OT: Attire/Ettiquette for Free Tickets Right Behind the Gophers Bench

Submitted by IncrediblySTIFF on

As a recent Minneapolis transplant, I have made a point to attend as many Michigan related events as possible, including watching the last play stand against the Gophers at TCF Bank on Halloween.  Recently, I procured tickets to tomorrows game at the Barn, but those tickets are directly behind the Gophers bench and those tickets were given to me with one stipulation: No Michigan attire.

Usually, I am the guy who is in the middle of the opposing teams section generally making an ass of myself, but as a favor to the friend I agreed to knock off the buffoonery and keep my behavior appropriately professional.

I'm curious as to if anyone else has been in a similar situation, and how that situation was handled.

 

Thanks in advance.

Dawggoblue

February 9th, 2016 at 11:23 AM ^

What's the point of this?  If you were given the tickets with the agreement you wouldn't wear Michigan gear, don't wear  Michigan gear.

If you are asking for board permission, go ahead and wear the gear.  I personally don't care if you never get free tickets again.

UM Fan from Sydney

February 9th, 2016 at 11:25 AM ^

Well obviously agree to not wearing M attire, take the tickets, but still don M attire anyway.

Also, if someone is offering tickets but gave me that stipulation, I'd say "fuck off." That is a ridiculous stipulation.

lastofthedogmen

February 9th, 2016 at 11:57 AM ^

So, your friend is giving you his boss's tickets, and you'd consider throwing him under the bus just to wear Michigan colors? Have you considered how he'd have to answer to his boss as to why there's a UM fan in his seat? Is it really so important to you to be a "faithful fan" that you'd sell your friend out by getting him in shit with his boss?!?
Wow. Just wow.

lastofthedogmen

February 9th, 2016 at 1:24 PM ^

I got caught up in reading the other comments. Sorry. When I've gone to away games I've always rooted for my team but tried to do so in a polite way - acknowledging when the other team makes good plays, establishing a cordial relationship with the people around me. At the TCF Bank UM/Minn game this past fall I wound up having a fun time with the Minn fans around me, even though they all knew I was a UM fan and was cheering for Michigan. As long as you give respect they'll be fine.
I do like the blue shirt and khaki concept.

WolvinLA2

February 9th, 2016 at 12:14 PM ^

I agree that's it's really fucking stupid to say to someone "here, go watch your favorite team play but you can't wear any of your team's gear." That's really fucking dumb. Is he afraid the camera might catch you or something? It's not like you won't be cheering for Michigan and I'm sure the camera will catch you doing that. Your friend is either a dick or a total pussy.

ST3

February 9th, 2016 at 11:27 AM ^

I took a sparty friend to a UofM/MSU basketball game a long time ago. It had to have been in the mid-80's because I remember Vernon Carr played for that MSU team. Vernon must have had an awful game because one of my two lasting memories from that game is my friend dejectedly saying, over and over again, "Jesus Vernon," after numerous Carr miscues. It happened so often I thought Carr had changed his name to Jesus Vernon. My other memory is my friend saying, "sag, sag, sag." He must have thought Michigan was bereft of outside shooters and he wanted Staee to pack the zone. After the 20th time, I'm thinking to myself, buddy, they're not listening to you, let's just give it a rest with the sag, sag, sags.

The lesson I learned from that game is to not attend sporting events with fans of the opposite team.

/notacoolstorybro

StephenRKass

February 9th, 2016 at 11:39 AM ^

Wear whatever you want. But . . . 

  • If you're a man of your word, don't wear Michigan gear, or 
  • Give the tickets back.
  • If your word and promise doesn't mean a thing and you have no integrity, wear Michigan gear, or,
  • Offer the tickets back UNLESS you have the blessing to wear Michigan gear.

Everyone Murders

February 9th, 2016 at 11:43 AM ^

First off, honor your word.  It's a dick move to promise not to show the school colors and then renege.  Now you can cheer the good guys, etc., but I think you should keep your promise.

The Story:  This was from back when Fisher was coach IIRC, but a Hoosier friend of a friend got seats about two rows behind the Michigan bench for the IU game.  He wore a crimson sweater with a small IU logo on it, and enjoyed the first half with his kids.  At or around halftime, he was thrown out of his seats.

I think that's a bullshit move, especially if he's there with his kids.  He sat quietly through the game, was not obnoxious (he's an FBI agent), and his well-behaved kids were shocked they could get thrown out for wearing the wrong colors.  (Bloods and Crips?)  It was a really bad look for Michigan.*

That was quite a while ago, and bush league as all get out.  At Minnesota, you'll be below the floor level, so probably not so prominent as you'd be at Crisler.  But I would ensure that whatever gear you have is easily removable just in case the Minnesota coaches get a burr in their saddle.

*In fairness to Fisher, they were Athletic Dept. tickets that had changed hands a couple of times, so it's not quite as egregious as it sounds.  But (i) why wait halfway through the game, and (ii) why not just ask them to remove the offending gear?

gwkrlghl

February 9th, 2016 at 11:42 AM ^

If a friend hooked you up and asked that you not wear Michigan gear then don't wear Michigan gear. Or politely decline and get seats higher up and wear a maize morphsuit. But don't take a dump on your friends generosity.

CaptainSane

February 9th, 2016 at 11:46 AM ^

I am also a recent Minneapolis transplant, and from what I can tell Gopher fans are either apathetic or in an emotional fragile state, so I doubt you'll turn many heads by wearing Michigan gear.

But if it were me I'd just wear a navy sweater or something with no logo, that way you can plead ignorance if confronted.

YTBI

February 9th, 2016 at 11:47 AM ^

Stipulations such as this are not acceptable.  I'd wear my team gear under a jacket on the way in and then bust out the colors as soon as I got to the seats. 

As far as ettiquette, it may be best to err on the side of caution since you're sitting behind their bench.

M and M Boys

February 9th, 2016 at 11:49 AM ^

I watched M play In The Barn last time they played there (planned business trip)
1) Go to the game early.
2) Go behind the M bench
3). Explain your situation to any usher--or student--they will help you --if you do not want to approach others to trade directly.
It is MINNESOTA NICE country--not at all like many Big 10 villages.