Section 21 cheerleaders and stadium etiquette

Submitted by blueheron on

At the State game I was mostly surrounded by Spartans.  A few of them were very annoying, but the fans that bugged me the most in the immediate area were a couple with Maize 'n Blue gear.  Why?  As far as I could see, they had a poor grasp of stadium etiquette, at least as I understand it.  I'm accustomed to standing up often for big plays as the "standing" wave cascades upward from the field.  No big deal ... I usually enjoy the process and it seems healthier than sitting for the whole game.  But, outside the student section I rarely see people standing continuously.  That's what these two fans, who were apparently boyfriend and girlfriend, were doing.

When it became clear that this was going to be their baseline posture, I decided to engage them in conversation.  (They turned my seat into an obstructed-view location.  It was that simple.)  I had to reach over a row to do so and the woman was closest, so I started with her.  When I asked whether she wouldn't mind sitting for "less important plays" she gave me a really nonlinear answer along the lines of "GO BLUE DEFENSE AHHHHHHH!!!"  Ever accidentally step on a cat's tail?  Remember the sound the cat made?  Multiply that by six or seven and you'll have some idea of how the chick sounded.  It hurt my ears.

It was my brother-in-law's turn, so he tried poking the guy, who went ape$hit.  In spectacularly nonlinear fashion, he started screaming to everyone in the area about how Michigan hadn't beaten State in many hundreds of days and how we needed to STAND UP and support the team.  The doofus was the self-appointed spirit bunny of Section 21.  Even the meathead Spartans behind me were stunned at the outburst.

Anyway, I'll spare the readers the rest of the details.  They settled down a bit and, shortly after the dude screamed himself hoarse in the third quarter, they left (!).  So much for the cheerleader role ...

Were they justified in standing up in a sea of sitting people?  Spirit aside, I just wanted to see the game.  I honestly didn't understand why they couldn't sit like everyone else (since their own view would not have been obstructed).  What do MgoBloggers think of this?

octal9

October 14th, 2010 at 10:30 AM ^

Were they justified in standing up in a sea of sitting people?

Short answer, no.

Long answer, no, they need to be considerate of others around them.

Section 1

October 15th, 2010 at 9:38 AM ^

sitting in seats purchased on StubHub, and who isn't otherwise supporting the Athletic Department, blocking the view of people behind him, for no other reason than that he wants to stand and show how much he is in it for his team.  The only people who notice what he is doing are the people he is pising off behind him.

MGoBender

October 17th, 2010 at 11:05 AM ^

Or maybe it has nothing to do with showing off and everything to do with wanting to cheer and have fun at the game...

I sat in a non-student section for a game the first time in my life this year and it was brutal.  Nobody stood, nobody cheered, nobody seemed to care at all about the game.  I didn't have fun, didn't enjoy the game.

The people around me pissed me off probably just as much as some "standers" piss off others.

And what is the problem with standing?  Seriously?  Is our nation fat and lazy enough that we see standing for a 5-10 minute period (defensive drive) as too uncomfortable?  With all the TV timeouts, officials timeouts, and period breaks, why can't you sit then?

Aequitas

October 18th, 2010 at 12:31 PM ^

you're a season ticket holder in Section 1, AND your shit doesn't stink?

How'd I do?

The rest of your posts cost me a lot of points (relatively) to neg, but it was worth it to be able to address my e-ire at you, rather than picture an entire section filled with "fans" like yourself.  If you're going to a football game simply to sit and be entertained, and not be a part of something, of creating an atmosphere, then you're not as big a fan as the guy not fortunate enough to be able to afford a ticket to every game, who would stand and cheer his team on.

A person's fanhood isn't measured by how long they've held tickets, or where they've purchased them.  Give me a break. 

Aequitas

October 18th, 2010 at 12:50 PM ^

"If you're going to a football game simply to sit and be entertained, and not be a part of something, of creating an atmosphere, then you're not as big a fan as the guy not fortunate enough to be able to afford a ticket to every game, who would stand and cheer his team on."

I typed that a little slower this time.  I even reread it for "Brian" and "jerk" references, but couldn't find even one.

