Thoughts on my first "Game Day" experience at the Big House
First, thanks so much to so many board members giving advice on my first game day experience at the Big House. Tailgaiting at the AAGOC Golf Course was AMAZING! So beautiful and people were so hospitible. My wife and I took our best friends, who are major Clemson fans, and they said it was the best tailgate experience they have ever had.
Furthermore, for anyone else visiting this year for the first time, here are my thoughts on restaurants. Hopcats was absolutely fantastic! 100 beers on tap and wonderful food. Blue Tractor, Ann Arbor Brewing, and Zingerman's met every expectation. Angelo's was one of the best breakfast spots I have ever eaten at. The only disappointment was the Jolly Pumpkin. Service was absolutely horrible and the bartender was stoned out of his mind. Took every ounce of the dude's energy to keep his eyes from crossing. He had zero personality, horrible customer servie, and pro-actively kept on mentioning how much he hated serving people on / around game day. He hates football and thinks people that do are douches. Bad thing to say to people clearly there for the game.
Thanks again to the members who took the time to recommend such awesom spots. So appreciate it and i had a blast. Best part was running into the team going to a 1:40 meeting at Schembechler Hall on Thursday. Got my picture taken with Rashan. He was super accomodatiing. Thanks again.
September 25th, 2016 at 8:32 PM ^
Love it. Please go on. What about the stadium and game itself? Where did you sit? What did you think?
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September 25th, 2016 at 8:48 PM ^
Sat in Section 37 row 17. Was amazing. Not my first game...but the first FULL experience. Best atmosphere for sure of the 5 games I have seen. Other games were under the Carr or Hoke regime.
September 25th, 2016 at 8:37 PM ^
Sorry you had a bad experience, my wife and I love it and hope that you give it another shot.
September 25th, 2016 at 8:54 PM ^
Yeah, I probably wouldnt want to give it another shot. We went there for lunch on Thursday and I cannot tell you how bad the bartender was. Now, I am from the South, so I kind of expect a bit of a personality and some personal engagement, but this guy was just a jerk. He was literally stoned and forgot my drink and my wife's drink order, and as i mentioned, took the time to share how much he dislikes tending bar during game days. Thinks people screaming and yelling for football is stupid.
September 25th, 2016 at 9:18 PM ^
The food at Jolly Pumpkin is great but if you were treated like that then they don't deserve your business again. Every restaurant on Main Street has great food so it's not like there aren't other places you can get a great meal.
September 26th, 2016 at 11:20 AM ^
You said it, man. Don't give your money to people or establishments that do not respect the fact theat you are giving them your money. Screw them!
September 26th, 2016 at 11:00 AM ^
I've heard great things about Jolly Pumpkin, so if that's how you were treated, I would definitely send a note to management about your experience, being specific in terms of who your server/bartender was. Any restaurant management worth its salt will quickly recitfy that sort of conduct.
September 25th, 2016 at 8:39 PM ^
pic of Rashan or it didn't happen
September 25th, 2016 at 8:46 PM ^
Size comparison...I am 6'3" (with sneakers on) and 225.
September 25th, 2016 at 8:54 PM ^
Embed fail, or just me?
September 25th, 2016 at 8:59 PM ^
On my computer the pic is up and showing just fine.
September 25th, 2016 at 9:06 PM ^
On a Mac and tried copying and pasting the pic. It shows up that it can be seen, but when I refresh, it doesn't show up anymore. How do i post a pic?
September 25th, 2016 at 9:20 PM ^
To save on server space you cannot upload photos, you have to copy a link to the photo from another website (like Facebook) in the photo posting tool.
September 25th, 2016 at 8:39 PM ^
What did you think about the new natural grass surface compared to the old artificial turf?
September 25th, 2016 at 8:43 PM ^
Doc, this wasn't my first time to the Big House, but the first time actually enjoying all the pagentry. I live in NC, but family in Jackson, MI have taken me to 4 other games, but they only have interest in showing up an hour before the game and leaving as soon as it was over.
I will say this, the atmosphere was significantly better than any game I saw under Carr or Hoke. Harbaugh has brought to much to the stadium and the program.
September 25th, 2016 at 8:45 PM ^
Very nice, where in NC? My family lived down there for a while. Beautiful, beautiful state.
September 25th, 2016 at 8:49 PM ^
Doc, We live in Winston-Salem, NC. Our friends took us the the Clemson vs. ND game last year (literally played in Hurricane Juaquin). So we wanted to return the favor and take our best friends to a Michigan game.
September 25th, 2016 at 8:54 PM ^
Nice, my family was in the Durham area. Good stuff, that was a wild game to watch with that weather.
September 25th, 2016 at 9:13 PM ^
how is durham?
September 25th, 2016 at 9:39 PM ^
Love it! Humid tho.
September 25th, 2016 at 10:20 PM ^
Go Bulls
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September 25th, 2016 at 9:33 PM ^
Hey Lakeyale13
From Kernersville
Good to see more Meeeeechigan in NC
U at Fishers Grille in GSO for M vs WI?
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September 25th, 2016 at 9:35 PM ^
by Tuesday, but not by me - they make me laugh.
