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Ahhh! I LOVE this post.

It wasn't long ago that we were choking this board with posts full of reasons for yet another loss.  Today, we talk about the size of our helmet stickers.  This is music to my ears.

Peppers is the worst (term used very loosely) example of trying to figure out the proper sticker size for the available real estate conundrum.  If you take the typical Michigan starter, the stickers will probably fill the helmet for a full season.  Peppers' helmet is downright.......beautiful!!!

Just win.  Win, baby, WIN.

A parting thought: New, smaller stickers may already be on order for next year -- for Peppers.  Everyone else will use up the current ones.

Kill was good for the other U-M and the B1G!

Ugh!!

Jerry Kill coached here at Saginaw Valley State University. He was highly successful taking teams deep into the playoffs.

Last year when Kill beat Michigan at Michigan Stadium, I went into the visitor's post game presser. I identified myself to him as being from Saginaw and proceeded to ask him what it was like to win back the Little Brown Jug, and to do so in this place. Among it being one of his proudest moments of his career, he specifically acknowledged SVSU, that it was his first head coaching job and that Saginaw was a special place for his family.

I will always have deep respect for Jerry Kill. He was a class act. The University of Minnesota and the Big Ten were better because of him.

Thank you, Coach Kill. May God shed His grace on you.

My thoughts...

Buy high; see game.

Buy low; see game.

The common denominator: buy.  Without that you see no game.

The End.

@ UM Fan from Sydney

I attend funerals all of the time.  I will be directing one for MSU on Saturday beginning at 3:30 pm.  We have seating for 107,601 at the Church of Harbaugh if you would like to join us.

Pure Michigan Religion: Harbaugh 3:16

Harbaugh 3:16

For Jim so loved the game that he gave into his only begotten fun, that whoever believes in winning shall not parish but have an eternal Michigan Football life.

On a scale of...

On a scale of Loud, Louder, and Loudest, the NW opening kickoff runback was...Loudester!  All other signficant moments this year: Loudest.

 

What I think is even more important, Michigan has had a lot of those moments this year.

Per Soulfire21

Per Soulfire21: "The worst of the precipitation appears to be staying to the north and west of us."

This means it's only going to rain in the student section!

rob f

You, sir -- I assume you are a sir -- own my new favorite MGoBlog post of all time with that gif.  OMG!!!!  And I am not even a musician.

Click, click, BOOM. Up go your points.

Partial to 1:30 p.m.

I'm from the days of 1:30 p.m. kickoff when Bo said that was the proper time toe met leather.

We should start a movement

that encourages fans directly behind each upright and three feet on each side of them to wear white shirts to give some added contrast to help our kicker, and maize shirts to confuse the opposing kicker.

Ahhhh...but...

Do the drapes match the goal posts?

Stadium expansion plan info from 2011

http://mgoblog.com/diaries/next-stadium-expansion-latest-news

That didn't take long.

That didn't take long.

Runaway...

The words were actually, "runaway in Vienna."

Ufer made many wartime references in his broadcasts.  One of the most famous is the story of the "Bo 'George Patton' Schembechler Scoring Horn." The horn Ufer used was given to him by the nephew of George Patton, which was willed to him.  The horn was on Patton's jeep in the battles through France and Germany. The newphew, who lived in Chicago, asked Ufer if he'd like the horn.  Ufer responded with, "Is the Pope Catholic?  You'd bet I'd like it!" 

Ufer blew the horn after each TD, field goal or extra point.

Watching the band is always good!

To watch the band prior to their arrival at Michigan Stadium, take in the drumline steps performance at Revelli Hall, 350 East Hoover, directly north of Michigan Stadium, approximately 90 minutes before kickoff.  Then stick around and watch them walk to the stadium.

More MMB info can be found here: http://sitemaker.umich.edu/settingsandrituals/student_settings_and_ritu…

Poll to ranking correction

Duly noted and corrected.

+1,000 points

to you.  It would be nice if they make this an annual.  Michigan Stadium + game always = a great recruiting tool.

@ Cali: I'll see your move up

one spot by not even playing a game and raise you dropping down to #2 in coaches poll after '98 Rose Bowl win!

Yes

I've seen them several times. As for walking into the stadium wearing it, I don't know, but it's not like they check IDs at the gate.

Bo did practice indoors

The first indoor facility was built during Bo's tenure.   The old building is directly north of the outdoor practice fields and directly west of Schembechler Hall.

But your point is taken because Bo generally used the indoor field for preparation of bowl games to be out of the late fall cold weather.

Special Teams info

There certanly is a lot going on within the Special Teams unit this year.  Answers, so much as what Brady will offer up, to come at Media Day.

GoBLUinTx has it right

It doesn't matter how Key-Shawn's name is pro-NOUNCD' just as long as it's at Michigan.

Furthermore, if we could handle Tishmunga Biakabatuka, we can handle any name.

How Michigan determines attendance

Those games that have been mentioned in this post and in many other posts in the past questioning the accuracy of the announced attendance when empty seats are plainly seen, especially in poor weather conditions, Michigan counts all tickets that have been sold (whether the spectator shows up or not), players, coaches, team staff, referees, bands, media, stadium staff, concession workers, security personnel, medics -- EVERYONE who is within the boundaries of the stadium gates -- in the announced attendance.  This is why a 109,901-seat stadium can hold more than 115,000, or anything greater than 100,000 when several seats are empty.

Perhaps this year a new catagory can be added to the count list: Tickets that have been given away.