Geaux_Blue

October 18th, 2010 at 1:50 PM ^

is a jerk. plain and simple. he's blocking sight lines of those around him for his own game experience. according to you, the only way to be a true/big fan is to stand and cheer all game.

nobody on here is advocating everyone sit all game. this is only a debate on if you should be able to stand all game. you seem to put a fan's fandom as a value directly related to standing. 

but try to be more condescending next time.

mvarblow

October 16th, 2010 at 10:29 PM ^

I'm all for being considerate.  If you feel the need to shout "Down in front!" then the considerate thing for you to do would be to spend your Saturday afternoons sitting on your couch where no one can bother you.

Besides, there are precious few tickets available.  Let's make every one of them count.  The Big House could be not only the largest stadium in the country; it could also be the loudest and most difficult to play in.  It just takes a little enthusiasm from the fans.  A little more cheering for the team.  A little less cheering for "down in front".

octal9

October 18th, 2010 at 5:54 PM ^

My post is, admittedly, not 100% accurate as to my thoughts on this matter.

If people in front of me are standing, I stand up. I actually prefer to be standing, and if I could I'd be in the student section for my entire life.

However, I will not be the person to stand up and force everyone behind me to get up. It's a dickish thing to do.

LJ

October 14th, 2010 at 10:32 AM ^

You're probably going to get some criticism for not wanting to stand, but I can understand that not everyone wants to for the entire game, especially when they're not 20-something college students anymore.  I like standing the entire game, which is why I always buy my tickets in the student section.  I wish the non-student sections would want to stand more and make more noise, but people pay for those tickets and they should be able to enjoy the game in whatever way they want.

profitgoblue

October 14th, 2010 at 10:45 AM ^

I can't stand sitting down during the games.  I can't hardly sit down watching them from the comforts of my living room.  That said, I would not be "that" guy that is the only one standing in a sea of seated fans.  Even though I feel like I'm not supporting the team when seated (I'm not sure why I feel that way, probably from the 4 years of standing while in undergrad), I still can't bring myself to be "that" guy.

TIMMMAAY

October 14th, 2010 at 5:19 PM ^

I was in section one. Enough said.

Edit: actually, not enough said. I'm not one to be "that guy" either, but the down in front! crowd really makes the game less enjoyable for everyone if you're in the lower 20 rows. While seated, even if everyone else is seated, you can't see the corners of the field at all. I try to comply as best I can, but I'm not going to sacrifice my enjoyment of the game so that old guy (who continually yelled "come on Rodriguess", and actually plugged his ears on third downs)next to me has a slightly better view at my expense. Sorry.

/rant

Quail2theVict0r

October 14th, 2010 at 10:34 AM ^

I think you're wrong. My whole section stood up the whole game, section 40. If people want to stand up, let them and let them be loud. If you're going to sit on your butt you're doing no one, including the team, any favors and your ticket should be revoked. If you just want to "see the game" stay at home and watch on TV.

tpilews

October 14th, 2010 at 11:17 AM ^

Yep, I was in section 18 for the UConn game and we all stood for the entire game. We all sat during timeouts, but as soon as the ref blew the whistle, we were all up again. Honestly, it was the best experience at the Big House I've ever had. Most other years, you're so worried about standing and upsetting people that it makes the game less enjoyable.

ontarioblue

October 14th, 2010 at 10:36 AM ^

There were so many extra bodies in our row in Section 6 that my 12 year old daughter stood because there was no room to sit.  It might be the time also to measure the girth of the ticket holders.  If your waste is 46" plus, force them to buy 2 seats.

Quail2theVict0r

October 14th, 2010 at 10:44 AM ^

My solution to that has always been to show up early. If you show up early you claim your seat. The people who don't fit are always the ones to show up right as the game starts. At that point it's kind of a free for all. If you don't get your seat, sucks for you.

Baloo_Dance

October 14th, 2010 at 10:36 AM ^

I agree with you that they rude and should consider others. 

Personally however, I think more people should stand up, cheer and be loud.  Michigan has the largest stadium in the country with very little home field advantage. 

Plus, what do you always hear recruits say about any visit, "Man, the fans were crazy and really into the game".  Not, "Man it was really quiet in there, it's like they all were watching the game at home on their couches...that was awesome".

To bad designated sections for standing and sitting aren't feasible .

