Yep, great memories from that trip. I do remember going to Gilley’s and getting thrown off the bull a few days before the game which was awesome as well—Michigan’s second bowl victory of the 1981 calendar year. We played “Coming to America” at halftime, blew the roof off the Astrodome and got a standing O coming off the field. I was in rank 8 trumpets that year. I treasure those memories.
I was in MMB standing just 7.5 yards away from Bob Ufer when he gave that speech at Citrus Junior College on 12/31/80. Just as he started to speak the PA system at the stadium went out so no one outside of earshot of his voice could even hear it. Fortunately Art Vuolo recorded it and put it in the LP or it probably would have been lost forever. Of many pep talks I had heard at rallies and at busts I always thought that one was Ufer’s best— his Magnum opus. I do know that the players and coaches standing on the sidelines right in front of hm all heard it and responded accordingly the following day. So tragic that we lost him just ten months later. Thanks for bringing the speech back and updating it for today’s game. It brings back great memories! I am sure Bob Ufer will be watching and throwing down maize and blue halos from up in Football Valhalla this afternoon!
C Deck in northeast corner. My tickets are in 6C but the Michigan block typically also includes 4C and 8C. It might extend to 10C also but I am not sure where the cut off is heading that way.
Section 6C Row 5. Heading down with my nephew and meeting a friend from undergrad at the Stadium. Hoping to see more than a normal amount of maize and blue in the stands tomorrow. If you are still toying with the idea of going tomorrow I suggest doing it. Go Blue!
I will be in section 6C with my nephew and a college buddy who lives in the Columbus area. I have been lucky enough to have attended every M - OSU game since my freshman year in 1979 -- Earl Bruce's first year. This will make 40 in a row for me. Michigan has gone 15-23-1 in the 39 games I've been at. I hope we have a good showing of Michigan fans in Columbus this year. It has been a great season and this team deserves our support.
Favorite game of the bunch was definitely the Biakabutuka 313 yard rushing game with victory sealed by a freshman Chuck Woodson INT in 1995. One of the greatest performances in M history and at the time you just didn't see it coming. Michigan was on fire from the start.
My recollection is that they would bring out the banner out a couple of times each season throughout the early to mid-80's anyway. Usually for the couple of nationaly televsied games that there would be each year. Howard King would get on the PA and announce that the TV coverage would be starting and ask the crowd to make some noise. I think the banner was used to hype the crowd a little bit more on those occasions. Also when games were nationally televised back then they would bring in additional lighting which added to the atmosphere. Those games were special and the crowd responded accordingly.
I believe the picture is from Saturday, January 29, 1983. Illinois was at Crisler that day. I see that Tim McCormick, Eric Turner, Leslie Rockymore and Paul Jokisch are all in the picture. Also I was in the basketball band that year and I am in the picture too! Kind of fuzzy though.
I agree. Engin 101 (FORTRAN) was a huge time sink that first semester. A two credit class that took more time than an average four credit class. I remember taking that plus Chem lab 125 which also took more than a few hours a week for one credit. Somehow I still had time to make it Elbel Field every day from 4:20 to 5:45 for band practice which was a two credit class. I learned a lot about time management in the fall of '79.
Another treasured memory from this game was Woodson's interception to ice it at the end. As I remember he picked it off near the eastern sideline and headed across the field to the the western sideline and was finally starting to head downfield when he was pushed out of bounds near the Michigan bench. The coaches had been motioning for him to take a knee the whole time. The celebration was on at that point. Easily the most memorable game I have ever attended.
and heading out shortly. Big time tailgate today. Grilled shrimp skewers and 8+ pounds of tri-tip and plenty of beer ( growlers from Royal Oak Brewery) to go along with. Then heading over to lose my voice high up in section 35 across the way in the Hole that Yost dug. Best seats in the house I'm telling ya. Can't wait! Yes, these are the kind of days you dream about sitting in your office on a dreary morning in the middle of February. Have a great day out there where ever you might happen to be Michigan fans! Go Blue!
As you can see we didn't come on stage with the standard 200 steps per minute cadence. We tried it at the morning rehearsal and almost collapsed the risers. That's why we entered at abount an 80 cadence. Bob Hope quipped "and that's how they left Wisconsin last week" right after we marched out. That was the week anfter the 21-14 loss at Madison when Michigan had been ranked #1 heading into the 1981 season. To put this on your timeline the very next Saturday after this performance was the 25-7 win over ND when they were ranked #1.
They took the top chair positions for each part. I was lucky enough to be the highest chair 2nd Trumpet so was able to be a part of that group. Amazing experience really. We not only got to see Bob Hope and Betty Ford but other stars who performed and were also hanging around backstage included Sammy Davis Jr, Glen Campbell, Tony Orlando, Debbie Boone and comedian Foster Brooks. It was crazy getting ready to march onto the stage and seeing so many world leaders in attendance. If have to say it was a tremendous let down too. Right after our performance we marched out of the auditorium and stepped right onto the rented school buses that were waiting to take us back to Ann Arbor. Just minutes after the performance none of it even seemed real.
