Visit all Big 10 venues?
Hello,
I've set a new life goal recently and that is to see a Michigan football game at all Big 10 venues. In the fall, I'm starting out with the Iowa homecoming game, and may add an Illinois game. Also, I want to see all Big 10 teams at Michigan stadium as well.
I was wondering if there are people here that have been to all the venues, and if they could share their insights on each place? At Michigan stadium, I've seen Minnesota, Illinois and Penn st. I saw the ND vs Air Force game in Colorado, and the Ohio st vs Texas in Austin. Too bad, both Ohio St and ND won.
I look forward to the Michigan game at the new Minnesota Gophers stadium, but would never look forward to the game in Columbus. You know it is bad enough if the O$U president has to apologize to UT fans for their behavior.
Are there fans that go to all Michigan home and road games?
I've seen M play in at all the Big Ten schools except Minnesota. Columbus in 1998 was the only place I've been scared. It was one of Cooper's only wins vs. M and the fans had a lot of built up emotion.
We'll go to Minnesota once M plays in their new campus stadium.
Penn State and tOSU are by far the loudest stadiums i've ever been to. I haven't been to Madison but have heard good things.
I'm glad the Gophers don't play at the Metrodome anymore. The Big 10 as well as the black and blue division (Bears fan here, sorry) should be all about the outdoors. Growing up in North Dakota, it was a mixed feeling going to Twins and Vikings game because of the fact it was indoors...fake grass, fake air, fake light... :)
I have only been to the Big House thus far but I am excited that I am going to the Illinois game this year too. I have thought about going to the Iowa game but I do not know if I can get off of work. It is 9.5 hours for me to get there so it is at least 2.5 to 3 days for me to catch a game. Kinnick stadium seems like it would be a pretty intimidating as an opposing fan but I must say the same thing about the horseshoe, Camp Randall, and Semi Happy Valley. I think it is a neat goal, have fun achieving it.
I'm also adding Iowa to my BigTen road list this year, joining NW, IU, MSU, Purdue, and Wisky. Also seen UM at UCLA, two RBs, & Washington. I honestly would be ok to never see a game in CBus.
Good luck on your quest. See you at Iowa.
Go Blue!
A friend and I got 2nd row tickets in the end zone. Hopefully we'll be on TVa lot celebrating several Michigan touchdowns as well as safeties! Where do I find out where Michigan fans hang out before the game?
Homecoming games are always the best regardless of home or away games. I went to a Michigan homecoming game back in 92 or 93 against Minnesota, and knew what college football is all about. It also helps to have a brother in the Detroit area to save on hotel costs!
I am on the same quest and have been everywhere except for Minnesota, Purdue, Illinois and Michigan State. As a UM student and alum, I've seen all the conference teams at Ann Arbor many times over.
I was pleasantly surprised with Iowa City. I imagined a boring, flat campus, but it was hilly and had a river running through town and was really very nice. Penn State is frigging far away from everything, but is well worth the visit. Penn State, Ohio State and Wisconsin are all up there as far as gameday experience, rabid fans and loud opposing stadiums.
Enjoy.
Camp Randall is an awesome venue. Its the only other place I have seen M play besides the Big House. I will watch Michigan play Wisconsin there next year twice, once for football and then later in hockey. I hope we make it 2 and 0.
Regarding Camp Randall's atmosphere, it is absolutely insane. Everyone is hammered, their student section is far superior to ours, and I think its a lot louder. I sat in the student section and was called an "asshole" all game long through student section wide chants, I had my hat stolen, and was called a "fuck face" by a drunk sorostitute. I'm just glad I had my girlfriend, and best friends there with me (all go to UW-Madison) or I would have gone crazy on some of the Badger faithful.
