I am also a child of the Attitude Era but have been a more casual fan the last few years and I always pop big time whenever The Rock (or anyone I loved from that era) appears. For those that don't know, here's a very basic version of what's been going on:
Cody Rhodes wins the Royal Rumble, seems to be headed toward a rematch with Roman Reigns for the title
Separately, Rock has been teasing for months that he wants to take out Roman
Cody seemingly steps aside allowing Rock to take his spot
Fans revolt
In response to the revolt, Rock turns heel, joins the Bloodline (faction led by Roman), Cody reneges on his "stepping aside" and will face Roman at Wrestlemania; Cody separately challenges Rock to a one on one
Rock declines one on one but proposes a tag match between Cody/Seth Rollins and Rock/Roman
Cody and Seth to appear on Smackdown tomorrow night with their response
For those not following the Bloodline story, it has been one of the best long form storytelling in wrestling since the Attitude Era. I'm absolutely eating it up.
I have been to Bloomington several times - my entire family are IU alumni.
I can't really offer any insight as to parking at the stadium - I got used to parking at my sister's house and walking over. I do recommend staying away from the "official" stadium lots, however. Too expensive and unless you arrive very early it can be difficult to navigate.
I've sat just about everywhere in the stadium. The stadium itself is nothing special, decent enough view from just about any seats. Where you want to sit likely depends on your priorities (being with fellow UM fans, price, etc.).
My biggest insights are food related:
1) Mother bear's is very good, but not essential. IU alum all swear by it. It's fine (I am admittedly a pizza snob).
2) Village deli is the "mainstream" breakfast spot. With good reason, it's excellent, but the major caveat that it can be a very long wait. I would suggest Runcible Spoon for breakfast/brunch. Admittedly I haven't been down there since 2014, but at the time it was the "secretly awesome breakfast place" that few people knew about. Odds are it may have the same waiting issue as Village Deli now.
3) Depending on the age of all the attendees, I strongly recommend Nick's for a good hangout/bar/non-Michigan game watching experience. Very fun. While "sink the biz" is likely no longer allowed, the Sink the Biz fries are a must.
4) Finally - Hinkle's hamburgers is basically the Blimpy burger of Bloomington. Very old school, they will probably yell at you for getting an order wrong, but delicious.
Bloomington is a pretty awesome college town, so enjoy!
I'm a fan of IU's campus. Bloomington is a very cool town. Don't leave Bloomington, however. It's bleak. I co-sign all positive opinions about Madison and Evanston.
Illinois is one of the worst in the conference.
Columbus was surprisingly nice (people excluded) and exceeded my expectations (granted, my expectations were that it was a literal landfill).
Clearly I have underestimated the quality of clothing you seem to be looking for - can't say I've ever had a need for a $50 t-shirt. I stand by my shameless plug of a Columbus based company
This might be blasphemy, and frankly I don't care if it is, but I am a pretty big supporter of Homage (Columbus based company, judge me all you will). Shirts are incredibly comfortable and soft and they have a pretty wide variety of brands. Some of their best stuff is NBA related. Also if you're into wrasslin' they have some awesome WWE gear.
Their Michigan collection has dwindled quite a bit, but they're always coming out with new stuff and often have pretty great sales/promotions. They used to have Michigan Starter jackets, if you need to be convinced. Regularly priced T is $32.
I have to say I am thrilled with this for completely selfish reasons. I'm taking my 1.5 year old for his first live football experience and I've been F5'ing the internet all morning waiting for this announcement. This times up perfectly with his nap schedule. Cannot be happier.
I agree with just about everything here. It's been a few years since I went there but Village Deli can be a pain of a wait to get into, I would also recommend Runcible Spoon for breakfast.
In terms of bars, Kilroy's is fine but it's the type of bar that's more like Scorekeepers, so if you're into that, great, otherwise I strongly recommend Nick's. Way more chill, plenty of TVs.
I was at a wedding. The wedding was for a friend of my then-girlfriend (now wife). I remember being completely disconnected from the wedding itself, watching on my phone. I let out an audible yelp when Trey's shot went in and got stared at by just about everyone at my table. About 1.5-2 seconds later, I heard an audible "NO!!!!!" from the other side of the ballroom. It was a Kansas fan on a slight delay. What a glorious night.
Also may have been the night I realized my then-girlfriend was a keeper because she didn't kill me.
