Welcoming Nebraska to the Big House

Submitted by Fhshockey112002 on

To all that have the privledge of attending this weekends game vs Nebraska I would like to pass along one man's simple advice.  

In multiple places across the web you can see stories about: how great and accomodating the Nebraska fan base is when you visit Memorial Stadium.  Personally I have never been, but hopefully in 2012 or 2014 I will get the chance.  With that said I hope the fan base I proudly list myself in is as accomodating and welcoming to Nebraska in their first trip to Ann Arbor. 

If you see someone in Nebraska gear around town this week show them why Ann Arbor is such a great place, a simple "welcome to Ann Arbor" or "welcome to Michigan" goes a long way when visiting a campus (something that is very hard to find in Ohio or at MSU).  Nebraska has already been to Wisconsin, one of the nicest places in the B1G outside Ann Arbor, but as stated earlier, let's show them what makes Ann Arbor special.

Go Blue!

JeremyB

November 14th, 2011 at 2:47 PM ^

Agreed. Be cordial and offer visitors a beer while explaining how having your entire team on the field during a play is a penalty.

Make a little extra chili and share it with red-clad passersby while noting that having to cheat in order to beat unranked teams in overtime does not make a national champion.

See, you can be bitter without being a jerk!

BlueHills

November 14th, 2011 at 2:42 PM ^

Totally agree.

Nebraska should be warmly welcomed to the Big House by the fans, and even more warmly welcomed by a Michigan team that plays defense like last week, and wins a good game!

jtmc33

November 14th, 2011 at 2:43 PM ^

1)  Save your ill-will for OSU

2)  Don't act out and make them think they've automatically become one of our top-3 rivals (they haven't even earned the #6 spot yet)

3)  Act like you've been there before  (because we have:  8-2 with greater expectations)

4)  If you find yourself in a conversation about the 1997 split-champtionship, talk about it with a high-five and a simple "I wish they could've played."   

5)  And most important - just don't be a dick.   These people have the reputation of being great hosts.   Don't ruin it for the rest of us that plan on going to Lincoln to have a good time, only to receive "payback" for dickish behavior in 2011.  

Hardware Sushi

November 14th, 2011 at 2:53 PM ^

I'm a big fan of your second point. Obviously, they have an extremely successful program and we'll have more big games in the future, but this is not OSU/MSU/ND. We should be excited, loud, and party/cheer hard, but frankly, we don't have any bad blood with them.

I'm more pissed that our team let it get to the point that we had to run back a crazy return to win in the first place than I am about Nebraska playing a Cover-39 defense and not getting a flag.

I'm so excited for the weekend; I haven't been back in town or to a game all year! Let's politely welcome the Huskers to the Big Ten by offering free beer, alcohol, and losses for consumption.

profitgoblue

November 14th, 2011 at 3:07 PM ^

I agree that Nebraska hasn't earned the right to be in the Top 3 on the rivalries list.  However, secretly, I put them at #3.  OSU, MSU, and then Nebraska.  ND would be there but for two things:  ND has sucked recently and Nebraska is a B1G team in the same division. 

 

Hardware Sushi

November 14th, 2011 at 3:49 PM ^

Good point about being intra-divisional rivals. No doubt, the Nebraska game means more (by meaning anything at all) to our ultimate goal of a Big Ten championship each season.

Personally, I have a hard time placing ND outside of the top three because I come from a family of Irish fans. The Annual Shit-Talk Phone Call with Dad has happened every year since I enrolled at Michigan and is one of my favorite football traditions.

CRex

November 14th, 2011 at 5:37 PM ^

I am waiting until we have played a few times. Back when PSU joined everyone thought that they would a natural rival for us. A top national program and al. So we were supposed to have a bunch of legendary games with them. Then we ended up winning most of them (and dominating them during the Carr years).

So I will wait until we have given each other something to be rivals over before I get the hate on.

Beside Notre Dame is still a great game. The post game ND fanbase meltdowns are amazing.

jmblue

November 14th, 2011 at 5:59 PM ^

Wait, you don't think PSU was turning into a nice rivalry for us?  Not enough legendary games?  What about 1993?  '94?  '99?  '02?  '05?  '06?  (Not to mention Judgment Day in '97.)  That we won most of them doesn't mean it wasn't a rivalry.   I love playing PSU and am sad that we're not in their divsion.