I really liked Camp Randall as a venue. The facilities were great and I liked the walk through campus and under the gates to enter the stadium. Also, its really impressive to see everyone jump around. Its soudns stupid but everyone going crazy and cheering together is really cool. The TVs were great and located all around so you could always see the game. The fans are obnoxious but never truely threatening. I read an article in their school paper about how we are such a big rival to them so I guess that is why the people were pretty pumped for the game. Also, seeing this stadium alot with MSU's makes me realize why I hate advertizing so much. The signs are ridiculous then you always have stuff flashing on the billboards and it just detracts from the game and atomosphere.
I also went in '05 and some guy knocked me off my seat after they scored a touchdown. He was promptly kicked out, and as my buddies held me back, I was allowed to stay.
The rest of the experience was great, though. Even cooler than "Jump Around" is the fact that all their students know the words to all their school songs, and sing them like they mean it.
Happy Valley might be even better, though. Also, go to the Shoe--but go in numbers.
I've seen U of M play at every Big 10 school (and ND, UCLA, Syracuse, and BC). Actually, now that Minnesota has a new stadium, I have to head back to Minneapolis in the near future, but I digress. I'll break it down starting from best to worst.
Purdue - Surprised? Purdue students party serious. Bars in West Lafayette open at 6:00 AM on gameday. Student body is very friendly. Saw U of M lose to Purdue in 1996 (Will Carr fumble game).
Northwestern - You're in Chicago, it's a fun city. Enough said. Saw Michigan lose in 1996 & 2000 and win in 1998 and 2007.
Wisconsin - Madison has more bars per capita than any other city in America, so Badger fans like drinking. Surprisingly, this doesn't translate into excessive obnoxiousness. They'll trash talk during the game, but they were the nicest people afterward. Saw Michigan win there in 1997.
Penn State - Happy Valley is in the middle of nowhere. There is one two lane road leading into town. Arrive early. Was there for the 1995 loss, which sucked, but the locals were pretty friendly, but then again PSU was beating us back then...
Michigan State - When MSU fans aren't being assholes, East Lansing is a pretty fun place to hang out in, and the coeds are hot. Seen close to a dozen games there. If Michigan wins the game, it's tolerable. When MSU wins, well see the past year of blog posts and you'll get the idea.
Illinois - Champaign-Urbana is a really small town. Be prepared to tailgate...the good news you'll have about 65,000 people to tailgate with. Fans are pretty nice. Saw Michigan win there in 1995 and 2007.
Iowa - I'm probably dinging Iowa a little too hard just because it's such a long drive to Iowa City. The fans were very nice, and there was plenty of spots to hang out when I was there. Saw Michigan win there in 1998.
Minnesota - Had a good time in Minneapolis, but it didn't feel like a college trip. Maybe now that their stadium is on campus it will move up on my list in the future. Saw Michigan win there in 1998.
Indiana - Bloomington is a pretty boring town and the football is almost alway boring. Stay in Indianapolis the night before, you'll have more fun. Saw Michigan win there in 1997.
And the worst Big 10 school to visit.....no surprise
OSU - Never met people who revel in being assholes more than Buckeye fans. They go out of their way to make sure you don't have a good time there. No sense of hospitality at all. I've had the misfortune to be present for the 1994 and 2006 games, so I've yet to experience the Shoe when M wins the game and how you're treated. When M loses, they're dicks, doubt their disposition improves when their boys lose.
I've also been to South Bend twice. Once for the 1994 Remy Hamilton field goal and for the 2004 loss. South Bend is a pretty campus, but it's not much fun to hang out. There's no bars or restaurants close by, so be prepared to tailgate if you go there. The ND fans are very civilized though, which sharply contrasts to the Bucknuts.
Hope you find this helpful. Enjoy your travels. Bring home lots of wins!
Yeah, I was at that game too. Sadly, I've always been poor and lived far from Ann Arbor, so that's the only one that I've been to. I consoled myself with the thoughts that I witnessed the 1997 Heisman Trophy winner play that day. It was a sad game, but I'm glad I got to be there with my Dad back in the high school days.
That game was brutal. Jim Colletto's last home game as coach. I just remember that it was bitter cold the whole game and Michigan played AWFUL. I got so sick of that stupid train whistle that they play for Purdue first downs. The funny part was after the game was over, the students tore down one of the goalposts and paraded it through campus like a trophy. My pals and I thought that was pretty funny despite being pissed that we'd lost.