I'm a Bears fan and for Peppers's sake I really hope the Bears don't take him. They would find a way to ruin him and I don't think I can mentally handle that.
My sister lives in Columbus, and I am flying in Friday morning to get a lay of the land (I hear there's some excellent food). I think she's taking me to an OSU tailgate that is supposedly pretty tame. If not, I intend on simply going to and from the stadium without stopping anywhere.
This year will be my first time going to Columbus for The Game. Admittedly, reading the several threads over the last couple weeks as well as Brian's story have certainly given me some pause. I intend to be as respectful as humanly possible, both because it's the right thing to do and because I value my own safety.
My sister lives in Columbus, but I am going to The Game alone. If anyone has any tips (other than "don't go"), they are all greatly appreciated, no matter how blatantly obvious some may be.
I cannot say that 2C is the official Michigan section. In fact I'm pretty sure it's anything but, and right next to one of the (I think there are two?) student sections. But I am sitting in Section 2C, and hope that many more fans of the good guys will join me.
I bought my ticket to Columbus for $281 and within hours the lowest single game ticket was over $300. I happened to buy around halftime of the Nebraska game when the end result was clear. I imagine prices will go below that slightly the week of The Game but I feel very happy in my decision.
It is my first time as well. My sister lives in Columbus and probably won't live there much longer so this may be my only chance for free lodging. I couldn't resist. I'm nervous but excited. I will continue to campaign for as many Michigan fans as possible to buy tickets in section 2C as that's where my ticket is.
I will also be in Columbus that weekend. I have no idea where the Michigan allotment for tickets is, but I will be sitting in section 2C row 8. Seats are high up in the endzone. Would be happy to have as many Michigan fans nearby as possible.
Sorry, this is a sore subject for me. It was so so so bad when he was Bears DC
Following one of the worst defensive seasons in Bears' history in 2013, Tucker received criticism from the media.[9] As a result, team fired two of Tucker's assistant coaches, linebackers coach Tim Tibesar and defensive line coach Mike Phair.[10] The Bears replaced them with Paul Pasqualoni as defensive line coach andReggie Herring as linebackers coach.[11]
On January 20, 2015, following another record-setting low defensive season for the Bears, Tucker was replaced by former San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio under new head coach John Fox.[12]
What he has done with a roster brutally devoid of a lot of talent is really really impressive. So no, Fangio would not bother me at all. I would, however, be more concerned about his system fitting with the current roster.
I have been going through this process as well, with my wedding coming up in August (before football season obviously). It's really not as stressful/bad/whatever as you might think, but I do have one piece of advice: get your guest list in order ASAP. It's going to change several times, particularly with your parents and future in-laws' lists. Parents can be an incredible pain during this process.
The guest list has by far been the most stressful part. We were hoping to have a moderate-to-small wedding, and it blew up faster than I could have ever imagined. Get that in order. Everything else (band/DJ, flowers, venue, etc.) really isn't all that bad.
I could reiterate and say DON'T SPEND MONEY, but that's obvious, and a little harder than I ended up realizing.
I always mention this because I'm very proud of my pup. I named my dog Woodley. It's less common, and celebrates one of my favorite seasons of football.
I've got a 3 year old Chinese Shar Pei named Woodley. I figured it'd be a little different from your classics "Bo" or "Charles" or "Brady" (for Tom, not Hoke).
Not only was he one hell of a ballplayer, but I had the pleasure of meeting him about 13 years ago, I believe his final season. I was a teenager traveling with my grandparents to see a bunch of ballparks, and the Padres were in San Francisco (which, by the way, is a beautiful place to see a game). He was signing autographs, doing the rounds with the fans, and he took like 5-7 minutes just to talk to me about how much he loved the game and how he'd miss it. Really seemed like a genuinely nice guy.
Cool story bro, I know. RIP Tony and condolences to your family.
As a Bulls fan, I've been through the whole "will he or won't he play if we go deep in the playoffs" with Derrick Rose. Granted, that was an acl tear and Mitch's issue is a back, but this whole idea only leads to disappointment.
