My first real "Down in front" experience
Section 44, row 26, seats 7&8. Let me start by saying I am in the respect the fans around you camp, I am not the guy screaming at those around me to stand up, and was true to form today. When the fans in front of me stood I did as well. About 5 minutes into the third quarter my girlfriend and I are watching the game and trying to enjoy ourselves minding our own business when the woman behind us starts screaming at us. Literally screaming at us that she didn't spend 60 bucks to look at our backs. When I explained to her that the 5000 fans in front of me were standing and I didn't want to look at their backs so I stood up she didn't care. When I say this I mean the people directly in front of me. I don't understand how someone can't grasp that concept. Anyway, she continued to bitch for the next twenty minutes and eventually just left. The only reason I decided to write about this is because with about 1:30 to go in the game a blue hair from 15 rows away approached us to tell us we were the reason the woman left and we should be ashamed because people pay upwards of $5000.00 for season tickets in that area. When I explained to him that I stand and sit with the crowd in front of me, which I do, he challenged me. He said he spent the whole game watching me and that I need to more respectful. So, I said,"Sir, respectfully I think you should concentrate on the game next time you are here."
October 25th, 2009 at 12:43 AM ^
Their failure to understand this is beyond me, but I commend you for being civil about it. They probably remain seated during the wave(s).
October 25th, 2009 at 12:48 AM ^
I hate that people don't understand this, and no matter what you say, will leave thinking that you were wrong.
On another note, I really hate how people decide to stand up when a ball is in the air. QB throws deep, dude in front of me stands up and I miss what happens. Your view is fine from your seat. Wait until something happens before you stand up.
October 25th, 2009 at 12:51 AM ^
I really am not "that guy". I am not sure why, but I am still bothered by it. I am a very even tempered, relaxed guy and six hours later I still can't believe it.
October 25th, 2009 at 12:56 AM ^
I think you may still be upset because you were so clearly right and they still called you out. That would be like me saying to someone that 2+2=4, and then them saying "pssh, remind me not to come to you for math advice". You know you are right, but now someone wrongfully thinks you are an idiot (or in your case, a dick).
October 25th, 2009 at 11:21 AM ^
She paid $5,000 so she has more of a right to see the game than you. You should sit down like a good little plebeian and miss the game so Duchess la Douche won't have to stand up with the rest of the riff raff.
It's demeaning for one of such prestige to expend any effort. Your lower ticket price should be made up for by massaging their feet and feeding them grapes throughout the game. It's a privilege to be in the presence of such affluence.
October 25th, 2009 at 1:09 AM ^
If you're not willing to stand up and cheer then why the hell are you paying $5000?
October 25th, 2009 at 1:13 AM ^
Ah, yes. Losing your down in front virginity is always a shattering experience.
On a serious note...what was up with like 1/3 the fans leaving before the fourth quarter? C'mon people, it was cold but...man, lame.
October 25th, 2009 at 2:49 AM ^
I think they forgot to read the "All In" pledge on the student shirts this year.
Oh wait...my bad. I guess I can't fault them for sitting quietly and not wanting to give M an advantage.
Oh, blue hairs.
October 25th, 2009 at 1:04 PM ^
Well...it really wasn't that loud at ALL yesterday. There was a lot more buzz before the ND game, and even during pregame in the hour before the game (sitting in the stadium) it just didn't seem quite as buzzed as for ND.
When PSU was on offense, I don't think our crowd got any louder than it did against Indiana. How can you tell? You can tell it's truly loud when the fans on the other side of the stadium that AREN'T students are making noise and it's hitting you in the student section - you can't hear anything. That didn't happen once yesterday, and most the noise coming at us was from the PSU fans who looked like they were ready to rush the field at the game's end.
It seems kind of awkward to hide behind the "we're quiet because we're classy" idea anymore... the PSU fans were loud and most of them that I talked to were pretty nice, too.
October 25th, 2009 at 1:14 AM ^
I would have told the lady that I spent a good deal of money too and I am not going to not watch the game so you can. Stand up!
October 25th, 2009 at 2:53 AM ^
To this day, I still don't understand Michigan fans like this. The players are changing, the coaching is changing, the physical structure of the stadium around them is changing, hell...student sections/atmospheres in stadiums in general are changing for the better, to give the home team a clear advantage.
And they STILL stick to their old ways. I would say typical Michigan "old guard," but man, people, let's realize that THE TEAM is what's important. If you really want to enjoy yourself at the game, do it by helping the team win. You'll be able to have a lot more enjoyment if we're winning, I'll postulate. I know this is beaten to death, but just sticking it out there...again. I hate fans like that; they give us that weak reputation a a fanbase.
October 25th, 2009 at 1:04 PM ^
This is Rich Rod's fault. He has no family values. Also, he doesn't recruit enough talent on the fans side of the ball.