I had a similar post-game experience when I went to Purdue in 2000. Apparently the AD ordered stronger goal posts after what you witnessed in '96, because the students absolutely could not tear them down. Wondering what would happen to the students standing on the crossbars if the whole thing actually fell down while watching it rock back and forth was a good distraction from wondering what happened to the offense in the second half.
I've seen games at Northwestern (2005), Notre Dame (2006), and Ohio State (2006).
Northwestern game was interesting in that we were actually an underdog, but the fans were really non-existent. If I remember correctly the stadium had more Michigan fans than purple. Being essentially in Chicago is kind of a different feel for a college game.
Notre Dame was a great atmosphere. The fans in general weren't too bad, and in reality our fans were a lot more obnoxious than anything they threw at us. The campus is nice but kind of isolated. I think my fond memories here also have a lot to do with the result (the game we won 47-21 when they were ranked #2 at the time).
Mixed results with Ohio State. There were a lot of asshole fans, a lot who just poked fun in a good spirited way. A couple guys mooned us, a few cursed at us repeatedly, but I never actually felt in danger as some others suggest. The atmosphere there was pretty amazing and I've never felt more proud to be affiliated with U-M than wearing maize and blue with a few other guys in a giant crowd of red.
Everyone here is giving the Horseshoe shit, and I get it. I hate tOSU just as much if not more than a lot of you. But after visiting there for a game (The Game - 2006), I realized that every Michigan fan should visit Columbus.
You will truly appreciate the rivalry and more importantly, actually hate tOSU. Before I had been there I 'hated' them but really, it was just the idea of hating tOSU that I had. Until you go down there, see how trashy it is, how insane they are, then you will really hate them. Since then I have had more respect for our rivalry in addition to yes, you called it, hating them that much more.
My friends and I agreed after that game. Every Michigan fan should make it down to C'bus for a game. Just try it.
I graduated from Texas. I tell people that no fan of Texas or Oklahoma can understand the rivalry until they have been to the state fair around the cotton bowl. However, this rivalry is a gimmick rivalry like the world's largest cocktail party or other neutral site games. The cotton bowl is split half with OU and UT fans, which is a great environment but it would be better for everyone involved to see 100k+ Ohio st fans then see 110k+ Michigan fans the next year.
It'll be better to see 50k Michigan fans descend upon Columbus and take over the town for a few days. Ohio st fans did that when they came down to Austin, there were estimates of around 40k Ohio st fans in town. It helped that it was a #1 vs #2 game.
I forgot another goal...the only time I will watch a game at the Rose Bowl will be when Michigan plays in it. I had 2 tickets for the USC vs Texas national championship game, since I enrolled at Texas that year, and scalped them off for $2k. It felt wrong to go to the Rose Bowl when Michigan wasn't in it! It's a bummer I didn't go to Texas a year earlier, since I would have seen Michigan play Texas.
I found the 2006 game to be a little unique in the U of M / OSU experience. Bo had just passed away the day before so most of the fans I ran into seemed to have tempered their antics out of respect. When I was there in 1994, I had fans throw empty soda cups and pizza boxes at me, which is more indicative of typical OSU fan behavior. I guess I shouldn't be too critical of the Bucks, I mean the cups WERE empty....naw forget it, they're dicks.
I've only been to an away game at Indiana, back in 2006. There were a lot of Michigan fans, and the tailgating was surprisingly enjoyable. Bloomington is not the most exciting place, but the people are pretty friendly, and there are some decent bars.
IU is redoing its stadium, so the gameday experience may be a bit improved, although I would be pretty surprised. I would definitely not put this game at the top of your list.
I think visiting every Big 10 school is something every Michigan fan should try to do. It's a great way to see most of the Midwest and experiencing gameday in a foreign venue is really fun. Plus, when fans see you in your U of M gear, they automatically want to talk to you and 95% of the time, they're friendly. Makes for a very nice long weekend vacation.
