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Sewer Rats, Sewer Rats clap…

Sewer Rats, Sewer Rats clap clap clap clap.

Do you believe Sir Yacht?

Do you believe Sir Yacht?

My Favorites

Stadiums I've seen a game in, in order of :

1) Notre Dame - nice stadium and pretty campus.

2) South Carolina (Williams Brice) - stadium looks like a UFO from a distance. Really nice people.

3) Penn State (Beaver) - Nice campus and the hosts were friendly. Probably because Michigan sucked both times I was there.

4) Northwestern (Ryan Field) - Nice, pretty campus, small stadium. 

5) WMU (Waldo) - Nice, kind of historic facility built into a hillside.

6) Ohio State (Ohio) - Always wanted to go there. Probably will not go back.

7) MSU (Spartan) - The stadium sucks. I have Jackson National Life Insurance and Fly Capital City Airport ads permantly burned into my brain after many visits here.

8) CMU (Kelly-Shorts) - No comment

9) Miami (Orange Bowl) - The OB was hot, humid, smelly and the seats were uncomfortable. Kind of like Bourbon Street in the daylight. I saw two Miami - FSU games here. The games were great and the fanbases hate each other.

10) Miami (Dolphins Stadium) - Sterile NFL stadium way away from the campus. But they had beer.

11) EMU (Rynearson) - Bad atmosphere, bad teams.

I've been in Sanford Stadium (Georgia) and Darryl Royal - Texas Memorial Stadium and would love to see a game in both. I've also been to SMU and Florida's Stadiums. Also Folsum Field in Boulder.

 

It was a long time ago

Not sure of the theater name. It seems like it was downtown, a la the Michigan Theater in AA.

Delete please

Nothing to see here.

Grew up in AA

I grew up a mile away from the stadium. The stadium was wide open on weekdays back then. Used to ride bikes there in the summer and play football. Sometimes they kicked us off the field, sometimes they didn't. We even played softball once, until one of the maintenence guys heard a home run bouncing off of the seats.

My first football game was in 1963 vs. Navy. Roger Staubach was Navy's QB. I was 6. All I remember were Michigan's helmets and Navy's gold helmets. I think Navy won.

In junior high I would walk to games, buy $2 student tickets and meet my friends inside the stadium. I think the price went up to $3 when I was in 8th grade. Basketball games were also cheap and easy to get into. Johnny Orr's early teams would score a lot. But so would the other team.

In other words, I really didn't have a choice.

Westfield NJ?

I think Butch was from Westfield. I've been there. Saw the original Jaws in a theater in Westfield in the summer of 1975. (I know, Cool story, bro).

It has happened at least once

The first time Ann Arbor Pioneer and Ann Arbor Huron played against each other they played in Michigan Stadium. It was in 1970 and Pioneer won 25-0. I was there and it was spectacular.

100%

100%

Not Dickie V

Pretty sure Al McGuire started the dancing metaphor.

Stadiums...

College stadiums at which I have attended a game:

Michigan, MSU, Ohio State, Penn State, Notre Dame, Northwestern, South Carolina, Miami (Orange Bowl - a dump), Miami (Dolphins Satdium), WMU, CMU, EMU (plenty of tickets available). 

Other college stadiums I've been to:

Florida, Georgia, Colorado, Texas, Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt, Miami (Not That Miami). Of those, I'd love to see a game at Georgia, Texas and Colorado. Tailgating in Athens and Austin would be a blast and Boulder is beautiful with the mountains just outside of town.

 

Mr. Tony has a daily radio show

The website espn980.com has podcasts of his daily two hour show. Very entertaining and smart show. He calls it "nominally a sports show". They do have non sports guests regularly like Chris Cilizza and Howard Fineman and the Washington Post movie reviewer. Plus Thursday's durning football season they have James Carville and a porn star named Courtney picking games. I highly recommend it!

I was there

And it was glorious. Hot, too. I recall a couple of South Carolina band members passing out on the field while they waited to play the national anthem before the game. And the people were so polite. I was congratulated five or six times by strangers for Michigan's performance.

Newest to oldest

Mad Men

The Sopranos

West Wing

St. Elsewhere

The Rockford Files

 

Yes, I am old.

Most sections

In most sections the entrance portal is in row 72 or 73 (I think). Several sections along the east sideline also have a lower portal around section 50. 

Future posts...

85 South Carolina

85 Ohio State

86 Fiesta Bowl vs Nebraska

86 Ohio State (the guarantee game)

My 1984 UM-Miami story - I sat in the first row behind the Miami bench. Late in the 4th quarter the Miami back up quarterback starts to throw and get loose, anticipating playing in the game. Miami gets the ball back and Kosar is put back in again. He throws interception #6 and Michigan runs out the clock to win. In my slightly inebriated state I yelled "Hey #14, you must really suck. Kosar is still playing after 6 interceptions and you are not".  #14 didn't really like my commentary, meeting my taunt with a nasty glare. It turns out #14 was Vinny Testaverde, future Heisman Trophy winner, who probably didn't suck.