Row 80 is just a couple of rows above the level where you enter the stadium so acces to restrooms and concessions is excellent. I sit just baout directly opposite those seats in section 34 Row 82 and really like the view from up there. You get a great view of the O line blocking and holes opening and closing from that perspective. i think you'll like those seats.
I will be there with three good friends who also happen to be die hard Michigan fans. I attended the the ND, State, Rutgers, Ohio State and M00N debacles last year but now have a rejuvenated enthusiasm previously unknown to mankind. Really looking forward to heading out of town on Friday.
Channel 50 in had Three Stooges, Little Rascals, Lost in Space, Gilligan's Island and the Flintstones every day after school. Pretty solid line up. Also liked Friendly Giant, Captain Kangaroo, Milky the Clown, Bozo and Oopsie, Micky Mouse Club, At the Zoo with Sonny Elliot and the Monkees followed by Sir Graves Ghastly on Saturday afternoons (when the Michigan game wasn't on....which it usually wasn't -- unless it was the Ohio State game)
Michigan clinched a share of the 1982 B1G Championship at home vs Purdue and immediately after the clock ran out a guy in a gorilla suit came running out of the student section onto the field, climbed the up onto the cross bar of the goalpost at the north end and proceeded to be absolutely pelted with hundreds of rolls of soggy toilet paper rolls. He survived the initial onslaught. The second wave knocked him down to the point where he was just hanging from the cross bar. The third wave finally did the trick and knocked him to the ground.
I may or may not have been one of the people helping to rock the bus. A lot of crazy things went on at The Corner that day. I remember a guy coming out of the stadium wearing only boxer shorts and a "cape" made from a piece of sod torn up from the field. Also people carrying out pieces of the on field scoreboards , pieces of fencing and various other fixtures. Then there was the infamous scene of the overturned police car that had been set on fire. I actually happened to be walking by when Bubba Helms was posing for the photographers. Who would have known that picture would have end up on the front pages of newspapers around the world? Definitely saw a lot of crazy things that day.
Heading down in the morning. I actually haven't missed The Game since 1978 -- the last game of the Ten Year War. Tomorrow will be 36 in a row and my 18th late November trip to the 'shoe.
I've only missed one home game since 1979 (1994 Penn State -- standing up in a wedding in Columbus fergodssakes)and I've been to every road Ohio, ND and State game in that span and to me nothing compares to that one. We were struggling coming in and Ohio appeared to be a juggernaut. I remember Ohio taking the opening kickoff and scoring a field goal and then as soon as we got the ball it was Biakabutuka around left end for 12 yards, up the middle for 8 and it never stopped the whole game. A young Chuck Woodson made an interception at the end to seal the win. He intercepted along the eastern sideline and the coaches wanted him to take a knee immediately. Instead he took off across the field and started running it back up the western sideline and stepped out right into the Michigan bench where he was subsequently mobbed by his teammates. My favorite game of all time.
Nice work Wolverine Devotee. I really enjoy perusing these stats. You might double check the record in 1984 though. I believe it was actually 6-6 after losing the Holiday Bowl to BYU. That was the year Harbaugh broke his arm in the State game and the O really struggled under Russ Rein and Chris Zurbrugg. It was also the last team to be shut out before last week. As bad as that season went I am surprised that we were +12. I do remember jumping out in the turnover battle in the season opener against defending National Champion Miami though. Bernie Kosar threw six interceptions in that one.
It is the biggest game of the year and there could be a division title at stake. Then there is always the off chance of being able to sing The Victors in a quiet Ohio Stadium as the truck drivers file out with their Buckeye tails between their legs. Definitely something not to be missed. Plus I'll be there and I'd really like to see some blue in the stands.
I did make it to all eleven B1G stadiums before Nebraska joined and I've seen Michigan play as Far East as Boston (BC in '95) and as far west as Honolulu ( Hawaii in '86). Believe it or not I can even boast 17 late November trips to Columbus fergodssakes! Now with the new stadium in Minnesota plus Rutgers and Maryland coming in and not making it to Lincoln in 2012 it looks like I have some work to do. I am planning to go to Rutgers this year and have high hopes. We are spending the weekend in NYC and taking the train out to the game. It's hard to believe that will be an every other year trip from now on and the old tried and true trips to Chicago will be becoming few and far between. My top B1G road trips would be:
1. Penn State - Best game day atmosphere and great fans.
2. Northwestern - So much to do in Chicago and so Michigan friendly as well. I love taking the Red line north out of the city. The cheers always seem to start on the platforms as the M fans begin to gather.