As a proud member of the Chicago alumni fan base, I can confidently say we would show up in Milwaukee in droves. Chicago-based fans tend to travel well
It's football day in the office to celebrate the opening week of the NFL season, so everyone is representing their pro teams. Naturally I'm rocking my Chad Henne circa 2006 jersey. GO BLUE
Obviously at this point I'm just convincing myself it'll be ok, whether that's true or not (I do believe it will be), but what about Jake Butt? We don't really have a tall, rangy receiver other than Dukes who could fill a similar role, so why not put a heavier emphasis on the TEs
Recent Comments
I am also a child of the Attitude Era but have been a more casual fan the last few years and I always pop big time whenever The Rock (or anyone I loved from that era) appears. For those that don't know, here's a very basic version of what's been going on:
For those not following the Bloodline story, it has been one of the best long form storytelling in wrestling since the Attitude Era. I'm absolutely eating it up.
I have been to Bloomington several times - my entire family are IU alumni.
I can't really offer any insight as to parking at the stadium - I got used to parking at my sister's house and walking over. I do recommend staying away from the "official" stadium lots, however. Too expensive and unless you arrive very early it can be difficult to navigate.
I've sat just about everywhere in the stadium. The stadium itself is nothing special, decent enough view from just about any seats. Where you want to sit likely depends on your priorities (being with fellow UM fans, price, etc.).
My biggest insights are food related:
1) Mother bear's is very good, but not essential. IU alum all swear by it. It's fine (I am admittedly a pizza snob).
2) Village deli is the "mainstream" breakfast spot. With good reason, it's excellent, but the major caveat that it can be a very long wait. I would suggest Runcible Spoon for breakfast/brunch. Admittedly I haven't been down there since 2014, but at the time it was the "secretly awesome breakfast place" that few people knew about. Odds are it may have the same waiting issue as Village Deli now.
3) Depending on the age of all the attendees, I strongly recommend Nick's for a good hangout/bar/non-Michigan game watching experience. Very fun. While "sink the biz" is likely no longer allowed, the Sink the Biz fries are a must.
4) Finally - Hinkle's hamburgers is basically the Blimpy burger of Bloomington. Very old school, they will probably yell at you for getting an order wrong, but delicious.
Bloomington is a pretty awesome college town, so enjoy!
I'm a fan of IU's campus. Bloomington is a very cool town. Don't leave Bloomington, however. It's bleak. I co-sign all positive opinions about Madison and Evanston.
Illinois is one of the worst in the conference.
Columbus was surprisingly nice (people excluded) and exceeded my expectations (granted, my expectations were that it was a literal landfill).
Clearly I have underestimated the quality of clothing you seem to be looking for - can't say I've ever had a need for a $50 t-shirt. I stand by my shameless plug of a Columbus based company
This might be blasphemy, and frankly I don't care if it is, but I am a pretty big supporter of Homage (Columbus based company, judge me all you will). Shirts are incredibly comfortable and soft and they have a pretty wide variety of brands. Some of their best stuff is NBA related. Also if you're into wrasslin' they have some awesome WWE gear.
Their Michigan collection has dwindled quite a bit, but they're always coming out with new stuff and often have pretty great sales/promotions. They used to have Michigan Starter jackets, if you need to be convinced. Regularly priced T is $32.
Am I the only one who thinks Alex sounds remarkably like Ace? Do I just miss Ace?
…
Texas already has 3 losses
I wish I did not engage the topic as the only thing that matters is winning right now. Who cares about the rest.
I have to say I am thrilled with this for completely selfish reasons. I'm taking my 1.5 year old for his first live football experience and I've been F5'ing the internet all morning waiting for this announcement. This times up perfectly with his nap schedule. Cannot be happier.
I agree with just about everything here. It's been a few years since I went there but Village Deli can be a pain of a wait to get into, I would also recommend Runcible Spoon for breakfast.
In terms of bars, Kilroy's is fine but it's the type of bar that's more like Scorekeepers, so if you're into that, great, otherwise I strongly recommend Nick's. Way more chill, plenty of TVs.
Mother Bear's pizza is excellent.
84-76 M
I was at a wedding. The wedding was for a friend of my then-girlfriend (now wife). I remember being completely disconnected from the wedding itself, watching on my phone. I let out an audible yelp when Trey's shot went in and got stared at by just about everyone at my table. About 1.5-2 seconds later, I heard an audible "NO!!!!!" from the other side of the ballroom. It was a Kansas fan on a slight delay. What a glorious night.
Also may have been the night I realized my then-girlfriend was a keeper because she didn't kill me.
I'm a Bears fan and for Peppers's sake I really hope the Bears don't take him. They would find a way to ruin him and I don't think I can mentally handle that.
