What was your experience in The Shoe this year?
Brian Hartline at a pep rally Saturday morning: "This needs to be the loudest, most hostile, most violent environment the Shoe has seen in 100 years!" That was pretty much our experience in 2016. The only M fan who felt no fear was Jake Butt's mom, who I watched cut right through the Ohio band on her way into the stadium, flipping off the cussing fans as she went!
Would absolutely love to hear tales from Columbus this year, we could hear the chants of "Let's go Blue" on the broadcast and it was inspiring.
November 27th, 2022 at 10:42 AM ^
Most violent? The guy has issues. What a leader. Obviously belongs in EL.
November 27th, 2022 at 10:53 AM ^
Targeting?
Should the "headbutt" by the ohio player have been targeting?
Isn't that the definition of targeting? Leading with the crown of the helmet.
November 27th, 2022 at 12:00 PM ^
He wasn’t a ball carrier? I don’t know. I wouldn’t have thought twice if they ejected him.
November 27th, 2022 at 10:58 AM ^
No problems in the Shoe. I went with two Buckeyes and sat way up in a Buckeye section, wearing Michigan gear. Before the game, a few Buckeye fans wanted to talk football outside the stadium, but were cool. (Normal levels of trash talk both ways of course).
There were maybe ten or fifteen UM fans in the whole section, and I had to look around for someone to high five when we scored, and stretch to reach him. (Thanks, beard guy - you're cool). Nobody gave me grief for yelling "Go Blue" from time to time, or for cheering when we did something good.
There were two funny incidents.
- In the last five minutes of the game, when the softer Buckeye fans were leaving the stadium, the fifteen of us started chanting "Let's Go Blue" as loudly as we could. A Buckeye girl next to me said "Go fuck yourselves" kind of quietly, so I started up a conversation with her about being in the Big House the year Buckeyes got the O-H-I-O going and told her that if she didn't like it she needed to convince her other fans not to leave during the game. She told me (even more quietly) that she just was standing up for her team and I told her that was cool.
- On the way out, Buckeyes were still cool and mostly wanted to talk to me about how much they hate CJ Stroud and Ryan Day. One drunk guy offered to shake my hand, then pulled back and told me to fuck off, but his drunk friend shook my hand and apologized for the first guy, then the first guy apologized, shook my hand and stumbled off.
November 27th, 2022 at 12:23 PM ^
how much they hate CJ Stroud and Ryan Day.
A Heisman finalist (possibly twice) and a coach with a .900 win percentage. Those poor, suffering fans.
November 27th, 2022 at 11:00 AM ^
I posted a formal thread here, but for the most part it wasn't bad at all; East Lansing is a lot worse in my experience.
November 27th, 2022 at 11:14 AM ^
I have never had a member of my group or myself assaulted or nearly assaulted in 3 trips to the Shoe (all L’s last was in 2006). South Bend (2 trips, both W’s) was a little worse than the Shoe…lots of profanity from those catholics. East Lansing is the worst by far.
November 27th, 2022 at 11:06 AM ^
my 8th game at the snakepit. Pleasantly surprised I had more nice things said after the game than bad things.
November 27th, 2022 at 11:07 AM ^
My mom, dad, and myself sat in the nose bleeds surrounded by Buckeyes (including my mother). We got some grief before the game by the event staff for "taking up too many seats" when it was clear there were very large men taking those seats. It was crowded so I stood sideways the entire game to avoid getting kicked out. I didn't care. I was just happy to be there. I didn't catch much trash talk even when my dad and I cheered after big plays.
The best part was when buckeye fans were filing out towards the end of the 4th. 20 or so of us Wolverines began chanting "it's great to be a Michigan Wolverine" while an OSU fan, who clearly lost a bet, put on his buddy's Michigan jersey while flipping all of us the bird.
