. That spring game, like previous spring games, are a pathetic excuse to excite a fan base. It's a glorified practice session. I had to fast forward it to the game and even that was a joke.



No wonder why this team has no competitive spirit to them and why they have been irrelevant for most of the last 15 years.



Thanks for the spring game, Hoke.

Bando Calrissian

April 7th, 2014 at 9:04 PM ^

If it's not a public event, people will complain. If it's drills, people will complain. 

And guess what? Even if they did a "game," people will complain. As someone who went to my fair share of these things,  in the years it was a "game," it was a weirdly-scored, partial-contact event that didn't come even remotely close to simulating an actual game. 

The point of this event isn't to simulate a football Saturday. Never was, never will be. It's the last day of practice for a smaller roster of players, played outdoors in MIchigan when there could still be snow on the ground. It is what it is. If you want these guys to go all-out and risk someone tearing an ACL for your Spring Game entertainment (and the 'crootin)...