My first Trip to Ann Arbor and the Big House...

Hey group, Posting my first Diary, and since I just got back from my first trip to the Big House, I guess it's fitting. A little about myself, 32 years old, I live and have lived in Arkansas all my life, went to a really small school so I never got the chance to play organized football, I played Basketball, and got caught up in all the Fab Five hoopla, and The first Michigan football game I can Remember watching is the '91 Notre Dame game, where Desmond Made "The Catch". From that Point on I followed desmond's Heisman winning season, and I've bled Maize and Blue.

So after so many years I finally made a trip to the Big House. First I want to say Ann Arbor is an amazing place. Just from what I saw, it just feels like an awesome place to spend a weekend, We had an awesome time. The BIg House was everything I thought it would be, and more. I'll definately be headed back next year (and every year I can) to see it once the renovations are complete, but besides the Purdue fan's migrane inducing rendition of their fight song over and over, just being in Michigan Stadium and seeing the players warming up, and to get to see both marching bands and to see the Wolverines run through and hit the Banner was a dream come true. The fans around my were awesome, some of the students in our section even offered me a swig from their flask. I thought The Crowd was awesome. For all you hear about "The quietest 100 K people you'll ever see", there were times I had to yell so My buddy could hear what I was saying. Just the fact that I was there seeing the Team hit the Banner, and singing The Victors was awesome, a dream come true.

As for the game Itself, I can say I am encouraged that we did show improvement in alot of ways. Stonum and Hemmingway both looked Great in the return game, Stonum is quietly having an awesome season. Minor showed just how good a Back he can be, and how much he means to this team when He's healthy. Forcier and the Recievers had a solid game, Roundtree showed why RR puts such an emphasis on recruiting that slot position. His Offense opens up so much for that position, and when they step over to cover it, then it opens everything else up even more. Tate still needs to make quicker decisions with the ball, but he made some big plays on the called runs, and probably had his best game since the ND game.

The Defense, Outside of BG, Roh (LOVE that Kid), and Warren.... well we all know.

I posted this as a response to another thread, but I will add it here too, as for Danny Hope, I just want to thank him. After the game, I had my doubts about the transition, about the coaching staff, and about the future of the program. Nothing has really changed, but such a douche bag move has me back directly behind this Team and it's coaches and players, just to see them turn this thing around, and after we beat the dog out of what will still be a bad Purdue team next year, maybe RR can walk across the field and tell that Jackass "Thanks for what you did". I know that as a UM fan to look forward to the day that we can beat Mighty Purdue should be a sad day, and It is, But that is where we are at right now, I guess.

All in all besides the result of the game, The trip and experience was awesome, and definately something I'll be doing at least once a year from now on. If anyone has any "Must Visit" Spots or something an outof towner like myself should definately check out Please feel free to let me know.

GO BLUE.