3. Wisconsin - Prettiest campus being right on the lake. Excellent brats. Atmosphere in the stadium can be crazy!
4. Iowa - Loved tailgating there. Enthusiastic fans and fun to hang out with. The campus is pretty cool too on a bluff over the Iowa River.
You are so right-- this is definitely a momentous occasion. My first game sure left a lasting impression. I had been begging to go to a game since watching the World Series on TV the year before. We finally made it down to Michigan and Trumbull on Tuesday night August 5,1969 to see the Tigers take on the Twins. I was eight years old and I can attest to the feeling of walking from out of the dark concourse through the tunnel into what seemed like another world. The green field and the crisp white uniforms and seeing all of my boyhood heroes out there under the bright lights on a perfect summer evening left an indelible impression. Denny McClain was the starter and I remember Gates Brown hitting a solo blast in the seventh inning to tie it up at 3. The game went on and on but for me the time just flew by. The Tigers finally came through in the wee hours of Wednesday morning when Don Wert drove in Willie Horton with the game winning run with a ground ball up the middle with two outs in the bottom of the 13th. John Hiller was the winning pitcher in the 4-3 Tiger victory. Treasured memories to last a lifetime for sure --especially getting to share it with my late parents. As a sidebar years later I became aware of the infamous Billy Martin - Dave Boswell fight that took place in the alley behind the Lindell AC. Oddly enough that fight occurred shortly after my very first game. For an eight year old I was aware of a lot of things but I really didn't know much about the wiry, hot tempered guy who was managing the Twins that night. Little did we know.
Enjoy the game and cheer on those Tigers MGrowOld!
Frank Beckmann's first game was the 1981 upset loss at Wisconsin. We rode into that one ranked #1 in the country coming off of Bo's first Rose Bowl victory. That day was also the occasion of the last Band Day in Michigan history which was a game between Slippery Rock and Wayne State played at the Big House. I was in the MMB at the time and I remember sitting in the stands that day and listening in on the broadcast with a transistor radio and was surprised to not hear Bob Ufer doing the play by play. Back home the next week vs ND Ufer did come back to do a pregame show and right before kickoff turned the microphone over to Frank Beckmann. They always say that it's never easy replacing a legend but looking back I think Mr. Beckmann acquitted himself very well over the last 32 years. I sure enjoyed listening to his broadcasts of all the games I didn't make it to in person and hearing his descriptions on highlight films and at Football Busts. Needless to say I will definitely be tuned in tonight. It occurred to me recently that Ufer and Beckmann have broadcast all of the games played since 1945 which would be 760 games including tonight's game. That is right around 60% of all games played in the 134 year history of "man's inhumanity to man" (1,267 games). Those two leave a tremendous legacy. The new guy will definitely have some big shoes to fill.
I’m lucky enough to be attending The game for the 35thconsecutive year this Saturday. My streak goes back to my freshman year in 1979 – the first Game after the Ten Year War. I’ve seen Michigan go 10-8 at Michigan Stadium and 6-9-1 at Ohio Stadium over that span. Tough to pick a favorite game in that span but seeing “Touchdown Tim” Biakabutuka unexpectedly rush for 313 yards and Chuck Woodson intercepting to seal the win in 1995 is probably my all time favorite. A close second would be the four second half lead changes capped by Demetrius Brown’s 41 yard bomb to John Kolesar into the south end zone of the Snake Pit in 1988. I’ll be cheering on the Maize and Blue from high up in Section 35 on Saturday after another awesome tailgate over on Pauline Ave. I’m looking forward to getting out there on last time this year with all my tailgate friends. My advice to the newbies: Cheer hard, leave hoarse and don’t act like a Buckeye! Go Blue!
I’m planning to Mgovacation on the banks of the Upper Kenai River around Cooper Landing, AK , spend some time enjoying the beautiful surroundings and hopefully FedEx some freshly caught Silver (Coho) salmon back to Michigan to treat my fellow tailgaters over on Pauline Blvd to “Maple Rosemary Planked Salmon” before the Central game. That should be a nice way to kick off the season.
RT Airfare from Flint on Delta with one stop each way $325, suite at the Holiday Inn on Wet n Wild Way (apparently closest hotel to Jerry World?) for $135 and game ticket for $175. I'm sharing the hotel room with friends so I'll be in for about $550 plus cab fares and beer money. I booked air fare and hotel right after New Year's. Can hardly wait!
Nemo's at Michigan and Eighth is always a fun place to stop especially on Opening Day. They will have a tent set up in the parking lot and I'm sure they will be open first thing in the morning. From Nemo's you can catch the shuttle to Comerica or you could hike it and do a pub crawl on the way....Lager House, one hand of blackjack at MGM, one round on the deck at Bookie's and one at the Filmore right before game time. There's plenty of parking on the streets behind Nemo's and you could hit up Slow's for some bbq after the game.
