What's your best "Michigan Moment" not involving the game itself?
What's your best “Michigan Moment” not involving an actual game? Perhaps a great road trip with your buddies to another campus. Maybe a fantastic tailgate where old friends or even someone famous showed up unexpectedly. Or even a heated debate at a bar or party with an opposing fan where you were able to emerge victoriously. Something like that.
The reason I post this is because mine happened at the 1998 Rose Bowl and watching the game again today on BTN brought back a lot of great memories. My brother and I went out a few days early and were staying in Irving at the Embassy Suites. Embassy Suites for those of you who don’t travel have a free nightly cocktail hour and brother and I were taking full advantage of the free adult beverages when we noticed something odd. Everyone….and I mean everyone around us was in full Washington State Cougar gear and the place was packed. About that time a guy stood up on a little podium with a microphone and welcomed everyone to the official home of some alumnai group from WSU. Needless to say, we were completely surrounded and we were in full Michigan gear.
About this time the guy on the podium said they were going to kick off the festivities by singing whatever the hell the WSU fight song is called. So he then proceeds to pull out a little 3 x 5 index card and starts leading them in song. I realize he’s freaking READING the words (and I was a little drunk) so I stood up and yelled “Put down the card”. He didn’t stop so I yelled very loudly “You’re such a big Washington State fan….put down the God Damn card and sing your fight song from the heart!” He then stopped mid-song and pointed at me and said “oh right – like you guys can sing YOUR fight song without looking at the words” and laughed loudly into the microphone.
Before he could blink I grabbed my brother by the back of his shirt and literally lifted him up onto the table where I quickly joined him in singing the LOUDEST (and probably most off key) version of the Victors the world has ever heard. After we were done the room went completely quiet for about five seconds and then all the WSU fans burst into applause. And the guy on the microphone walked over with a sheepish look on his face and gave me a high five in front of the rest of the group.
Man did that ever start our national championship Rose Bowl week off great. What’s yours?
December 22nd, 2010 at 8:28 PM ^
The moment Mary Sue Coleman said to me and the rest of my graduating class of 2009:
"For today
, goodbye. For tomorrow, good luck. And forever, Go Blue!"
Then I cheered and got a little dust caught in my eye before I sang "Yellow and Blue" and "The Victors" as the band played.
December 22nd, 2010 at 8:29 PM ^
tl;dr
My favorite moment was the time before you posted this and ruined everyone's night.
December 22nd, 2010 at 8:31 PM ^
Dammit Busey. You're such a dick but you make me laugh.
December 22nd, 2010 at 8:39 PM ^
If it was actually funny.
December 22nd, 2010 at 8:33 PM ^
You're trying to be quirky and crazy and kind of an ass like Gary Busey, but don't be a flat out dick to this guy who's simply trying to add some fun content to what is going to be an arguably slow week when the blog is on hiatus.
December 22nd, 2010 at 8:40 PM ^
If it was too long and you didn't read it?
December 22nd, 2010 at 8:41 PM ^
Stop bringing logic into the conversation! You know that's not allowed.
December 23rd, 2010 at 8:37 AM ^
because it wasn't late night skin flicks, body lotion, and a box of tissues......
December 22nd, 2010 at 8:36 PM ^
Michigan salute of "Go Blue." Great people all over the world, layovers, delays and cancellations. "GO BLUE" backactcha.
December 22nd, 2010 at 8:37 PM ^
There are probably too many to think of them all. My trip to that bowl was spent in a RV in the Rose Bowl lot, surrounded by other fans, M, WSU, with lots of alcohol in the shadow (and lights) of the Stadium in the background. Too many drunk guys crammed into too small a vehicle, hearing how we were going to get beat, because we had never seen an offense like this. And when I said "you've never seen a defense like this...what was the best defense you played?" I got "Oregon" in return (and this was your daddy's Oregon for the youths on here). Going early next morning to pick up our excellent tix, the game, after at Gameday (night) catcalling Corso to give us Title credit, getting a bite, and finding a bottle of champagne I still have till this day. Will crack it open when we win our next title.
December 22nd, 2010 at 8:41 PM ^
Space
December 22nd, 2010 at 8:45 PM ^
Great Story, OP. That made my evening.
December 22nd, 2010 at 8:51 PM ^
Off the wrestling house at msu fans walking past
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:02 PM ^
"Go Blue" -President Barack Obama
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:09 PM ^
December 22nd, 2010 at 11:54 PM ^
And didn't he add in a few lines about beating the buckeyes? From the Thanksgiving Song...
