So we all love Michigan football... Who wants to work at the games?
I've been an usher at the Stadium during football games for the past couple of years. It's a really good experience, if you're willing to endure a couple of "work"-like aspects.
Firstly, you have to be at the Stadium a full two hours before kickoff. (This means for all of the noon games, you need to be *in* the Stadium at your post no later than 9am.)
Secondly, you obviously have to do your job. As an usher, you check the tickets of those entering your section, and do various crowd control / customer service after that. Because I work in the student section (which is cool, 'cause I'm a student) and none of you students can be bothered to come to games on time, I always have to miss the first two or three minutes of game time. Aside from that, though, you're able to stand inside the portal and watch the game, assuming that you're also watching the crowd for fights or other disturbances.
Since we're all hardcore Michigan fans here, I wanted to share this opportunity with you... If you want to work at the Stadium, there is an informational meeting that is mandatory for you to attend on Saturday, June 5th at 9am. It's in the Junge Champions Center, which is tucked into the corner where the Stadium and Crisler run together, just left of the Stadium's tunnel.
I can't guarantee that you would start off as an usher, but the worst that could happen is that you would be a ticket taker... And they act as additional ushers (with the opportunity to watch the game) after halftime.
The pay is meager, as well. But if you're going to be there anyway, why not?
Good heads-up for those who might be interested. Thanks for sharing.
I would be on this like Boren on bacon.
...you're referring to?
Do you by chance have a mustache and stand creepily close to students while staring at the field blankly? This season I am getting a picture with you whilst swilling from my smuggled pint. That is a promise.
Uh... No mustache. I work in section 29. Most people don't like me, but no mustache lol.
Ahh... down in the elitist section. I see how you are. They don't allow us drunks down there.
Is your name John? lol
years ago as a Red Cross first responder.*
Most of the conversations went like this:
Drunk Girl Who Weighs 100 lbs: "I feel sick."
Me: "Did you drink today?"
Drunk Girl Who Weighs 100 lbs: "Yesh."
Me: "Well how much?"
Drunk Girl Who Weighs 100 lbs: "Eleven...Twelve shots."
Me: "Did you eat anything?"
Drunk Girl Who Weighs 100 lbs: "A granola bar."
The granola bar usually ended up on the grass.
*The best benefit? I was on the field in 1997 when Michigan beat Ohio State to ensure a Rose Bowl birth. ... Also helped some co-eds get mace out of their eye with eye wash.
why just co-eds? And is "mace" code for something else?
And, sadly, no it's not.
The Ann Arbor Police Deparment, not surprisingly, had a hard on that day for the students who tried to pour over the wall and rush the field to do crazy shit, like, sing the Alma Mater and perform wild and wacky antics, like, singing with the band.
Mace was deployed.
*Sometimes.
As a student at the game, I began to choke on the mace/pepper spray as it wafted into the crowd. Also got to watch police in riot gear literally beat students with clubs for jumping onto the field. I was lucky and didnt get hit, but it was ridiculous. I couldn't believe there wasn't outrage over the way the police acted.
They were OSU co-eds...
Mace was a code for something else...
It was part of their "entrance" (ahem) exam...
I believe the question was "Spits or swallows, baby?"
Can't spell c_ck__cker without OSU...
should be sold on hoover?
Yeah... I didn't mention that ushers have to radio for the Red Cross when somebody pukes all over the place and gets dragged up the steps by their friends. We get to babysit the vomit until the cleanup crew comes, as well.
That's weird. I was one of the first (admittedly a bit scared) students to hop the wall in '03 when we beat the buckeyes and the cops were actually really cool about the whole thing. I didn't get maced, beaten, or sodomized. That's a win all by itself!
(shifting feet)
...um, how come I didn't get away that day without being sodomized?
If I recall, at the ND game this past year someone jumped the wall and def had a "don't tase me, bro!" moment. I thought they were unnecessarily rough on the guy. My memory can be tricking me though. I could have imagined it.
You kind of got screwed out of the whole experience.
I think if you called the Ann Arbor police department and explained the situation they would immediately dispatch a car and have you maced. They are equal opportunity macers!
March 23rd, 2010 at 12:57 PM ^
In 1997, everyone realized that a win over OSU meant a Rose Bowl berth allowing us to play for the National Championship. Apparently to those in charge in the AD that meant, "shit, we better have police in riot gear." Toward the end of the fourth quarter a couple dozen police emerged from the tunnel and walked directly to the student section, waiting for the game to end. At the end of the game they faced the crowd and waited for the students to inevitably storm the field. The resulting scenario was not pretty. Too bad there weren't phones with video cameras back then.
Personally, it was worth it for the celebration with the fans and players. Also, we still had real grass at the time. I ripped up a chunk and kept it for a few weeks. I still wish I would have been thoughtful enough to put it in a pot and keep it going.
IMO: “Work” and “games” should not go together. I wouldn’t want anything to distract me from a game day.
That being said I’m glad you found something that works for you and I appreciate the work you and your peers do.
Go Blue!!!
"Sorry Honey, I can't go to little Suzie's violin recital this Saturday. I have to work."
A thing of beauty.
I've been considering doing it. Thanks for the heads up about the meeting, I'll be there. I wonder if grad schools/employers will look at it as taking interest/helping with your school. I hear they like that.
I definitely consider it a leadership activity on the resume... You and two or three others are in charge of maintaining control over 4,000-ish crazy fans... Most of them intoxicated, if you're in the student section.
As long as you're willing to accept that most people don't like being told when they can't do something they want to do, you can handle it. It rarely gets violent. :P
I'm on the admissions committee for the MBA program here at Michigan, and I can assure you, my friend -- washing a Kappa girl's eye out after being maced would be an example I would GLADLY accept as evidence of showing leadership.
starts to fill out application]
can i please apply for my Michigan MBA via mgoblog instead of the umich website? kthx
Please don't kick people out for standing up Mr. usher. I mean if we're on offense and someone is being a douche go ahead, but if some old crotchety guy won't stop bitching when we're on defense and trying to get people into it please don't.
The entire student section stands, the entire game. Where I work, kicking people out for standing would be absurd and impossible. If that really happens in other sections, then you should find someone higher up to complain to...
people in the student section who are sitting should be kicked out
March 22nd, 2010 at 10:36 PM ^
Gotcha. You sound like a good usher Narrwald. Wear your name on your shirt so we can all say hi!
Do I get a shift meal?
You could pay me kettle corn
16? 18?
I'm actually not sure about that... I would assume that it's 18, but I've never heard. A lot of the people who work the concession stands are definitely not 18, though, so maybe it's lower...