Very difficult to choose one but I'd have to say the 1995 Ohio game. Biakabutuka’s performance that day was so spectacular and so unexpected that it elevates the game to all time favorite status in my eyes. His 313 rushing yards was just about triple Ohio’s output and it’s still our second best rushing performance in 132 years of football. I also loved the way future Heisman winner Chuck Woodson emerged in that game with two interceptions including one with a minute to go to ice the victory. The entire coaching staff, which included first year DC Greg Mattison were all trying to get Woodson to take a knee after making the final interception but Woodson ran it back around the right end before finally being pushed out of bounds into a wildly celebrating Michigan bench. After that it was victory formation and a 31-23 win.
My ealiest recollection of the team singing the victors with the MMB and the fans was after the first game against Penn State in 1993 -- the 20-13 win at State College. I was lucky enough to be sitting in row 3 that day. That was awesome! It happened occasionally from then on but only after really big wins. If you aked me doing it after every win as has been done the last three years diminishes the significance ot it. I'd like to see it go back to the old way.
My discovery of the sports section of the newspaper when I was about 8 years old just happened to coinside with the arrival of Bo and I couldn't believe the excellent records Michigan was coming up with year after year while I was growing up in Detroit. I remember watching the 1972 Rose Bowl on TV and even though there were no Michigan fans in my family while watching that game I decided then and there that Michigan would be my team. A few years later when I was in high school I was lucky enough to go to the '76 Wake Forest Band Day game and I was blown away by my first visit to the Big House. The next year I got my driver's license and started driving to a couple of games a year and then I finally made it to campus in the fall of 1979 and spent four years studying engineering and playing in the MMB. Now looking back my whole family and most of my friends are all Michigan fans, I've hardly ever missed a game in the last 31 years and I can hardly believe all of the great experiences I have had following the Maize and Blue. I've even been to every Michigan vs tSIO game since 1979 which I feel is one of my greatest accomplishments as a fan. I could go on and on but basically that is my story.
PS
I also have to mention the effect Bob Ufer had on turning me on to Michigan. For all of you fans who are too young to know about "Old Man Ufer" be sure to check out some of the recordings of his broadcasts. There was never a a more enthusiastic, knowledgeable and True Blue supporter of "Michigan athletics in general of football in particular". Be sure to take some time and learn more about him.
Thanks for posting the pictures. Being an architecture buff I really enjoyed the tour. To answer your question the oldest building on campus is the President's House on South U. It’s the big white house next to the Clements Library. It ‘s the only surviving building that dates back to when the University moved from Detroit to Ann Arbor in 1837. Apparently there were originally four buildings just like it that were built to house faculty-- two facing South U and two facing North U. The President's House on South U is the only one remaining. I would guess that the Observatory is the second oldest building on campus. There was another early building that unfortunately burned down when I was in school back in 1981. The Old Economics Building used to be just north of the UGLI and just west of West Engineering and it dated to 1856.
I would agree that Iowa is the better of the two destinations for a road trip. I tailgated there in ’09 and found the tailgating crowd to be very friendly and a lot of fun. Somehow we ended up parking next to a couple of big groups who were a mix of Iowa and Michigan fans so that definitely helped the situation. We parked at the north end of campus in the big parking lot by the Hancher Auditorium. That location had easy access to the I-80 so we were able to beat the rush out of town after D-Rob’s disappointing last minute interception. We also crossed the river and hit a few of the campus bars on the way to the stadium right before getting to our seats in time to see Warren’s pick 6. The stadium is not huge but the crowd is packed in pretty tight to the field and the crowd does tend to make some noise. Cool place to see a game. The quad cities area – Davenport, Bettendorf, Moline and Rock Island -- about an hour’s drive east of Iowa City has plenty of hotels and restaurants for an overnight stay on the way out or back. On top of all this we should have a decent chance this year with Clayborn, Ballard, Sash and Greenwood gone from the D and what with the Hawks breaking in a new QB. Maybe I’ll run into you out there. Go Blue!
My nephew and I will be there decked out in our Maize and Blue. It will the 32nd straight M-OSU game (16th in Columbus) that I've been lucky enough to attend going back to the 18-15 loss at the Big House in 1979 -- Anthony Carter's (and my own) freshman year. Looking back the wins at the 'shoe in '80, '86, '88, '90, '96 and '00 provide some of my best Michigan Football memories -- Bobby Thompson sacking Schlichter in '80, Matt Frantz wide left in '86, D. Brown to Kolesar in '88, Greg Frey stuffed on the option keeper in '90, Tai Streets to the house in '96 and Drew Hensen's bootleg touchdown to ice the game in '00. I'd really like to see more Michigan fans at the games down there. Lately even our own section is heavily infiltrated with Buckeyes. Come in Michigan fans! This will be a great opportunity to leave the gripers, groaners and complainers behind. I am looking forward to watching a game with true fans.
