OT-Slippery Rock and the Big House

Submitted by HAILtoBO on

So I'm getting tired after an extremely long day which leads to crazy thoughts and ideas. I was thinking what is everyone thoughts on Slippery Rock coming back to the Big House and play a game vs. GVSU or WSU. Its a crazy idea, but maybe on a friday night when Michigan is out of town. I thought since they haven't been here for some time and we acknowledged them last year, it would be a cool idea. Thoughts? I know this going to get a huge up vote or a huge down vote, but let me have it. I think it would cool for this small college and their players to experience the Big House again.

codeBLUE11

September 29th, 2011 at 3:15 AM ^

No more novelty? I disagree completely about this. 

And an embarassingly sparse crowd? Have you been to a DIII game? If the bottom 5 rows are filled we may break an attendance record. 

Personally, I think the idea is cool and would definately go, but it is very unlikely to happen again.

MDave

September 29th, 2011 at 10:05 AM ^

Throw a game in every year to the season ticket package.  I would definitely attend.  Slippery Rock would be pumped.  Hell, you never know.  It could be the exposure they need to become an elite DIII school.  I am all for that!

FSPP-14

September 28th, 2011 at 10:23 PM ^

Why not, I think all the players would love the big college town atmosphere. Wouldn't draw a huge crowd but its about the experience. I'm sure Brandon wouldn't oppose if it could draw some revenue

Blazefire

September 28th, 2011 at 10:25 PM ^

We acknowledge them at every game. The score going up is still one of the great highlights. When it went up and they were losing during the EMU game, the whole crowd moaned disappointedly more than they had at any of EMU's long runs.

FSPP-14

September 28th, 2011 at 10:27 PM ^

I think that if we let em come back again, more of the students would understand why we actually show them on the scoreboard and what now. I think most of em just cheer/moan because others do, not knowing the background behind it. I was one of em until not long ago

M-Wolverine

September 29th, 2011 at 11:57 AM ^

The Origin of the Slippery Rock Score Fans in the Big House have noticed a special return on the out of town scoreboard this year -- Slippery Rock University. They've joined the likes of Ohio State, Alabama and Boise State on the big screens. The tradition began in 1959 when public address announcer Steve Filipiak reported the scores to the Big House crowd. Filipiak announced the score every Saturday until his final season in 1971, but the tradition lived on. Slippery Rock became so popular with Big House fans that they were invited to play at Michigan Stadium in 1979 against in-state rival Shippensburg. A crowd of 61,143 watched Slippery Rock fall, but it was a Division II attendance record. Slippery Rock played a second game at the Big House in 1981, drawing 36,719 fans in a 14-13 loss to Wayne State. The tradition dropped off in recent years but was revived during the first year of Dave Brandon's tenure as athletic director, much to the delight of fans that remember the old days of Rock scores.

http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/091810aaf.html

Bosch

September 29th, 2011 at 9:00 AM ^

I was at the game.  I would think that GVSU against Slippery Rock would have a similar, if not better, attendence IF:

  1. It's on a Saturday afternoon when Michigan doesn't have a game
  2. Tickets are cheap.....  kids are free
  3. It's early enough in the season where there's still a good chance of decent weather

One and three are kind of in conflict, unless you schedule the game the week before Michigan's first game.  This wouldn't necessarily be bad.  The excitement for the upcoming football season would drive people to the game.  A downside would be that most students wouldn't be on campus yet.

 

BobBlueMass

September 28th, 2011 at 10:45 PM ^

True story. A friend of mine proposed to his, now, wife at the Slippery Rock game. Why, I have no idea. But she did say "yes", they're still together and have three kids at UM.

As I recall, that game was meant as a replacement fo Band Day. Let UM sell those seats the high school bandies took up a regular game. Don't remember the attendance but thought it was ok, 30 k? Anybody know.

Any way. Good idea. Seems we could use the Big House more than we do.

BobBlueMass

September 28th, 2011 at 10:45 PM ^

True story. A friend of mine proposed to his, now, wife at the Slippery Rock game. Why, I have no idea. But she did say "yes", they're still together and have three kids at UM.

As I recall, that game was meant as a replacement fo Band Day. Let UM sell those seats the high school bandies took up a regular game. Don't remember the attendance but thought it was ok, 30 k? Anybody know.

Any way. Good idea. Seems we could use the Big House more than we do.

expatriate

September 28th, 2011 at 10:47 PM ^

I am actually going to visit Slippery Rock next Friday while I am on my way out east since it is right on the way.  Something seems interesting about visiting the university after all the mentions of it and the long, if random, history of the Slippery Rock score at Michigan Stadium.  Does anyone know anything I should do/see while I am stopping over, besides grab some gear of course?

Zak

September 28th, 2011 at 11:14 PM ^

I go to school at Grove City College, which is five minutes away from Slippery Rock and you definitely want to eat at The Brewery, it's a really great place to eat, I'm underage so I don't personally know how good the beers are, but there are a couple guys on my hall that seem like they go down there for beer at least once a week, so I'm assuming it must be pretty good.

http://www.northcountrybrewing.com/welcome.htm

Culverhouse

September 28th, 2011 at 10:47 PM ^

I'm a student at UofM and we were discussing this last week during the game. We thought it would be awesome if they came back, I know that a ton of the students would come.

party like its 1989

September 28th, 2011 at 10:49 PM ^

Bring them in and let them play at 11am on a day when we have a 3:30pm home game.  Staff, concessions would all be there anyway, just expand the hours a bit.  Maybe the regular Mich game ticket is what you need to get in.  Come early and enjoy the fun.  ??

kmich

September 28th, 2011 at 10:58 PM ^

 Back in 1979 Slippery Rock played Shippensburg at the big house and 61,143 fans came. They also played Wayne state in 1981 and the attendance was 36,719. I think we can get enough Michigan fans in the stadium for a game since we haven't seen them play at the Big House in a while.