Maize and Blue…

November 14th, 2011 at 4:11 PM ^

I was at the Nebraska/Idaho game last year (father-in-law inducted into Nebraska HOF) and after Idaho scored to close to gap to 31-10 a bunch of their fans got up and started singing their fight song.  A Nebraska fan got up and yelled sit down and shut up we don't sing we play football.  May have been an isolated incident, but I kept thinking boy are they going to hate the Big 10.

Overall, I had a very positive experience there.  I am not a big fan of their stadium as it reminds me of an NFL stadium.  I'm hoping to see some of the people I meet at the induction ceremony.  It is going to make for a rough week in the household though as I'll be cheering for M two of the boys will be wearing both colors and the wife and oldest will be in red.

jtmc33

November 14th, 2011 at 4:50 PM ^

I would say that 4 and 5 are personal and subjective to each individual UM fan.  I was "objectively" stating that Nebraska probably hasn't (maybe even shouldn't) be considered a bigger rival than at least 2 other (non OSU, MSU) Big 10 teams at this point.  Too much history for Iowa, Purdue, WIsconsin, Illinois, and even Penn St to consider Nebraska a bigger rival (as of right now - a split national championship and 1-1 since 1985 can't overcome year-end-year-out games against Tiller/Hope, Illinois' whiney fans, N'w ability to upset us every 6 years, and The Brown Jug).  

Of course, where you live, where you grew up, the fan-base you have to endure (for me in Chicago it's Illinois), and the level of competition (sorry Indiana -no matter what you are #12) will always create great discussions about who "deserves" to be UM's #3 through #11 rivals.

I am sure that in 1-3 years Nebraska will be in the #3-#4 range... battling ND and division-rival Iowa for spots behind the alway #1 and #2 OSU and MSU.  Nebraska is now a yearly division opponent that will be good each year.  And conversely, not playing Wisconsin for 4 years, and sporadic games against the "West" will minimize once great "second-tier" rivalries 

 

 

M-Wolverine

November 14th, 2011 at 6:14 PM ^

We're 40-13-4 vs. Iowa. It may seem like it after the last 3 years, but take before that, how bad does 40-10-4 look? It's not like they've always been a major thorn.

But to your defense you did say it was just off the top of your head.  And these things basically change by how much you lose to the team, and how recently.

sULLY

November 14th, 2011 at 2:46 PM ^

I agree.  Frankly, I'm embarrassed when I see a U-M fan at a home game talking shit to opposing fans.  We're better than the MSU and and TSIO fanbase and should prove that with class and cordiality on gameday.

M-Wolverine

November 14th, 2011 at 2:47 PM ^

My Michigan-Nebraska 1997 - Anytime, Anyplace T-Shirt on Friday.

But we should treat ALL opposing fans like described above; not just Cornhuskers because of their rep.  The glory is in a victory...not rubbing anyone's faces in it. Show why Michigan is different than Columbus or Madison or East Lansing. (Because, man, are they in for some system shock when they go over to Ohio State next year....)

Roy G. Biv

November 14th, 2011 at 2:49 PM ^

I make it a habit to offer any visitors (even those in Scarlet & Gray) food and a beer when tailgating, or buy them a round if in a bar.  Especially those in Scarlet & Gray--let them go home flabbergasted by being treated with respect and civility, and then have to look back on their own fanbase's behavior.  As for Nebraska, since they're the new kids on the block, I'll go out of my way to treat them well Saturday.  And it usually works out well, as most visiting fans will buy a round a return for extending the courtesy.

bluebyyou

November 14th, 2011 at 3:14 PM ^

I do exactly the same thing, regardless of the school of origin.  I spent a couple of days in Lincoln not too long ago and found everyone there to be extremely friendly and helpful. I had made a note to myself when I saw we were playing Nebraska to extend every courtesy possible.  It represents some of the best that college football is about.