Here's a message that i sent to my tailgating friends yesterday. Maybe this would be appropriate. Let me know what you think..............
Soldiers, Sailors and Tailgaters of the Grey Lot!
You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of Ann Arbor are upon you. The hopes and prayers of civilized and liberty-loving people from around the state of Michigan march with you. In company with our brave fans and brothers-in-arms on the playing field, you will bring about the destruction of the Penn State war machine, the elimination of Nittany Lion tyranny over the oppressed teams of the Big Ten Conference, bowl eligibility and security for ourselves in a free world.
Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle hardened. He will fight savagely.
But this is the year 2010! Much has happened since the Nittany Lion triumphs of 2008 and 2009. Alabama and other conference teams have inflicted upon Penn State great defeats, in open battle, man-to-man. Other teams have seriously reduced their strength in the passing game and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Rich Rod and the coaching staff have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained and skilled football players.
The tide has turned! The Wolverines of Michigan are marching together to Victory!
I have full confidence in your courage and devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory!
Go Blue! And let us beseech the blessings of Old Man Yost and General Bo upon this great and noble undertaking.
-Commander of the Grey Lot Allied Expeditionary Force
At Ross Ade Stadium the Michigan Section is usually the south stands sections 130-134 and also the first few sections on the eastern side like 101 and 102. I just got my tickets for the game yesterday through the Michigan Ticket Office and they're in 130.
Welcome to the Big Ten Chicago Red! We had some great running QB's when Bo was coach -- Dennis Franklin, Rick Leach, Steve Smith, Mike Taylor and Demetrius Brown could all run the ball effectively. We went to a more pro style offense over the next 18 years or so and as you probably know developed some great pro style QB's -- Elvis Grbac, Brian Griese, Tom Brady, John Navarre and Chad Henne all played or are playing professional football. That said we have had nothing to compare with what we're seeing right now with Denard. He's easily the fastest player I have ever seen (at any position) and what has really impressed me about him this season is his grasp of the offense and his passing ability. The way I see it is we are looking at the combination of a great talent and a coach who understands how to use that talent for maximum results. It will be fun to watch what happens over the next few years. I'm looking forward to going to a game at Lincoln in a few years. I'll have to start following your team a more closely this year to get ready for it. Good luck this season!
I really hate to brag too much but it looks like I called it right at around 8:10 yesterday morning. I must have been channeling the ghost of Fielding Yost himself when I made that prediction. What a great trip to South Bend -- the game had a little of everything and even though I've been going to games for well over thirty years I've never seen a player like Denard. We are in for a treat watching this young man over the next few years.
I plan to be in South Bend tomorrow. Traditional pregame walk around campus to check out the sights -- Fair Catch Moses, Touchdown Jesus, the Grotto, the Golden Dome, the concert on the steps the players walking out of the chapel and the band concert on the steps. Then the Joyce Center for a pregame brats and beers and finally off to the Stadium to watch D-Rob shred the Irish D. Should be a great day. I am Pumped!
I have made the trip to Purdue many times and have always had a great time there. There's always a strong Michigan contingent in the south stands at Ross-Ade Stadium so I know you'll have a great time at this year's Danny Hope Revenge Bowl. Let's hope the shoelaces to snake oil combo has a big day on Nov 13.
As far as the drive there I like to take I-94 west, I-69 south, US-24 west just past Fort Wayne and then Indiana 25 southwest from Logansport. This route is about 35 miles shorter (although probably about the same amount of time) as the I-94 to I-65 route. When you are coming into Lafayette on Indiana 25 you will notice that all of the football traffice heads west on US-52. I avoid a ton of traffic by heading toward downtown Lafayette and taking the Fowler Ave bridge over the river and heading west on Fowler toward campus. There's a church parking lot on the right just before you get to Northwestern Ave. There always seems to be more than average number of Michigan fans parking there. I was lucky enough to park next to Zoltan the Space Emperor's family when I went down for the '08 game. I think the vast majority of people come in from the north and park in the big fields north and west of the stadium so coming in from downtown Lafayette seems to work very well.
If your looking for a place to eat on the way there Don Hall's factory in Fort Wayne is a great place to stop. Its just off I-69 at exit 112A.
Recent Comments
I was there and remember doing this as well. Washington band was so quiet afterward. Great stuff!
Yep, great memories from that trip. I do remember going to Gilley’s and getting thrown off the bull a few days before the game which was awesome as well—Michigan’s second bowl victory of the 1981 calendar year. We played “Coming to America” at halftime, blew the roof off the Astrodome and got a standing O coming off the field. I was in rank 8 trumpets that year. I treasure those memories.