Such a cathartic, unforgettable experience. That moment is payback for years of suffering. For 2016. For the countless family gatherings where I endured YEARS of trash talk. This game meant the world to me and every Wolverine in the world. And I got to be there. I will forever be grateful for that. GO BLUE!
*edit* OH! And crashing the big noon kickoff desk post game was awesome! On my way out I saw essentially nobody was there so we gathered with the rest of the Michigan fans and joined in on the celebration. I was on TV!
November 27th, 2022 at 12:59 PM ^
Were you in 26C? We (also?) had a guy put on a jersey and flip us off after the game.
November 27th, 2022 at 1:21 PM ^
Yes sir! I was wearing a Michigan beanie and blue carhart. My dad was the big dude with a dark beard. I had a few conversations with M fans at the end of the game. Maybe you were one of them?
November 27th, 2022 at 1:33 PM ^
I was row 35, seat 22 - there was a guy with a beard a row or two above us that I was high fiving. I'm the old guy with a blue hoodie with a maize Ohio on the front.
November 27th, 2022 at 3:27 PM ^
I remember seeing you there at the end of the game! You might have been giving my dad high fives lol. Although I never spoke to you personally, its awesome to see a fellow Mgoblogger there. Cheers and Go Blue!
November 27th, 2022 at 5:38 PM ^
Absolutely!
November 27th, 2022 at 11:08 AM ^
It was actually really pleasant. Nothing more than playful mouthing from all of the Ohio State fans. From other people's stories I was expecting something extremely different. Everyone was actually really cordial. I can imagine some years being different since we were undefeated going in, but I see no reason why Michigan fans don't maize out the stadium in the future. I see no reason at all to fear the place.
November 27th, 2022 at 1:48 PM ^
where'd all the buckeyes go?
great pic.
November 27th, 2022 at 11:29 AM ^
It's fine. Had a few older buckeyes crack dad jokes ("good luck, you're gonna need it!") while a few of the younger fans hurled profanities but at no point did I feel like I was in danger. Kudos of the fans though, that was the loudest stadium I've ever been in...during the 1st quarter. The energy never returned after halftime, and fans started leaving when we were up 2 scores early in the 4th.
Random: Ohio Stadium seats are much wider than Big House seats. Concessions moved really quick. Was able to grab a water and pay within 20 seconds.
November 27th, 2022 at 11:34 AM ^
Interesting. I thought Beaver Stadium and Michigan Stadium were louder.
November 27th, 2022 at 11:52 AM ^
It's a rather rude awakening when you're so used to Michigan Stadium and all its cramped and crowded quirks, then you go to another stadium and realize there's a better way. Imagine not missing half a quarter to get some water and go to the bathroom.
November 27th, 2022 at 11:37 AM ^
The atmosphere might have also gotten friendlier because as their fans have come to expect victory and their team is reliably very successful, the ticket to the game has become more of a status symbol and attracts a more genteel crowd than in the past.
November 27th, 2022 at 1:35 PM ^
I had heard much the same, and am really encouraged by the positive experiences posted here. I've long thought the intimidation of visiting fans led to poor road attendance there, which led to refs being influenced by howling hordes of bucknuts. So glad to hear that doesn't seem to be the case any more.
I plan to attend there more often, the win yesterday feels like a cathartic end to the misery I felt there in 2016! And, fwiw I felt like we had a much fairer whistle yesterday as well.
GO BLUE!
November 27th, 2022 at 2:08 PM ^
I have an unsubstantiated theory that Buckeyes are less belligerent and violent in defeat than in victory. MSU fans are terrible regardless.
November 27th, 2022 at 4:04 PM ^
I had a great time. I sat in the way-upper visitor section, but it was probably more like 60/40 Wolverines/Buckeyes. Fans were nice and respectful before and after the game, and I enjoyed talking to a lot of them. I certainly got some shit, but nothing that wasn't in good fun.
I am usually pretty civil except during a game so i was concerned my cheering would grate on people. It may have but it didn't show.