...Turkey and sweet po-ta-to pie
Kick the crap out of the Buckeyes (in place of Sammy Davis Jr only had one eye)
There were a few more lines...thought Sandler was masterful to cater to the MGoCrowd.
(Side note: want to see all the acts, be an usher. Lame, but you just sign up on a list and go, just stand and watch after concert starts...best part was seeing a dad and his 3 early teen boys when "A Medium Pace" came on...not sure the dad was expecting that! Priceless awkward look on his face)
December 23rd, 2010 at 7:27 AM ^
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:13 PM ^
1. Running out of the tunnel at graduation.
2. Giving my 14 and 12 year old a tour of the campus (including the UGLI)
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:15 PM ^
and my family drove all the way from Chicago so my dad could see an eye specialist at U of M. I had been raised properly so I was already an avid Wolverine fan. My brother and I begged my dad to see the Big House, and when we walked up the gates were open. We just walked in and went down onto the field (those were different days). We ran up and down that field seeing ourselves as Rick Leach and Rob Lytle until we couldn't breathe. I'll never forget that feeling. It comes right back every time I get back into that beautiful stadium.
December 23rd, 2010 at 10:06 AM ^
Pretty sure I have a little vial of the Big House grass/dirt somewhere @ my parents house. Coming back from a family vacation we randomnly stopped in Ann Arbor and walked right into the place. Hit the tunnel and ran out onto the 50 yard line, one of the best moments of my childhood for sure.
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:22 PM ^
...that you could sing "The Victors" without referring to the lyrics. I mean, I know the chorus down pat, but you -- you are seriously awesome for knowing the entire song!
- Now for a cheer they are here, triumphant!
- Here they come with banners flying,
- In stalwart step they're nighing,
- With shouts of vict'ry crying,
- We hurrah, hurrah, we greet you now, Hail!
- Far we their praises sing
- For the glory and fame they've bro't us
- Loud let the bells them ring
- For here they come with banners flying
- Far we their praises tell
- For the glory and fame they've bro't us
- Loud let the bells them ring
- For here they come with banners flying
- Here they come, Hurrah!
(chorus)
- Hail! to the victors valiant
- Hail! to the conqu'ring heroes
- Hail! Hail! to Michigan
- The leaders and best!
- Hail! to the victors valiant
- Hail! to the conqu'ring heroes
- Hail! Hail! to Michigan,
- The champions of the West!
(break strain)
- We cheer them again
- We cheer and cheer again
- For Michigan, we cheer for Michigan
- We cheer with might and main
- We cheer, cheer, cheer
- With might and main we cheer!
(chorus)
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:49 PM ^
You win. Actually I did play that whole thing over the loudspeakers at my company this year. I bought a men's Glee Club CD.
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:51 PM ^
Off topic but sort of funny. My ex boyfriends father is a huge Notre Dame fan (Irish Catholic raised the Bronx) and the taught his his kids the Notre Dame fight song at a young age and they had to recite it Frank McCourt Style. But being the politically correct man than he is he altered the lyrics to from "Rally Sons of Notre Dame" to "Rally Sons and Daughters of Notre Dame". When his sister went to school at ND she got into an argument with the professor about the lyrics in during a lecture.
December 22nd, 2010 at 10:09 PM ^
Though now we can see why he's your ex.
December 23rd, 2010 at 10:12 AM ^
is a piece of cake, you get to sing it like 18 times a game....
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:23 PM ^
Michigan Vs Notre Dame 2003. A friend of mine knew a producer for College Gameday and we were able to talk with Corso, Fowler and Herbstreit. I had grown up watching College Gameday ever since it's inaugural season and I had always wanted to meet the crew.
All three were very nice and I asked Herbstreit what he thought of Michigan and how they would perform that year. He told me that he really saw them making a run at the MNC. He gave some really interesting insight and then Fowler and Corso talked some about how impressive they thought Michigan would be that year. It doesn't sound all that memorable but for someone who grew up watching that show it was something very special.
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:29 PM ^
38-34
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:40 PM ^
What's your best "Michigan Moment" not involving the game itself?
...just saying.
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:54 PM ^
When I saw "the game", I thought it was referring to UM vs. OSU.
But I guess I could elaborate a bit more. One of my good friends who is not known for getting stupid drunk somehow, in a short span from walking from another friend's tailgate back to mine, unknowingly fell on his face, ended up in the hospital, tried to escape from the hospital in his boxers, and was consequently strapped down by the nurses. It made for an excellent story to go along with a remarkable gameday.
And I'm drunk, give me a break.