M 28 - Bama…
I’m going with:
M 28 - Bama 24
UT 42 - UW 38
I was in MMB standing just 7.5 yards away from Bob Ufer when he gave that speech at Citrus Junior College on 12/31/80. Just as he started to speak the PA system at the stadium went out so no one outside of earshot of his voice could even hear it. Fortunately Art Vuolo recorded it and put it in the LP or it probably would have been lost forever. Of many pep talks I had heard at rallies and at busts I always thought that one was Ufer’s best— his Magnum opus. I do know that the players and coaches standing on the sidelines right in front of hm all heard it and responded accordingly the following day. So tragic that we lost him just ten months later. Thanks for bringing the speech back and updating it for today’s game. It brings back great memories! I am sure Bob Ufer will be watching and throwing down maize and blue halos from up in Football Valhalla this afternoon!
Go Blue!
I think the 1995 OSU game would have to be considered as well. The Biakabutuka game is one of my all time favorites.
My recollection is that they would bring out the banner out a couple of times each season throughout the early to mid-80's anyway. Usually for the couple of nationaly televsied games that there would be each year. Howard King would get on the PA and announce that the TV coverage would be starting and ask the crowd to make some noise. I think the banner was used to hype the crowd a little bit more on those occasions. Also when games were nationally televised back then they would bring in additional lighting which added to the atmosphere. Those games were special and the crowd responded accordingly.
As you can see we didn't come on stage with the standard 200 steps per minute cadence. We tried it at the morning rehearsal and almost collapsed the risers. That's why we entered at abount an 80 cadence. Bob Hope quipped "and that's how they left Wisconsin last week" right after we marched out. That was the week anfter the 21-14 loss at Madison when Michigan had been ranked #1 heading into the 1981 season. To put this on your timeline the very next Saturday after this performance was the 25-7 win over ND when they were ranked #1.
Row 80 is just a couple of rows above the level where you enter the stadium so acces to restrooms and concessions is excellent. I sit just baout directly opposite those seats in section 34 Row 82 and really like the view from up there. You get a great view of the O line blocking and holes opening and closing from that perspective. i think you'll like those seats.
1. Penn State - Best game day atmosphere and great fans.
2. Northwestern - So much to do in Chicago and so Michigan friendly as well. I love taking the Red line north out of the city. The cheers always seem to start on the platforms as the M fans begin to gather.
3. Wisconsin - Prettiest campus being right on the lake. Excellent brats. Atmosphere in the stadium can be crazy!
4. Iowa - Loved tailgating there. Enthusiastic fans and fun to hang out with. The campus is pretty cool too on a bluff over the Iowa River.
Enjoy the game and cheer on those Tigers MGrowOld!
S Isaiah Lewis
LB Max Bullough
LB Denicos Allen
DT Tyler Hoover
NT Micajah Reynolds
I’m lucky enough to be attending The game for the 35thconsecutive year this Saturday. My streak goes back to my freshman year in 1979 – the first Game after the Ten Year War. I’ve seen Michigan go 10-8 at Michigan Stadium and 6-9-1 at Ohio Stadium over that span. Tough to pick a favorite game in that span but seeing “Touchdown Tim” Biakabutuka unexpectedly rush for 313 yards and Chuck Woodson intercepting to seal the win in 1995 is probably my all time favorite. A close second would be the four second half lead changes capped by Demetrius Brown’s 41 yard bomb to John Kolesar into the south end zone of the Snake Pit in 1988. I’ll be cheering on the Maize and Blue from high up in Section 35 on Saturday after another awesome tailgate over on Pauline Ave. I’m looking forward to getting out there on last time this year with all my tailgate friends. My advice to the newbies: Cheer hard, leave hoarse and don’t act like a Buckeye! Go Blue!
I’m planning to Mgovacation on the banks of the Upper Kenai River around Cooper Landing, AK , spend some time enjoying the beautiful surroundings and hopefully FedEx some freshly caught Silver (Coho) salmon back to Michigan to treat my fellow tailgaters over on Pauline Blvd to “Maple Rosemary Planked Salmon” before the Central game. That should be a nice way to kick off the season.
RT Airfare from Flint on Delta with one stop each way $325, suite at the Holiday Inn on Wet n Wild Way (apparently closest hotel to Jerry World?) for $135 and game ticket for $175. I'm sharing the hotel room with friends so I'll be in for about $550 plus cab fares and beer money. I booked air fare and hotel right after New Year's. Can hardly wait!