When Alabama hosted PSU last year, the PSU people were absolutely blown away by the courtesies extended by the Bama fans.  PSU returned the favor this year when they played Bama in State College early in the season.

detrocks

November 14th, 2011 at 2:52 PM ^

I've been to a couple of road games and one of the things that always sticks out is the other team's fans.    I've met some great fans who cheer passionately for their team but are courteous hosts to fans from other teams.   It always leaves a good impression of the team, the school and other fans.

On the other hand, I've been places where I've had beer spilled on me, heard stupid idiotic crap and even been threatened-- just for having the "wrong" sweatshirt on.  Needless to say, those places and those teams strike me as being classless on and off the field (and yes, I'm talking about you Columbus).

Be a good host this weekend and every weekend.  

Roy G. Biv

November 14th, 2011 at 3:01 PM ^

In the last few seasons, I've been to road games in Madison and Evanston.  Evanston wasn't much of a "road" game however, as dowtown Chicago, the El, Wrigleyville and Evanston itself were all loaded with maize & blue. 

Madison is a trip I recommend every Michigan fan take.  The fans were really friendly, especially getting liquored up with them on Friday night.  The only negative was a mega-tool walking around Camp Randall with a Sports Illustrated from The Horror.  Good God, the guy was using a 2-year old magazine as a prop for his smack.  Beyond tool.

Dawggoblue

November 14th, 2011 at 3:05 PM ^

Strange that you find Madison friendly, I live here and find it to be quite unfriendly to outside fans, myself Included.  Also after Nebraska came, they had very little to say on the side of good when it came to visiting Madison, even more of a reason to make sure they enjoy their stay this Saturday.

Roy G. Biv

November 14th, 2011 at 3:21 PM ^

Probably just the luck of the draw with whom we happened to meet and hang out with.  I was at Wando's on the Friday night and State Street Brats (is that the right name?) on Saturday morning and didn't hear a negative word.  I did enjoy the pipers parading through the bar Saturday a.m., that was different.

Dawggoblue

November 14th, 2011 at 3:27 PM ^

Yah the name is right.  I might just be overly biased from dealing with it for 27 years.  However the Nebraska complaints were pretty bad, the week following the game, The students ticket holders all recieved letters asking them to tone it down from BA and BB.

Mi Sooner

November 14th, 2011 at 2:54 PM ^

After going to OU and dealing with their fans, I am afraid that I will revert back t those times dealing with them at football games. I d not have ANY love nor respect for that mob they call fans. While not in the same league as tOSU nor the farmers, they still suck.

I will be the one wearing a Michigan hoodie and an OU ballcap.......

True Blue Grit

November 14th, 2011 at 3:08 PM ^

My wife and I are co-hosting a tailgate where we've invited 5 Nebraska fans coming up for the game (one is a business associate of my wife's company).  We're right across from the stadium in the AAA Travel lot, so it should be a great venue for them.  Of course, we'll be lining up a "return favor" for next year's game in Lincoln!

I agree with the above posts.  Stay classy Michigan! 

SagNasty

November 14th, 2011 at 3:09 PM ^

My wife and I are hosting a tailgate for a  group of 8 Nebraska fans and we can't wait to welcome them to Michigan and the big house. Look for us on Scio Church road.

BlueAmongTheCorn

November 14th, 2011 at 3:11 PM ^

Living in Nebraska and having gone to their games, any time I hear how great and accommodating their fan base is I puke in my mouth. If you go to a game the experience is fine because 90% of the crowd is 60+ (exaggeration but not by much). If you oppose the Big Red Machine and live in this state full time you get a true sense of their fan base.

They have a great base of douche bags just like any other school following and have no problem getting into your face. They shouldn’t be held on a pedestal as an example of how everyone should act because you will find they are not far from the MSU and OSU fan base. Believe me, living here and being a Michigan fan this place couldn’t be more anti-Michigan after the 1997 season.

 

Feat of Clay

November 15th, 2011 at 10:48 AM ^

My brother in law hates the Cornhuskers (despite living there) and has adopted a personality for himself to go on radio shows, post to blogs, etc.  Nebraska fans are VITRIOLIC towards him (which is what he thrives on) and I have seen them be as rude, illogical, and petty as the worst fans anywhere.

But that's when provoked.  I think in normal situations, just being fans, their midwest politeness takes over and they are perfectly cordial and happy to talk football even when the person is wearing the wrong color sweatshirt.