What's wrong with the Alumni?

"studying" as an excuse to not go to a game needs to have their tickets revoked. What a fucking joke.

My thoughts on this thread:

http://www.youtube.com/embed/pjBO8gCzhmY

hello!

Isn't it wonderful that we're arguing about how the fans should be better rather than the team? These are so much better problems than we've been used to these past few years. Like, we aren't talking about what's wrong with the defense, or the special teams, we're bitching about students getting to the stadium late and piped-in rawk music. May we always be so lucky as to bitch about these things.

Bacon notes at one point in his book that Michigan fans are unique in their ability to find things to complain about. 

Awesome. I was thinking that we could use a little more divisiveness in this fanbase. This is a particularly hilarious brand of it.

Brian's emo-ness the last 3 years has obviously had an effect on all of us.

BTW, Alum here.

In  the process of doing the wave at the EMU game, I nearly down-in-fronted someone with the rather  expensive pair of field glasses that I happen to own, so in games since then, I take them off to do the wave since a closed head injury is a terrible thing to get on Saturday. 

The students should worry about themselves having an attendance rate above 60% before they worry about us alumni and the wave -- especially a wave the students are doing out of order.

to the unwritten rules regarding the wave?  Back in the day (yes the REAL back in the day), the wave was done at the start of the 4th quarter and only if 1) we were in the lead by a confortable margin and 2) the opposing team had the ball.

It was worse with the previous press box too, by the way.  It was always a chore to get the wave started.

I think the answer to your question is nothing.

Can MGoBoard stop incessantly complaining about everything? Good lord.

If you must use such a clumsy sentence, it's "we students," not "us students."  This is something you should have learned in middle school.  Please tell me that you are not an authentic University of Michigan student.

You guys are all being little bitches

First and foremost: the wave. Us students work damn hard to get it going

Since when did going "1, 2, 3!" and then throwing your arms in the air constitute grueling physical labor?

I wish the wave would die in a tire fire.  

Actually, the wave is fine when the game is boring -  when Michigan has it well in hand and you need some kind of diversion.  Otherwise it's incredibly irritating.  Even as a student, it used to drive me fucking crazy that people would try to get it started during close games when I just wanted to fucking watch the team (and yes, to fucking make noise.)   Seriously, how do thousands of people, almost all of whom have been vetted through the admissions process to be at least moderately intelligent, get so excited time and time again by the idea that, if people stand up in a sequence, it looks SO AWESOME?

Get off my lawn etc., I guess, but it's been pissing me off since I was a freshman.

What about alumni that sit IN the student section? Paradox!

Don't tell me how to do the Wave.  Back in the day, we did the Wave uphill in both directions in bare feet . . . or something like that.

Seriously, sucky fans suck.  Beyond that, let's just get along and cheer for our team.  When we did the first Wave in 1983 (get it?), the great thing about it was that something the students started was embraced and shared by the old folks who used to sit where I sit now.  It was a bonding experience and when we all cheered at the end of that original Wave, that is what we were cheering about.

As for the Fuck the Wave guy, when have you ever seen a Wave when the game wasn't in hand?  There may be idiots who try to start a wave at an inappropriate time in the game (close game, when we are behind, etc.), but I have never seen one take off without it being a romp.  That is one problem of the last few years -- not enough Waves.  Waves are fun and they bring people together.  Quit getting pissed off.

Actually, one of the best things about the Wave was that it was an opportunity to get real about the fact that the game wasn't serious anymore.  Schembechler hated the Wave.  He used to turn around, face the students, and shake his hands at us.  We laughed.  It was great.  Light the cigar.  Game over.

We students. Show us old-timers that degree is still what it used to be.

/s

I just find it ironic that everyone is arguing about this after Hope blamed the loss on crowd noise...

I'm no longer a student, graduated in 2007. Have to tell you though, the alumni section is the worst. I used to live very close to the stadium while in school, parked cars and all that before heading to the game. Every opposing team fan that stopped by always said the same thing: our alumni section is so quiet compared to their school. I've been to some great games since with alumni tickets, and it's embarassing how quiet it is there. I was told to be quiet during the Notre Dame 2009 game. Be quiet!?

They make next to no noise during big third downs. For every "wave" they refuse to do while watching the game there are a dozen important downs that they are completely quiet for. I'd say the latter is the greater offense.