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:34 PM ^
After the big chill a friend and I stayed after and snuck on the field and took pictures on the ice, after that we went out to the parking lot and saw Carl Hagelin and his family from Sweeden. After talking to them for a while we decided to head home, as we turned to leave we see Dave Brandon walking outside with his family. Not wanting to disturb him I quickly said "Everything went great today Mr. Brandon" and i expected him to walk right by, instead he came over and talked to my friend and I for a good 5 minutes about the game and his holiday plans and how excited he was for the Gator Bowl. He was a great guy to meet and with all the pressure on him I was greatly suprised he took the time out of his busy day to talk to a couple college students.
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:37 PM ^
now thats a story!
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:42 PM ^
thats a story ......... Sweeden...or
That's a story about Sweden!
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:46 PM ^
Great story. Glad to hear that DB came over and talked to you. It seems he has the time to talk to the right people(no MSM). Kudos to DB.
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:33 PM ^
Everybody love everybody!!!!
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:36 PM ^
Mine, hands down, was watching my daughter graduate. Nothing sports-related has much of a chance by comparison.
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:38 PM ^
Not making dinner reservations for a party of 11 on the day of graduation and still leading my family to a table at a great restaurant without any wait time. Procrastinating, yet passing with flying colors. I was a Comm major.
December 22nd, 2010 at 10:02 PM ^
If Michigan taught me anything it was how to procrastinate and still kick ass.
The day before my Chem. lab exam I went into the GSI's office hours and asked a bunch of extremely dumb questions because I only attended a few lectures because they were a waste of time. The GSI made some rude and smart ass comments to me and assumed I was an idiot. I crammed all of the info (it didn't hurt that I kicked ass at Organic Chemistry in HS and am really good at puzzles). As luck would have it the GSI to returned my 100% exam to me was the same ass in office hours. The look on his face was priceless.
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:43 PM ^
Getting to go to school in Ann Arbor for my undergrad was some of the best times I ever had in my life. If I had to pick something in particular, I went to music festivals/gigs in the Northern LP and the UP the last three summers.
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:44 PM ^
Crap. I logged on to neg MGrowOld for being a prick. Damn MODS.
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:57 PM ^
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:47 PM ^
When my sister went to Michigan she dated a football player, as a little kid i had the benefit in getting to hang out with some of the them. I'll always remember as a little kid getting to play catch outside in my backyard with Kurt Anderson, Shawn Thompson, and Bennie Joppru like it was playing with the kids around my neighborhood. Those guys were the best to hang around.
December 22nd, 2010 at 10:13 PM ^
My favorite non-game moment was the day I graduated, April 29, 1978, I was the first one of my family of twelve to graduate from college. I still possess a dog-eared, moth-bitten polaroid of my dad and I standing outside Crisler Arena that day. We were both so proud. He died 20 years ago. Still miss him...always will.
December 23rd, 2010 at 12:04 AM ^
December 23rd, 2010 at 3:22 AM ^
Nice username. LOVE that movie.
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:51 PM ^
The day of THE Michigan v OSU game (2 v 1), which was just after the death of Bo, I got the opportunity run all the stairs in the Big House. While it sucked physically, it felt like my teammates and I were part of history. I couldn't walk for days afterwards but it was totally worth it.
December 22nd, 2010 at 10:19 PM ^
Gregg made you all run the stairs?
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:55 PM ^
asking for and receiving Millie Schembechler's autograph at a Michigan baseball game, and her being excited and happy to do it.
Then she asked me if I'd like Bo and Rick Leach's autograph, ummm yes please.
December 22nd, 2010 at 10:02 PM ^
15 years old. Minor hockey team was in the silverstick championship in Port Huron. Had a day off and we got some practice time at Yost Arena. Toured the dressing room, took some heat from the staff because our team colours and jacket were forest green, practiced on the ice. Then we went over to the Big House and went on to the field for 10-15 minutes. Greatest sight I'd ever seen going in the tunnel and coming back out on the field.
December 22nd, 2010 at 10:02 PM ^
I transferred to U of M as a second semester sophomore. I hated where I was my freshman year, and couldn't wait to get to Ann Arbor. I remember going to my interview as I headed home from Boston after my freshman year. As I sat with the admissions guy, he looked over my transcript and then told me I had been accepted. It was the best Michigan feeling I've ever had. That, and my first day on campus. I knew one person. But I still loved every minute of it.
December 22nd, 2010 at 10:05 PM ^
I've retyped this post about 10 times with 10 equally amazing moments from my 4 years in the MMB.
Can't pick one, can't begin to pick one, the whole thing was the best.