Nemo's at Michigan and Eighth is always a fun place to stop especially on Opening Day. They will have a tent set up in the parking lot and I'm sure they will be open first thing in the morning. From Nemo's you can catch the shuttle to Comerica or you could hike it and do a pub crawl on the way....Lager House, one hand of blackjack at MGM, one round on the deck at Bookie's and one at the Filmore right before game time. There's plenty of parking on the streets behind Nemo's and you could hit up Slow's for some bbq after the game.
Very difficult to choose one but I'd have to say the 1995 Ohio game. Biakabutuka’s performance that day was so spectacular and so unexpected that it elevates the game to all time favorite status in my eyes. His 313 rushing yards was just about triple Ohio’s output and it’s still our second best rushing performance in 132 years of football. I also loved the way future Heisman winner Chuck Woodson emerged in that game with two interceptions including one with a minute to go to ice the victory. The entire coaching staff, which included first year DC Greg Mattison were all trying to get Woodson to take a knee after making the final interception but Woodson ran it back around the right end before finally being pushed out of bounds into a wildly celebrating Michigan bench. After that it was victory formation and a 31-23 win.
My ealiest recollection of the team singing the victors with the MMB and the fans was after the first game against Penn State in 1993 -- the 20-13 win at State College. I was lucky enough to be sitting in row 3 that day. That was awesome! It happened occasionally from then on but only after really big wins. If you aked me doing it after every win as has been done the last three years diminishes the significance ot it. I'd like to see it go back to the old way.
My discovery of the sports section of the newspaper when I was about 8 years old just happened to coinside with the arrival of Bo and I couldn't believe the excellent records Michigan was coming up with year after year while I was growing up in Detroit. I remember watching the 1972 Rose Bowl on TV and even though there were no Michigan fans in my family while watching that game I decided then and there that Michigan would be my team. A few years later when I was in high school I was lucky enough to go to the '76 Wake Forest Band Day game and I was blown away by my first visit to the Big House. The next year I got my driver's license and started driving to a couple of games a year and then I finally made it to campus in the fall of 1979 and spent four years studying engineering and playing in the MMB. Now looking back my whole family and most of my friends are all Michigan fans, I've hardly ever missed a game in the last 31 years and I can hardly believe all of the great experiences I have had following the Maize and Blue. I've even been to every Michigan vs tSIO game since 1979 which I feel is one of my greatest accomplishments as a fan. I could go on and on but basically that is my story.
PS
I also have to mention the effect Bob Ufer had on turning me on to Michigan. For all of you fans who are too young to know about "Old Man Ufer" be sure to check out some of the recordings of his broadcasts. There was never a a more enthusiastic, knowledgeable and True Blue supporter of "Michigan athletics in general of football in particular". Be sure to take some time and learn more about him.
Thanks for posting the pictures. Being an architecture buff I really enjoyed the tour. To answer your question the oldest building on campus is the President's House on South U. It’s the big white house next to the Clements Library. It ‘s the only surviving building that dates back to when the University moved from Detroit to Ann Arbor in 1837. Apparently there were originally four buildings just like it that were built to house faculty-- two facing South U and two facing North U. The President's House on South U is the only one remaining. I would guess that the Observatory is the second oldest building on campus. There was another early building that unfortunately burned down when I was in school back in 1981. The Old Economics Building used to be just north of the UGLI and just west of West Engineering and it dated to 1856.
I would agree that Iowa is the better of the two destinations for a road trip. I tailgated there in ’09 and found the tailgating crowd to be very friendly and a lot of fun. Somehow we ended up parking next to a couple of big groups who were a mix of Iowa and Michigan fans so that definitely helped the situation. We parked at the north end of campus in the big parking lot by the Hancher Auditorium. That location had easy access to the I-80 so we were able to beat the rush out of town after D-Rob’s disappointing last minute interception. We also crossed the river and hit a few of the campus bars on the way to the stadium right before getting to our seats in time to see Warren’s pick 6. The stadium is not huge but the crowd is packed in pretty tight to the field and the crowd does tend to make some noise. Cool place to see a game. The quad cities area – Davenport, Bettendorf, Moline and Rock Island -- about an hour’s drive east of Iowa City has plenty of hotels and restaurants for an overnight stay on the way out or back. On top of all this we should have a decent chance this year with Clayborn, Ballard, Sash and Greenwood gone from the D and what with the Hawks breaking in a new QB. Maybe I’ll run into you out there. Go Blue!
Do an analysis of the 2008 offense and you will see that your so called "myth" was actually the stone cold truth.
....hopefully these two don't go the way of Grimes and Murphy.