Section 1

October 14th, 2010 at 11:41 AM ^

of Sections 22-23, always sit for the entire game.

Look, I'll say this for about the 20th time.  You new-grads, who are used to sitting in the Student sections, and standing for the entire game, you need to grow up.  If you want to create some sort of quasi-student "standing" section(s), there actually is a grown-up way to handle it.  Do the necessary legwork with the Athletic Department, and if you can, arrange a dedicated area of the Stadium where you can stand if you want to.  You should be prepared to make appropriate Preferred Seating Donations, just like the grownup season-ticket holders in most of the other sections of the Stadium.

Because, in demanding the right to stand for the entire game (and thereby block the view of people behind you, who must stand, and thereby block the view of people behind them, eventually denying children and people who cannot stand a chance to see the game they paid to see), you are causing a huge headache for our Athletic Department, and the Stadium ushers, whose job it is to make sure that everyone who has a ticket has a decent viewing experience..

You are being assholes.

If you want to stand for the whole game -- and I really don't give two shits if you do -- get yourself a ticket where you can do that.  Go to a top row.  Get yourself into the Student Sections.  Just don't expect to buy a single-game ticket in an are of other season ticket holders and think that you can ruin their experience and not get yelled at for it.  (These threads always seem to involve people who were sitting in a location they had never been in before; in other words, people who are not season ticket holders pissing off the people who are season ticket holders.)

Just don't expect people to be nice to you, when you stand up in front of them to block their view of the game that they want to see just as much as you do.

Phil Davison

October 14th, 2010 at 11:43 AM ^

I agree with the majority of other posters on this board. If Michigan Stadium had 110,000 people that actually cared, it would be the hardest place in the country to play. Have you eveer seen a game at Michigan where the cameras pan anywhere but the student section? Rarely does it happen, and for one reason - because nobody is cheering anywhere else. Two things: finding 110,000 people to be that committed for anything is hard. Second, I can see the other side of the argument, and there is definitely a fine line between being obnoxious and cheering for your team.

I've been going to games at Wrigley Field since I was a kid and have season tickets in front of the handicapped section. This is my rule - when it's a big play (i.e. third down in football), I stand. Sure the people in the wheelchairs miss a pitch (or a down at the Big House). But that's the way it is, I paid for that seat and I'll stand to cheer when it's appropriate.

Section 1

October 14th, 2010 at 11:54 AM ^

Now that I know your rules, I -- and anyone else behind you at anything from a Cubs game to a Michigan game, and all points in between -- will know exactly how we should behave.

Maybe -- and this is just a suggestion -- if you posted your "rule" on I-94, maybe on a billboard near the Indiana border, everybody would know your rule and how to behave at games when seated behind you.

Actually, your post was valuable to me because I didn't realize that there was anything to cheer about at Wrigley Field.  Unless, say, you were a visiting Cardinals' or Braves' fan.

Hail-Storm

October 14th, 2010 at 12:00 PM ^

Didn't you just go on about how its supposed to be in non student sections and your rules?  Why are your rules better than someone elses. You stated something about how if you buy a single game ticket than you are supposed to ensure you watch the game how the season ticket holders want you to watch the game. This is an rediculous statement. When you buy season tickets, you get the seats you bought and that is it.  You have no right to believe that you are better than a single game ticket holder.  Just as there can be assholes who stand up for maybe to much of the game, there are just as many assholes who believe that they have the right to yell at someone else who stands up for key plays, but isn't a season ticket holder. Swearing in your post does not help swing people to your side.

Section 1

October 14th, 2010 at 12:11 PM ^

The Student sections are, by rule, filled with students.  Not children, not elderly people.  And any handicapped students can get seated where they can see without having to stand.  The students have a universally-understood tradition of standing.

You can't say any of that about any other place in Michigan Stadium.

Again, I am hardly the most radical hard-ass about any of this.  I'm not suggesting that the students sit down.  I'm not even suggesting that any of you sit down, necessarily.

All that I am suggesting is that if you guys are really serious about being the most absolutely hard-core fans, you will make your own "standing section" arrangements with the Athletic Department.  You'd arrange it so that you weren't bothering anyone.  You'd have your own section, or high-up rows.  It would require Preferred Seating Donations, no doubt.  But that's what serious fans do.