Sad commentary on my life

25/25 in football, 124/126 in basketball. Missed Longwood and Mount St. Mary's.

Spartanizing

"All of that sounds excellent. From a selfish perspective I think the shot clock reduction hurts Michigan since they use their time on offense so well, but if it's part of a package that includes improving offensive flow by reducing the Spartanizing of the game I'll take it in a hot second."

This is clearly Izzification, not Spartanizing. Spartanizing is a dry cleaning process.

It is a bit of a walk

It is a bit of a walk from campus (near the lake) but in the university owned lots parking is free with many shuttle busses that drop you off right outside the stadium.

84 Miami is one of my favorites also.

Miami won the NC by beating Nebraska in the Orange Bowl the season before with Kosar at QB. I sat in the first row behind the Miami bench. I didn't heckle them until Kosar threw interception #6. I yelled at the backup QB who was standing right in front of me "Hey #14 - You must really suck. Kosar throws six picks and you are still on the bench". That QB was Vinnie Testeverde, who won the Heisman two years later. Good call on his suckiness by me.

I'll play...

I've been to see Michigan play at Notre Dame (08 & 10), Ohio State (04), MSU (93,99,01,03,05,07,09,11,13), Penn State (13) and South Carolina (85). Non Michigan games I have seen include Iowa at Penn State (00 I think), MSU at Northwestern (13), Florida State at Miami in the Orange Bowl (98 & 00?), Georgai Tech at Miami in whatever Dolphins Stadium was called then (07), and a bunch of WMU, CMU and EMU games.

The best experience was South Carolina. The fans were polite and welcoming (pre Spurrier) and Michigan just choked the life out of a pretty good South Carolina team. 34-3 win if my memory is correct. Williams Brice stadium is next to the South Carolina State Fairgrounds, so I have no idea what the campus looks like. Honorable mention would be ND and PSU. Both nice stadiums with friendly fans.

The worst was Miami. The Orange Bowl was hot, smelley and full of Cane and Nole fans, They did have beer, though. The Ga Tech at Miami game I thought a brawl could break out at any time, and there were no Tech fans around. The crowd was pure Jersey Shore meets South Beach. 

Couldn't agree with Magnum more

Don has been forced to back up a little. He is becoming more Dick Whitman and less Don Draper.

Anyone else know Bert was dead when Roger's phone rang during the moon landing? I'm not sure why, but as soon as it started ringing I said out loud "Bert's dead".

I don't think Don's dream of Bert's dance number at the end was anything other than a way to honor Robert Morse.

 

 

My two cents

Long time reader, infrequent poster. The front page material is very good quality and usually interesting. But the mob mentality of many comments and many of the MGoBoard posts are stupid and RCMB like. Read a few board posts and comments Saturday night and left. I choose not to live my life being as miserable as some seem to be.

Iowa was #1

Iowa was ranked #1 in 1985 for part of the season. Michigan was #2, setting up a 1 vs 2 showdown in Iowa City. Iowa kicked a last second field goal to beat Michigan 12-10. Iowa then lost the following week in Columbus. Michigan tied Illinois 3-3 two weeks later, then won the rest (including the Fiesta Bowl vs Nebraska) to finish 10-1-1 and ranked #2. Iowa lost in the Rose Bowl to the Pac 10 representative (UCLA I think).

Ed: This was supposed to be a response to comment #53.

Simple question for Mr. Bacon

How does Bill O'Brien really feel about Tim Beckman?

My list

Football best:

1) Michigan

2) Notre Dame - nice stadium and the fans were OK.

3) South Carolina - Williams Brice Stadium is OK, the fans were nice and M won 34-3.

Football worst:

1) Orange Bowl - Smelly, sticky and hot.

2) Landshark/Joe Robbie/Your Name Here Stadium - Sterile, with obnoxious fans

3) EMU - Plenty of good seats available.

Baseball best - Tiger Stadium

Worst - Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. Almost got Johnny Bench's autograph, though.

Hockey best - Olympia. Was 12 years old in the first row behind the Flyers bench.

Worst - Munn. Full of Spartans.

Basketball best - The new Crisler.

Worst - The Superdome, three rows from the top.

I was there

I was a volunteer at the Takeover. All of the tshirts, mini helmets and Fatheads were packaged and addressed at WTKA last Friday. All that was left was obtaining postage and delivering to the post office. Your stuff should arrive soon.

Williams Brice Stadium

I attended this game. We had a nice tailgate before the game, so my memories are somewhat clouded by beer. Here are my random (some might say scattershot) recollections of that afternoon:

- Williams Brice Stadium kind of looks like a space ship from a distance.

- It was a very warm afternoon. So warm that a couple of Gamecock band members passed out on the field before the game, standing and waiting to do their "2001 Space Odyssey" music for the teams entrance.

- The stadium was very loud and the fans were very friendly. Of course, this was pre SEC days for SC.

- The SC fans I talked to considered this a very big game for them.

- Harbaugh and Morris were very good, as was Thomas Wilcher.