My friend actually has the notion that we should keep visiting Big 10 schools until we have a winning record at each stadium. Not sure about that myself, I'm already 0-2 at Columbus....I'd have to head down there a lot more times to get above .500. Not sure if my luck can hold out that long.
Unfortunately, I have only seen our Wolverines play at the spring game…took my two sons…that was great. Normally, I only get to listen to them on the radio. I’m always working outside the stadium. It really stinks only getting to hear the fans cheer from the inside and it sucks even more when I see tons of people leave at half time. At any rate, I am going to try and get tickets to go to the MSU game so I can finally see our team play. How would I go about getting tickets to an away game? You have to excuse me, I have never been to a collegiate or pro sporting event
You can try the U of M ticket office. They typically sell any leftover road game tickets to the general public about 10 days in advance of the date. Doubt you'll get lucky with MSU though, those usually always get sold/handed out. Your better bet is to shop online for tickets on StubHub or eBay. You'll probably have to overpay a bit and get stuck in with the MSU fans, but you'll probably find something. I've also had good luck just finding a scalper on the street and buying tickets just before gametime. Good luck.
Thanks for the info.
I could not agree with you more. It truely has to be experienced for your hatred to shine through. My whole life I had always hated ND more then OSU for the simple fact that I was from Chicago and UM games were closer at ND. After going to school in Ohio (Miami) and being given the opportunity to make the 2hr trip up to Cbus to watch UM play, a new found hatred emerged. The place is a festering stinkhole. I was there the day they beat UM to go to the NC in 2002. My day started out with my college roommates (OSU fans) and me walking down Lane Street with countless insults being thrown my way. I have thick skin so I tossed it aside. What I could not avoid was the beer bottle hurled directly at my forehead, leaving me with an injury that only alcohol could cure. I ended up losing my friends in and unknown land because they no longer wanted to be seen conversing with a UM fan. The night was topped off with toxic burning couches, bloodied revellers, helicopters circling above with spot lights shining down, and tear gas raining from the sky....like a goddamn warzone. Surprisingly, I have been back since, and the place has not cleaned up its act.
MSU is not much better.
EDIT: This was a reply to a previous post noting that you can not possibly understand the UM/OSU rivalry to the full extent w/o visiting Columbus.
Purdue - went in '02 when I was looking at schools and coincided my college trip with a Michigan game. Great time, good atmosphere and people are definitely very friendly.
I've been to games at the shoe as well, but not for a Michigan game. Grew up in Toledo so had a few close friends go there. It's a great place to watch a game, but I would be afraid to go for a Michigan game. They treat other fans terribly even for a team thats not a huge rival.
I would love to check out PSU and Camp Randall. My buddy and I have a goal of just checking out big time games, not necessarily B10. Went to Tenn v Bama last year. Looking at possibly checking out UNC or Clemson this year.
Chicago is great, but as a Chicago native Evanston isn't really IN the city...it is relatively close though. Ryan Field is essentially a home game for M considering how many alumi live nearby.
Indiana is a joke. The students don't care, and they have a dance for getting first downs because they would never dance if it was only for touchdowns. I did get to see Breaston break a punt return for a touchdown right in front of me because we just walked down to the front row.
I've been to MSU and Northwestern. MSU fans are geeked out of their minds for the Michigan game, but there are always enough Michigan fans around (usually 10,000+ out of the stadium's 72,000) to help keep them in check. You'll hear some taunts but shouldn't experience anything threatening. The stadium is okay, but the upper deck seats are pretty far from the action. It feels a little more like a pro sports environment, with more ads, piped-in music and cheesy "first down!" calls from the PA guy.
Watching a game at Northwestern almost feels like being at a high school game. The stadium is small, the stands don't encircle the field, and Michigan fans always make up half the crowd. The town of Evanston is pretty dead, not really into the game. Nevertheless, it's a nice trip because you get to go to Chicago, get pretty good seats, and watch Michigan away from home in a safe environment.