My nephew and I will be there decked out in our Maize and Blue. It will the 32nd straight M-OSU game (16th in Columbus) that I've been lucky enough to attend going back to the 18-15 loss at the Big House in 1979 -- Anthony Carter's (and my own) freshman year. Looking back the wins at the 'shoe in '80, '86, '88, '90, '96 and '00 provide some of my best Michigan Football memories -- Bobby Thompson sacking Schlichter in '80, Matt Frantz wide left in '86, D. Brown to Kolesar in '88, Greg Frey stuffed on the option keeper in '90, Tai Streets to the house in '96 and Drew Hensen's bootleg touchdown to ice the game in '00. I'd really like to see more Michigan fans at the games down there. Lately even our own section is heavily infiltrated with Buckeyes. Come in Michigan fans! This will be a great opportunity to leave the gripers, groaners and complainers behind. I am looking forward to watching a game with true fans.
Here's a message that i sent to my tailgating friends yesterday. Maybe this would be appropriate. Let me know what you think..............
Soldiers, Sailors and Tailgaters of the Grey Lot!
You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of Ann Arbor are upon you. The hopes and prayers of civilized and liberty-loving people from around the state of Michigan march with you. In company with our brave fans and brothers-in-arms on the playing field, you will bring about the destruction of the Penn State war machine, the elimination of Nittany Lion tyranny over the oppressed teams of the Big Ten Conference, bowl eligibility and security for ourselves in a free world.
Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle hardened. He will fight savagely.
But this is the year 2010! Much has happened since the Nittany Lion triumphs of 2008 and 2009. Alabama and other conference teams have inflicted upon Penn State great defeats, in open battle, man-to-man. Other teams have seriously reduced their strength in the passing game and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Rich Rod and the coaching staff have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained and skilled football players.
The tide has turned! The Wolverines of Michigan are marching together to Victory!
I have full confidence in your courage and devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory!
Go Blue! And let us beseech the blessings of Old Man Yost and General Bo upon this great and noble undertaking.
-Commander of the Grey Lot Allied Expeditionary Force
At Ross Ade Stadium the Michigan Section is usually the south stands sections 130-134 and also the first few sections on the eastern side like 101 and 102. I just got my tickets for the game yesterday through the Michigan Ticket Office and they're in 130.
Welcome to the Big Ten Chicago Red! We had some great running QB's when Bo was coach -- Dennis Franklin, Rick Leach, Steve Smith, Mike Taylor and Demetrius Brown could all run the ball effectively. We went to a more pro style offense over the next 18 years or so and as you probably know developed some great pro style QB's -- Elvis Grbac, Brian Griese, Tom Brady, John Navarre and Chad Henne all played or are playing professional football. That said we have had nothing to compare with what we're seeing right now with Denard. He's easily the fastest player I have ever seen (at any position) and what has really impressed me about him this season is his grasp of the offense and his passing ability. The way I see it is we are looking at the combination of a great talent and a coach who understands how to use that talent for maximum results. It will be fun to watch what happens over the next few years. I'm looking forward to going to a game at Lincoln in a few years. I'll have to start following your team a more closely this year to get ready for it. Good luck this season!
I really hate to brag too much but it looks like I called it right at around 8:10 yesterday morning. I must have been channeling the ghost of Fielding Yost himself when I made that prediction. What a great trip to South Bend -- the game had a little of everything and even though I've been going to games for well over thirty years I've never seen a player like Denard. We are in for a treat watching this young man over the next few years.
28-24 Michigan. I'm heading to South Bend. Go Blue!
I plan to be in South Bend tomorrow. Traditional pregame walk around campus to check out the sights -- Fair Catch Moses, Touchdown Jesus, the Grotto, the Golden Dome, the concert on the steps the players walking out of the chapel and the band concert on the steps. Then the Joyce Center for a pregame brats and beers and finally off to the Stadium to watch D-Rob shred the Irish D. Should be a great day. I am Pumped!
I have made the trip to Purdue many times and have always had a great time there. There's always a strong Michigan contingent in the south stands at Ross-Ade Stadium so I know you'll have a great time at this year's Danny Hope Revenge Bowl. Let's hope the shoelaces to snake oil combo has a big day on Nov 13.
As far as the drive there I like to take I-94 west, I-69 south, US-24 west just past Fort Wayne and then Indiana 25 southwest from Logansport. This route is about 35 miles shorter (although probably about the same amount of time) as the I-94 to I-65 route. When you are coming into Lafayette on Indiana 25 you will notice that all of the football traffice heads west on US-52. I avoid a ton of traffic by heading toward downtown Lafayette and taking the Fowler Ave bridge over the river and heading west on Fowler toward campus. There's a church parking lot on the right just before you get to Northwestern Ave. There always seems to be more than average number of Michigan fans parking there. I was lucky enough to park next to Zoltan the Space Emperor's family when I went down for the '08 game. I think the vast majority of people come in from the north and park in the big fields north and west of the stadium so coming in from downtown Lafayette seems to work very well.
If your looking for a place to eat on the way there Don Hall's factory in Fort Wayne is a great place to stop. Its just off I-69 at exit 112A.