- Paul Jokisch was very tall.

- The fans remained friendly, even when Michigan was up 20 plus points in the second half.

- Michigan basically manhandled the Gamecocks. O and D lines were dominant.

UVa

Didn't the Virginia legislature essentially make Virginia and Virginia Tech a package deal a few years ago when VT joined the ACC?

Michigan 67, Illinois 65.

Michigan 67, Illinois 65. Wait, that seems vaguely familiar.

Hall of Fame Wing

The MGoBlog HOF needs a wing for special contributors. Like baseball has writers in their HOF. Nominees could include Bob Ufer, Carl Grapentine (the football PA guy), Jim Brandstatter for his radio career and Lloyd Brady. Definitely Lloyd Brady.

Pete Franklin

I grew up in Ann Arbor and I listened to Pete Franklin after sunset. He was a sports talk radio host ahead of his time. He was very nasty to callers, but it was fun to listen to. Didn't his show end with a Jimmy Durante song? 

 

Ed: This was a response to Gordie Bell. Doh!

Breslin has a statue of Nipsy Russell outside

 

 

 

 

 

Bald referee

I believe the bald official you referenced may be Jim Bain, truly the worst baksetball official I've ever seen. In the mid to late 70's I thought more than once that Johnny Orr would punch him.

 

 

No problem. You had me

No problem. You had me questioning my memory, but Wikipedia confirmed it.

I grew up in a neighborhood

I grew up in a neighborhood off of Pauline Blvd. in Ann Arbor. I could go outside during games and hear the crowd roar. My first game was in 1963, when I was 6. I walked with a neighbor and his son to the stadium after halftime (in those non sellout days they opened the gates after halftime). I saw Navy (with Roger Staubach at QB) beat Michigan. I remember both the Michigan winged helmets and the shiny gold Navy helmets. The stadium seemed huge! Somehow I liked the winged helmets better.

The Van Arsdale twins played

The Van Arsdale twins played at Indiana.

New Big East name

Louisiana Purchase Conference

Ohio

Ohio - The Bastard State

Me too...

After the Toussant TD ruled non TD (which was crap) and the next TD negated by 25 yards in penalties I was convinced that Akron State would win. I sat in shock during the 3rd down play and peered (still seated) through the forest of standing people to watch the field goal attempt on the scoreboard. To go from a 10 point lead with two minutes to play to (in my mind) a missed FG and Akron State trailing by three with the ball and two minutes left was almost too much to take.

Front row seat?

Are you Lloyd Brady?

I think they have to accept

a bowl invite. The B1G wants the cash.

MMMmmmmmmmmmmmmm...

...Rebecca DeMornay in Risky Business...mmmmmmmmmmm.

Other coaches

How was RR's relationship with other head coaches? Did they respect him? How did RR feel about the coaches of Michigan's rivals - Charlie Weis, Mark Dantonio and Jim Tressel?

They are called Barnoculars.

They are called Barnoculars. Last year I saw one of the security guys at the gate looking through binoculars to make sure they were real.

Gabriel Richard/St. Thomas?

Gabriel Richard/St. Thomas?

aTm

My friends and I went extra early to watch Tony Franklin (Texas A&M's kicker) warm up. He was kicking 60 yard field goals with consistency and ease. Of course that was the era of tall tees and special balls for kicking, but still it was amazing.

I guess I need a new user

I guess I need a new user name. lukefickellissatan is just not as satisfying.

My Section 34 tickets are gone

The seats on the west side of the aisle in section 34 are being reserved for students. Included with my season ticket package is a sheet listing several other options. I'm supposed to list my preferences 1 through 5.

Here is the response to my email inquiry to the ticket office last weekend -"The side of section 34 closest to section 33 is where we must empty seats.  It's

possible that seats may be available across the aisle, so please feel free to

list that as an option on your form and we will do our best."



 I liked my seats. Row 37 is a really good height to watch the game from and I was two seats from the aisle (the center of the goalpost). I really like the endzone view, seeing the holes open on the line and the defensive lineman's jerseys strech out when being held. Goal line plays in the north endzone were awesome. Sniff sniff. I'm becoming verklempt.. Talk amongst yourselves.

Yes, I am old...

1984 World Series, game 5 - The Tigers beat San Diego and win the world championship. I was in the lower bleachers at Tiger Stadium. The MMB played before the game. Gibson's 8th inning home run iced the game.

1973 M-OSU 10-10 tie - I swear Lantry's 60+ yard FG attempt in the 4th quarter just missed.

1985 M-OSU - Harbaugh to Kolesar bomb iced the game.

2004 M-MSU - Braylonfest

1995 M-OSU - Biakabatukafest

2010 M at Notre Dame - There was hope (for a short time)

2007 M at MSU - Dantonio looked so smug with a 10 point lead in the 4th quarter

2011 M at MSU basketball - My MSU friends all received a scoreboard picture from me

1985 M at South Carolina football - South Carolina was ranked in the top ten. Michigan won 34-3.

1999 Florida State at Miami - FSU lost on a wide left FG.