And what I am definitely suggesting is that if you are standing, and you don't need to stand (i.e., there's nobody standing in front of you) and somebody asks you, nicely or not, to sit so that they can see, you should.  If they ask you nicely, you should apologize for blocking their view and sit.  If they don't ask nicely, you should grumble about it and still sit down anyway. 

Shop Smart Sho…

October 14th, 2010 at 12:26 PM ^

"And what I am definitely suggesting is that if you are standing, and you don't need to stand (i.e., there's nobody standing in front of you) and somebody asks you, nicely or not, to sit so that they can see, you should.  If they ask you nicely, you should apologize for blocking their view and sit.  If they don't ask nicely, you should grumble about it and still sit down anyway."

 

Why do you get to decide when people need to stand?  And in your rule set, shouldn't everyone just sit the entire time?  No one is standing in front of the people in the front row, so they would never need to stand.

 

Sorry, but if I want to stand, and the people behind me are capable of standing, I'm going to be on my feet.  I'm going to assume that if they could make it down the stairs, they can stand.  If they can't stand, the Athletic Department has made special seating available to them in the handicap section.

Also, I wouldn't mind sitting more often, but I'd like more than half of my rear to be on the bench.  I get to the game during pre-game, and I sit on the end of the row.  By the time everyone has filled in, I've generally been pushed over the edge of the row.  Some people need to stand some more and maybe move around too.  Seems it's getting a bit hefty inside the stadium.

Geaux_Blue

October 14th, 2010 at 12:31 PM ^

 

Why do you get to decide when people need to stand?  And in your rule set, shouldn't everyone just sit the entire time?  No one is standing in front of the people in the front row, so they would never need to stand.

 
How can you not see that you're making the decision for the people behind you that they are going to either be staring at your backside or standing also? Sitting is not violating the ability of anyone to enjoy the game - all sight lines are available when everyone sits. Standing eliminates the sight lines of at least three people behind you. It's a matter of politeness, not freedom. If people sit except for big moments, the terrorist neither win nor lose.

Shop Smart Sho…

October 14th, 2010 at 12:36 PM ^

That wasn't the rule he came up with.  He said you should only stand if someone in front of you is standing.  If you and he can't understand the idiocy of that statement, I'm sorry.

As far as your rule that I should only stand for big moments, I think a big moment is any time Michigan is on the field and a player has their hand on the ball or it is in the air.

Section 1

October 14th, 2010 at 12:47 PM ^

Sorry, but if I want to stand, and the people behind me are capable of standing, I'm going to be on my feet.  I'm going to assume that if they could make it down the stairs, they can stand.  If they can't stand, the Athletic Department has made special seating available to them in the handicap section.

Also, I wouldn't mind sitting more often, but I'd like more than half of my rear to be on the bench.  I get to the game during pre-game, and I sit on the end of the row.  By the time everyone has filled in, I've generally been pushed over the edge of the row.  Some people need to stand some more and maybe move around too.  Seems it's getting a bit hefty inside the stadium.

The is embarassingly (for you) simple.  If you stand, and the people behind you stand, (because, uh, you have judged them capable of standing), and the people behind them stand, and the people behind them stand, it basically goes that way on up to Row 99, right?  Have you judged that everybody is capable of standing so as to suit your wishes?

As for too-tight row seating, I have to ask, have you been sitting on the east or west side of the Stadium?  Because the east side has been reconfigured, while the west side has not.  Last Saturday, in the newly-configured area where I sit, it was the most comfortable "big game" ever.  I sat directly on my seat number, and each of my three guests, all big men, two of them former football players, one of them a former NFL player, were all comfortable. 

"Standing" is not a good response to too-tight seating.  The good reponses to too-tight seating is for A) the Stadium reconfiguration to be completed, and B) everybody to sit on their one seat, with no extra people stuffed in, and without anybody sliding over on to your seat.

Shop Smart Sho…

October 14th, 2010 at 12:48 PM ^

Your rule was that no one should stand unless the person in front of them stands.  Following this logic, no one should ever have a need to stand.

I'm saying that is rediculous.  People coming to a game should understand that fans stand during the game.  Michigan Stadium is the only place I have been to for a football game where this is a problem.  I've been to EL, West Lafayette, Bloomington, South Bend, and a couple of smaller division stadiums.  Only at Michigan is their a great divide about standing.

