Snowflakes: airplanes flying overhead pregame.

Submitted by BlowGoo on
So, that was a neat pregame with the airplanes before kickoff. Nice to know Michigan has made significant contributions in the field of aeronautics. And the standing O for the war veteran was genuinely appreciated by him and his family, clearly. So... we've got that going for us.

Alton

September 21st, 2014 at 5:36 PM ^

Two separate times during the game, Mr. Grapentine was replaced and other people were given the PA for no apparent reason.  Both times were disasters.

The "air show" announcer went back and forth from trying to fit 45 seconds of material into 10 seconds, and then trying to expand 10 seconds of material to fit 45 seconds.  His information was not geared to the audience, and as far as I could tell nothing at all was done to tie the planes in to the work done at the University.  I could be wrong; the announcements were only occasionally audible.

Of course, his announcing would have been preferable to whatever was going on during our band's halftime show.  Memo for anybody who ever has to do something like that in the future:  that thing you're talking into is a microphone.  It amplifies your voice, so you can just speak at a normal level, rather than screaming at the top of your lungs. 

Amazingly, at least one of the two women who shared the band show announcing duties speaks into microphones for a living, so you would think that she would be aware of this fact.  But apparently not.

Mr. Grapentine, we missed you.  Don't ever let anybody take your microphone away from you again. 

 

BlowGoo

September 21st, 2014 at 5:21 PM ^

Well, yeah these are not the greatest of times, obviously. But I can't be the only one who digs planes (and copters) Get my username out there? Hadn't really thought about that. Never really cared about the whole points thang. Should I? Are there benefits which accrue to which I am not availing myself? I must update my CV immediately!

Vote_Crisler_1937

September 21st, 2014 at 5:16 PM ^

I was underwhelmed relative to my expectations for the pre-game flyover. I'm glad we had it but it seemed more disorganized than past flyovers, possibly due to weather and I couldn't clearly hear the special announcer. I always stand up for the veteran of the game. I like that addition to game day.


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CLord

September 21st, 2014 at 5:49 PM ^

Speaking of airplanes, I posted this deep in another thread but seems more appropriate here.  Here's my interpretation of all of our hopes for Hoke before the season, and now:

I dumped the Dope

September 21st, 2014 at 5:48 PM ^

the MC for the airshow needed a hell of a lot more gain on his microphone.  Obviously there are probably limitations without going full Mary Sue Coleman on feedback/distortion but it took away from the show because I could not hear his articulation and I thought he had interesting things to say no matter what the timing issues were between the program and the actual planes.

Mabel Pines

September 21st, 2014 at 6:59 PM ^

He loves all things aviation.  And my daughter in 6th grade is studying Amelia Earhart, and her Lockheed Martin plane was there.  So it was very cool to some of us.  Yay Aero Engineering!  Michigan rules!

Team 101

September 21st, 2014 at 7:58 PM ^

We were sitting on the west side of the stadium and it was difficult to see many of the planes as they appeared to be flying behind the press box.  Football wasn't the only thing that wasn't well orchestrated yesterday.  I actually thought the informaiton on the planes was interesting but it could have been better delivered.

gbdub

September 21st, 2014 at 8:32 PM ^

Michigan Aero 100 is a big deal. The Michigan aero department was the first in the US, not MIT, or Stanford, or anywhere else. It was founded only 11 years after the first flight of the Wright Brothers. The department has produced famous designers, executives, and sent people to space, bitches, space. It continues to lead the world in research in electric space propulsion and other areas. Professors in the department have developed innovative undergraduate education courses that prepare students for industry better than ever before.

One of the departments most famous grads, Kelly Johnson of Lockheed Skunk Works, designed some of the 20th centuries most influential planes - including the P-38, P-80, U2, F-104, and Kelly's magnum opus, the SR-71 Blackbird. The first aircraft he worked on for Lockheed, the L10 Electra, was part of the flyover. As a grad student he tested models of the L10 in the UofM wind tunnel and developed its distinctive twin tail, which became something of a Lockheed trademark. The Electra was the plane in which Amelia Earheart disappeared. The L10 that flew over the stadium was used in the production of the film "Amelia".

BobbyKunz12

September 22nd, 2014 at 8:22 AM ^

hey i found this new blog called uofmdiehards.com they do game previews and reviews, interviews with top recruits like tyree kinnell, messiah deweaver, grant newome and more! their last article hit over 900 views! they do articles on hot topics about michigan! very legit and cool blog! uofmdiehards.com , also their twitter is twitter.com/uofmdiehards

BobbyKunz12

September 22nd, 2014 at 8:23 AM ^

hey i found this new blog called uofmdiehards.com they do game previews and reviews, interviews with top recruits like tyree kinnell, messiah deweaver, grant newome and more! their last article hit over 900 views! they do articles on hot topics about michigan! very legit and cool blog! uofmdiehards.com , also their twitter is twitter.com/uofmdiehards