Do not read MGoBlog.

Student section ain't what it used to be. Alas. Mostly the team's performance the last few years, maybe, has taken a bit of emotion out of it. That and it appears it's now frowned upon to consume certain beverages, and other things, that might enhance some emotions. 

I have taken a goalpost or two down. Even tried to take O$U's down one glorious day, back in the day. Back when the winning streak in the series was our winning streak. Had a pleasant chat with an Ohio trooper carrying a big stick about it. I agreed to leave his goalpost where it was, he agreed not to hit me in the head. All in for Michigan.

So I know something about makin it happen in the student section.

But, here's my $.02

We invented the f'in wave we'll do it when we feel like it.

Here's an idea. Try going vertical with it; you know up and down your section. That would be inventive and cool. And, you'd get to stand up for 0.5 seconds, and we can watch the game. 

I'll wear whatever damn shirt I want to wear. Thanks. That's not a Michgan thing, that's copying somebody else's thing.

The alumni section sucked in 1975 and it sucks today. Get over it, kid. Someday you'll be an alum and you'll be sittin with the rest of us. And you'll suck, too.

Show up on time for godssake. We're gonna start sitting in those empty student seats someday. And show you how it's done. 

 I will say this. Arguing about this shit is a lot more fun that complaining about what's happening on the field. Finally something trivial to fight about while we ALL enjoy the game. Next year, at this time, we might even be arrogant asses again.

Go Blue.

the students.

Seriously, Michigan games are depressing to go to. I'm a season ticket holder but it's almost like what's the point. Besides the Notre Dame game, its almost like you get shunned or yelled at if you actually cheer or get excited. I've been to games at Penn State, Wisconsin, etc and it was refreshing to see even the older fans all wearing the same color and all standing and cheering for their team. They definetly weren't being old stubborn asshole Michigan fans that can only be heard yelling when their saying down in front. Sorry, but I'll never understand people that attend a football game at any age and expect to just sit there and the rest of the world around them to be zombies and golf clap on touchdowns. It's embarrassing.

It's pointless and too often used in close games when the focus should be on motivating the team and producing noise to distract the opponent

This seems to be a popular topic for as long as I can remember.  I'm a life long Wolverine fan who attended his first game this weekend.  My observations:

* It was HC so I expected thousands of student no-shows......and there were.

* The seating just isn't condusive to racous cheering...although I did my best others be damned.

* The percentage of those over 55 was much higher than I expected.  Look, when I am 65 I doubt I will be raising hell either.  Offer the over 55 crowd sectional seating in an area they can view the game and not be affected by those of us actually cheering on our team.

* Obviously...not selling beer affects crowd noise.

* At least one night a year and one or two 3:30 kick-offs.  Let those students get marinated a bit.  The later starts will probably draw out a younger crowd.

Just a few observations.  The crowd was about what I expected and I fully understand it was HC.

Damn old people, get down ON my lawn!

It's Purdue.

I love Michigan football, but a noon start versus Purdue on a relatively cold day would induce extra drinking for me on gamedays.

I'll admit it: I was pretty bad about showing up late as a student, but I would say opponent and start time have more to do with how early I woke up and therefore how early I get to the game than anything. 

I'm not really sure who all these students are that use exams as an excuse for not showing up Saturday, but I doubt a lot of those types people are showing up when they don't have exams anyway. It's Purdue and it was Homecoming weekend: students were probably having a fun time partying. Noon sneaks up on you, especially when your party is on East U, Church, etc.

If the old people start cheering, the students show up on-time, and people stop drinking Diet Pepsi, everyone will be happy. Then again, that leaves fewer threads for people like me in which to make smartass comments.

Yeah, you can't very well start a wave at the beginning of the third quarter, there is a TON of game left and we were only up by what, 15 points when we first tried to start it?  Even if we were up by 22 that's still not blowing out (getting there) a terrible Purdue team.

I am 62. I love the student section when they are loud and start the wave and do anything to make it louder. The students create the atmosphere and everyone else feeds off of it. However, older people that don't have sex any longer don't get into the games like they used to and we have a ton of them at the games. Lol. The younger crowd has to make up for them. To the students! It's your school so please support it. When you are there keep the noise level up to inspire the rest of us. Thanks.