 

Oh, and I didn't "judge" them capable of standing.  They decided they didn't need handicap seating.  It is a very simple process to get those seats.  If they aren't capable of standing, I'm sure the university will be more than happy to oblige them.  Those spaces are never full in the south endzone where we sit, so they'll still get the best view of the game.

Geaux_Blue

October 14th, 2010 at 12:52 PM ^

just because someone is capable of standing does not mean you should make the decision for them by standing yourself. no one is bothering the people around them sitting. people standing while everyone around them sit is bothering a number of people.

you have the freedom to do whatever you want.

choosing to do what alienates those around the least is simply the vantage people are expressing to you.

Shop Smart Sho…

October 14th, 2010 at 3:32 PM ^

Section 1's point is that everyone should do what makes him happy.

 

It seems like most people in this thread are disagreeing with yours and Section 1's point of view.  Watching a football game at the stadium comes with the expectation that people are going to be loud and stand. 

Should we all be quiet to be nice to the people with sensitive hearing and migraines? 

Should I shift even further off my seat to accomodate the people who are obese?

Should the people in the middle of the row only leave their seat when everyone else is gone from the stadium so as to not force the people who don't want to stand to get up and let them out?

Should I stay seated until you come over to my seat and tell me that a "big play" has happened?  Maybe the scoreboard can put up a message on the videoscreen letting everyone know it's ok to stand.  We'll just ignore the men on the field with the maize and blue on exhorting us to get up.  They don't have the right to ask us to get up, because it might interfere with your enjoyment of the game.

Geaux_Blue

October 14th, 2010 at 4:13 PM ^

i would actually suggest the most popular choice is "stand in moderation," which has been my point. nobody is saying you have to sit the whole game and cheer modestly. the only thing being raised is that it's ridiculous to think that people believe that if they are the only person in a section of thousands of people, they are going to stand bc "they can" and not try to be respectful and do it in moderation

Shop Smart Sho…

October 14th, 2010 at 4:21 PM ^

I am not turning this into a straw man.  I have responded to only what has been posted.  I'm also not the one throwing around personal attacks, but you go ahead and keep negbanging me because I don't agree with you.

The argument that Section 1 made at the beginning is that we should never stand unless someone in front of us is standing.  That is simply wrong, even by what your idea of acceptable standing is.

I think you are failing to understand that those of us who like to stand at the game are getting yelled at for standing at ANY time.  I was told to sit during the Braylon game.  Ever since then, I haven't really cared to listen to those complaining about me standing. 

Aequitas

October 18th, 2010 at 12:46 PM ^

 "The This is embarassingly embarrassingly (for you) simple.  If you stand sit, and the people behind in front of you stand sit, (because, uh, you have judged them capable of standing sitting), and the people behind in front of them stand sit, and the people behind in front of them stand sit, it basically goes that way on up down to Row 99 1, right?  Have you judged that everybody is capable of standing sitting so as to suit your wishes?"

Tacopants

October 14th, 2010 at 1:15 PM ^

So you're suggesting that us recent alums should band together, lobby the AD to pay MORE money for seats that are further away and in the upper bowl just so everybody else can be glad that all the young alums won't disturb their afternoon siestas?  WOW!  What a great idea!

Maybe, since the older, presumably wealthier alums are "serious fans", they can band together and create "Only seated" zones.  It would require Preferred Seating Donations, no doubt, but what a small price to pay for your fun afternoon with multiple small children who must see every play and cannot stand on bleachers.

And lastly, I think any serious recent alum would have been smart enough to get individual tickets in the student section so they don't have to deal with all this shit from the other 70% of the stadium.

Tacopants

October 14th, 2010 at 4:40 PM ^

Speaking for me, as I don't live in Michigan anymore, it's not worth it to get a PSL for season tickets I could use 2-3 times a year.

Seriously though, it sounds like the majority of people who hate people standing up are passionate as well.  Go get your own "seating only" section and never ever scalp your tickets to anybody else.  You'll get the exclusive experience you want.

The point is that I should be allowed to have fun no matter where I am in the stadium (women's restrooms excluded).  Why exactly are your sensibilities more important than mine?