My sister lives in Columbus, and I am flying in Friday morning to get a lay of the land (I hear there's some excellent food). I think she's taking me to an OSU tailgate that is supposedly pretty tame. If not, I intend on simply going to and from the stadium without stopping anywhere.
This year will be my first time going to Columbus for The Game. Admittedly, reading the several threads over the last couple weeks as well as Brian's story have certainly given me some pause. I intend to be as respectful as humanly possible, both because it's the right thing to do and because I value my own safety.
My sister lives in Columbus, but I am going to The Game alone. If anyone has any tips (other than "don't go"), they are all greatly appreciated, no matter how blatantly obvious some may be.
I cannot say that 2C is the official Michigan section. In fact I'm pretty sure it's anything but, and right next to one of the (I think there are two?) student sections. But I am sitting in Section 2C, and hope that many more fans of the good guys will join me.
I bought my ticket to Columbus for $281 and within hours the lowest single game ticket was over $300. I happened to buy around halftime of the Nebraska game when the end result was clear. I imagine prices will go below that slightly the week of The Game but I feel very happy in my decision.
It is my first time as well. My sister lives in Columbus and probably won't live there much longer so this may be my only chance for free lodging. I couldn't resist. I'm nervous but excited. I will continue to campaign for as many Michigan fans as possible to buy tickets in section 2C as that's where my ticket is.
I will also be in Columbus that weekend. I have no idea where the Michigan allotment for tickets is, but I will be sitting in section 2C row 8. Seats are high up in the endzone. Would be happy to have as many Michigan fans nearby as possible.
Exactly
I'm not sure there's a better fit than Tom Crean and U2, also props to the Seton Hall coach for saying Beastie Boys.
Ahh, I see. I love the Bears, but Michigan matters more. So, to answer your question, a resounding yes.
Sorry, this is a sore subject for me. It was so so so bad when he was Bears DC
Following one of the worst defensive seasons in Bears' history in 2013, Tucker received criticism from the media.[9] As a result, team fired two of Tucker's assistant coaches, linebackers coach Tim Tibesar and defensive line coach Mike Phair.[10] The Bears replaced them with Paul Pasqualoni as defensive line coach andReggie Herring as linebackers coach.[11]
On January 20, 2015, following another record-setting low defensive season for the Bears, Tucker was replaced by former San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio under new head coach John Fox.[12]
What he has done with a roster brutally devoid of a lot of talent is really really impressive. So no, Fangio would not bother me at all. I would, however, be more concerned about his system fitting with the current roster.
I'm a Bears fan, and this name scares the bejeezus out of me. Please no. Please please please no.
Defer. It's always defer.
I have been going through this process as well, with my wedding coming up in August (before football season obviously). It's really not as stressful/bad/whatever as you might think, but I do have one piece of advice: get your guest list in order ASAP. It's going to change several times, particularly with your parents and future in-laws' lists. Parents can be an incredible pain during this process.
The guest list has by far been the most stressful part. We were hoping to have a moderate-to-small wedding, and it blew up faster than I could have ever imagined. Get that in order. Everything else (band/DJ, flowers, venue, etc.) really isn't all that bad.
I could reiterate and say DON'T SPEND MONEY, but that's obvious, and a little harder than I ended up realizing.
Good luck and congrats!
Not only was he one hell of a ballplayer, but I had the pleasure of meeting him about 13 years ago, I believe his final season. I was a teenager traveling with my grandparents to see a bunch of ballparks, and the Padres were in San Francisco (which, by the way, is a beautiful place to see a game). He was signing autographs, doing the rounds with the fans, and he took like 5-7 minutes just to talk to me about how much he loved the game and how he'd miss it. Really seemed like a genuinely nice guy.
Cool story bro, I know. RIP Tony and condolences to your family.
Shut. It. Down.
2014 >>> 2013
IS IT SATURDAY YET
Highlight for me was when Dan asked Coach "if Johnny Manziel was your QB..."
Coach replied "he would be behind Devin Gardner right now"
That run by Smith was fantastic. Made my day
-Our Fearless Leader
As for Chesson, despite his height, it's clear he and Darboh are not the same type of receiver. I'm not completely oblivious
MOAR TARGETS FOR FUNCHESS
Commence the 1,078th discussion on who wins each battle
The apparatus itself?
The running back?
The person who set up the gauntlet?
The cameraman?