September 25th, 2016 at 8:51 PM ^
Thank you for sharing your experience. I'll be attending my first game in Ann Arbor next week! I'd love to hear what you thought about the stadium experience?
September 25th, 2016 at 8:57 PM ^
Woodson, you have to tailgate and you HAVE to do it at AAGOC (Ann Arbor Golf and Outing Club). Get there once it opens at 7. All we had were folding chairs and a borrowed cooler (when you fly you cannot come as prepared as you would like). People were so happy to share their food, drinks, and even a hookah LOL. Great time.
The Big House is everything you would hope / want it to be. Better to have you experience it than me to tell you what it is like.
September 25th, 2016 at 9:20 PM ^
I envy you. Sounds like you had a great time. I live a couple of hours from there and I am not even going this year. Too much work and tight for money. If we end up in B1G championship, I am going regardless of how much it is. I miss AA.
September 25th, 2016 at 9:38 PM ^
I am sorry that due to the video issues you missed the normal team taking the field, it was sort of disjointed. Normally we have video of the team from locker room, an amazing hype video, and they take the field. It wont be the same but you need to find a copy of the video and watch it. Watch it with the volume on 11.
September 25th, 2016 at 10:47 PM ^
I love the live feed from the tunnel on the big screen. I could actually do without the hype video and just let the crowd noise swell as they descend. Perhaps I am showing my age.
September 25th, 2016 at 9:44 PM ^
Saturday was my first game at the big house since 1989. I think the atmosphere is even better now than the late Bo era when I was at UM. Students are definitely much more hype now than then. Went into the student section for the 4th quarter, what a blast. Side note: the Yip Yips are seriously dedicated, they never break character. OMG, there are enough bathrooms now! Concessions are still wildly overpriced and terrible. And the end of the six-pack rule is sad but probably for the best. Overall A++++ experience. People are so freaking hype.
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September 25th, 2016 at 10:11 PM ^
Props for properly using "than then."
September 25th, 2016 at 11:01 PM ^
Students were GONE in the 4th. In the 70's we stayed. Of course, we could bring alcohol into the stadium, smoke whatever, and pass mostly women up the stands. Every touchdown we rained down hundreds of rolls of toilet paper.
We had fun.
Wish you were there to experience that.
Still a good time today but not nearly. Glad you enjoyed it.
September 26th, 2016 at 10:43 AM ^
Hype is kind of a "youngster" (and awful) word for excited.
September 26th, 2016 at 11:13 AM ^
What is the six-pack rule?
September 25th, 2016 at 9:44 PM ^
I found the video on youtube. Search for michigan stadium intro video (high qual)
September 25th, 2016 at 11:47 PM ^
The Jolly Pumpkin has fallen significantly over the last few years. They haven't been consistent in service and food. Also, their beer prices seem to have reached a price point that is no longer worth it in my opinion.
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September 26th, 2016 at 8:37 AM ^
I was there this past Saturday and was disappointed by the quality of their beer and the bartender upstairs must have a fear of smiling.
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September 26th, 2016 at 10:38 AM ^
Robby, we must have had the same bartender LOL. Dude was in his early 30's with slight salt and pepper hair. Guy wouldn't smile and tended bar like he hated every second of it.
September 26th, 2016 at 12:26 AM ^
I had my first game experience this year vs. Hawaii. We went to the Golf Course as well. It was absolutely awesome. By far the best sports experience I've had. I'm a Cubs fan and have been to Wrigley quite a bit. This felt the same in terms of the atmosphere, just much much bigger and better because its football. In terms of the seats, we were near the top, but it doesn't feel like there is a bad seat in the house. Absolutely awesome.
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September 26th, 2016 at 10:15 AM ^
From a townie - Jolly Pumpkin is definitely overrated. Their beer isn't very good and the service is always bad. Definitely better beer options - Ashleys, HopCat, Arbor Brewing Company.
September 26th, 2016 at 10:40 AM ^
I could have lived at Hopcats!!! So many amazing beers to try and Pulled pork on macaroni and cheese!? Cmon son!!! How in the world did us down in the South not think of that first. I would punch my Mom in the neck to get another bowl of that stuff.
September 26th, 2016 at 10:27 AM ^
Glad that (mostly) everything worked out!
September 26th, 2016 at 10:48 AM ^
Clicked on here hoping it was written by a certain 5* wr recruit from Detroit.
September 26th, 2016 at 11:11 AM ^
This wouldn't be his first game day experience though.
September 26th, 2016 at 11:10 AM ^
TFW you lived in AA for 5 years but haven't been to any of these places (except Zingermann's and that was only once after I had already graduated).
September 26th, 2016 at 5:14 PM ^
Hello,
My name is Dave, and I am the General Manager at Jolly Pumpkin. I am appalled at your experience at our establishment. Steps are being taken to correct that particular employees behavior, and we are taking this as a lesson for all of our staff. I believe that this experience reflects very poorly on us, and is not exemplary of our standards. Please contact us directly at jolly [email protected] or (734)913-2730, so we may offer you an apology in person.
Cheers,
Dave
General Manager
Jolly Pumpkin Cafe & Brewery
September 27th, 2016 at 1:08 AM ^
First class for doing this, Mr. Horchem.