October 25th, 2009 at 8:36 AM ^
Was she overweight? Because it's always fun to pull out the "I'm just trying to help you get your exercise" card.
October 25th, 2009 at 9:34 AM ^
Really butt-ugly you could say you were saving her the embarrassing experience of having her fugly mug posted over the video screen to be seen by over 100,000 people who at that time of the game couldve used something to laugh at.
October 25th, 2009 at 9:54 AM ^
Great post and great response!!
October 25th, 2009 at 10:11 AM ^
I normally defend the "older" fans and try to take a respect for everybody approach. But wow, I can't defend that. It is like honking at the guy in front of you in a mile long traffic jam. You handled it right, IMHO.
October 25th, 2009 at 10:12 AM ^
[Edit - double post deleted.]
October 25th, 2009 at 10:44 AM ^
I had the same exact thing happen to me at the WMU game. It is actually very similar except a guy yelled at me for standing up. I asked him to walk out the aisle, yell as loud as he could and see if the other 5,000 people in our section would sit down. His reponse, "Well, they are with you." Yes sir, they are with me, in helping our team win, unlike you. Please, do yourself a favor, walk up that aisle, walk to your car, drive back to your house and watch the game on your TV. You are a disgrace to Michigan Football fans everywhere.
OK, I didn't say that, but if I had had two more Blue Lights at tailgate I would have.
October 25th, 2009 at 11:37 AM ^
the same thing happened to me. i just ignored the person, i think that's the best policy
October 25th, 2009 at 11:55 AM ^
This has happened to my once or twice, and I as well am in the same camp as yourself. I've found some success in asking the person caught up in their tirade if they'd like to exchange seats. I'll gladly move a few seats here or there for them. They usually pause and realize the error in their ways and that the games too short too not stand up and cheer on your team.
October 25th, 2009 at 3:12 PM ^
I like the idea of asking them if they would like to switch seats.
October 25th, 2009 at 3:54 PM ^
when my hair turns blue, and I act like that, somebody please just shoot me.
Edit to say: My kids have been instructed in this as well. :)
October 25th, 2009 at 4:22 PM ^
I guess that I'm sorry you got yelled at, for standing up in order to see the game.
Like you, I cannot understand the point of yelling at someone in front of you to sit down when everyone in 25 rows in front of you is standing.
But of course, at some point, lower down, people are standing up just because they want to. And that is what causes problems like yours, further up.
And then of course there is the pervasive "Everybody stand up" attitude that, it seems, a majority of the MGoBlog demographic seems to like.
Can I just ask the original poster -- those Section 44 tickets; are they your season tickets? Because if we change the facts just a little, and you were a season-ticket holder that I saw in front of me every week, and if you were standing with no need to stand up, then I would have 1) asked you nicely to sit, so that I could see the game. If you didn't, then 2) I'd ask everyone seated around me, if they would like for me to alert an usher; I expect that they would say, "Yeah, please; this is annoying." (The ushers in 43-44-1-2 are really good; most of them have been doing their jobs for more than 20 years.) Then, 3) when I came back with an usher, you'd be in a second-strike-and-you're out position. Because the next time, the usher wouldn't deal with it. He's trained to just call A2 police, and the police won't debate the issue with you. Not when it is just you and a buddy standing up, with 20 people behind you all complaining.
October 25th, 2009 at 6:27 PM ^
If you want to sit dont go to the games.
October 25th, 2009 at 5:02 PM ^
I had two student-aged guys in student section t-shirts who were sitting two rows in front of me yesterday (on the other side of the stadium from the student section) who absolutely insisted upon standing up for the entire game. The ENTIRE game. Commercial breaks, halftime, when everybody else was sitting down, and would not even remotely pretend to hear multiple people asking them to sit down if no one else was standing up. I mean, is it really absolutely necessary to keep the "I'm going to stand up to prove a point!" thing going for halftime, too?
At halftime, I wasn't about to stand up and block the view of the adorable old couple who have been sitting behind our family for 30 years, who took 5 minutes to get down to their seats and were very polite in putting up with not being able to see anything else during the game when people stood up. At the very least, they should be able to watch the bands without having to look around meatheads who won't sit down.
But, no, these two idiots decided they were going to act like it was the student section.
I'm not a blue-hair. I'm a recent alum. It disappoints me a great deal that it seems my generation lacks common courtesy.
October 25th, 2009 at 5:23 PM ^
Would it have been appropriate to call an usher at that point? You are describing a similar situation mentioned in a previous post that recommended contacting an usher. I'm not a season ticket holder, but have been pretty fortunate to sit with considerate fans with my random seats.
A lesson in 'Best Use of Ushers' would be helpful to me, and maybe other readers. :)
October 25th, 2009 at 6:28 PM ^
Im in the crowd where sitting is meant for half time. Timeouts and breaks to let the people who want to sit the whole game isnt gonna give them a view of anything but the huddles.