Saginaw Heritage was formed from two schools merging

From Brian's 'Hello: Brian Cole' report:

 

"Saginaw Heritage didn't exist as a school until 1988, and their history of producing college football players is short—Cole is the only Heritage product to commit to a D-I school in the Rivals database (2002-present), and a quick U-M roster search shows only two Wolverines from the school (Jake Malacos and Matt Sygo), both of whom only were on the team for one season in the 1990s. Michigan does have a nice history with Saginaw players, however, as the town produced S Shonte Peoples, LB Sam Sword, TE Shawn Thompson, LB Roy Manning, RB Jerome Jackson, DE LaMarr Woodley, and FB John McColgan over the last few decades."

 

Saginaw Heritage formed from the closure of two Saginaw Township high schools, Douglas MacArthur and Eisenhower.

This is not Heritage's first D-1 player, however.

Stuart Schweigert was heavily recruited by Michigan, but ended up having a successful career at Purdue (Safety) before being selected by the Oakland Raiders in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft.

Schweigert's high school days were spent competing against future MSU WR Charles Rogers in Saginaw Valley League play.  Oh yes, THAT Charles Rogers -- perhaps the biggest football bust to have ever come from this town, which included a horrendous stint with and subsequent release from the Detroit Lions due to well documented legal issues.

Since his retirement from the NFL, Schweigert has held a positive presence in the area, including, visits to his high school alma mater for some assistant coaching duties, and a principal owner of the local Continental Indoor Football League team, the Saginaw Sting, taking the franchise to the league's championship game multiple times, winning twice.

Also from Saginaw, I am looking forward to photographing yet another local native wearing the winged helmet in Ann Arbor -- a helmet design Heritage used themselves for several years before changing to a simple "H" design on the sides.

Nebraska and even tOSU are different animals from others

Regarding only the matter of attendance, traditional top-tier schools, such as Nebraska and even tOSU are different animals from the Michigans and Alabamas of the NCAA world.  The former are the only shows in town.  In David Brandon-speak, Nebraska and tOSU don't have to "share inventory" (cheeks in the seats) with any other major program in their respective states.  Michigan, Alabama, along with most other major programs across the country must compete for their ticket sales.  Alabama competes with Auburn; U-Florida has FSU and the U; while Michigan does so with MSU.  In my example laid out in the previous sentence, if either of these states had just one major program, the ability to sellout every game would be even greater than what it is.

In other words, something nearly catastrophic would likely have to occur if Nebraska or tOSU do not sell out.  Even with the puff pastries tOSU has traditionally placed on their non-conference schedule, you never hear of even a whisper that those games aren't going to sell out.

I grew up in the Schembechler-Ufer-Canham era.  You went to a Michigan game to see the GAME and to hear the band.  Kick-off what at 1:05 p.m. and the refs, not the network, called time-out.

Today, so many people need to be entertained in between being entertained.  So much of it is now required to be an "experience" rather than the armature college sporting event it is supposed to be.  Don't get me wrong, all of the upgrades Michigan has done with and around the stadium were necessary -- in order to keep up with the Jones' who also had to upgrade to try to compete with the historically successful programs.

And the wheel just keeps on turning.

 

 

In the process of writing this, I found a pretty good website that lists all of the football schools listed by state at http://prwolfe.bol.ucla.edu/cfootball/LinksList.html .  It doesn't identify which division the schools are in but it does help make my point.

Slapping the floor: scientifically more than just stupid

Apparently, the MSU School of Medicine has not educated the MSU coaching staff of the hazards of slapping the floor.

 

The floor itself may be a vector for disease.  As one player's hands harboring fomites slaps the floor, disease laden pathogens can be spread to other teammates who also slap the same area of the floor.

 

The primary concern would be for two players who play the same position.  If player 6 comes off the bench and replaces player 2, with player 2 harboring disease by way of fomites on his hand(s), and if player 2 had slapped the floor, player 6, having been inserted into the contest and within the same geographic area of the floor on defense, it is possible for the pathogenic microorganisms to find their way onto the hand(s) of player 6 during repeated floor-slapping activity, thus making the it both stupid AND irresponsible.

 

Unless or until they pass around hand sanitizer containing 64% or greater ethyl alcohol by volume during timeouts, the chance of spreading disease will remain.

 

@craigjjs

In your rush to explain that LB lives in a refrigerator box under an overpass, you forgot to mention the actual location of the overpass, that being "down by the river."

I had my own issues with MGBlog

at the very moment someone introduced me to the site.  But I am well, well past that. 

The blank face / shifty eye guy meme and supporting comments are the main entertainment reasons I find myself on here.  Despite the piles of BS, name calling and other sorted crap that goes on, I cannot get enough of the great lines and gifs posted on this site.

@ The FannMan: Larry Bird shooting amid lifesize posters

I remember it well.  Of course Larry Bird made the shots!  That’s what Larry Bird did. 

Boston vs. LA Clippers, reported to have taken place on Tuesday, December 26th, 1989.  Here is the video.  The moment in question begins at the 45-second mark.  Absolutely classic video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IM6z7auPpZs

 

 
Al's pre-game routine

For informational purposes only...Al Borges' home game pre-game routine is to stand just inside the tunnel opening (field end), alone, for a good portion of pre-game prior heading up to the coach's box.

Equipment truck -- driver

In my years of covering Michigan football, I once met the driver of said equipment truck...and it was not at a game.  If he is still the one who drives, he lives within about 30 minutes from where I am typing this.  The stories he must have of Jon Falk.  Note to self: Would make for an interesting interview.

Horses play football

Budweiser got them to play. I saw it with my own eyes during a Super Bowl and I wasn't even drunk...yet.

Ooof

The greatest value out of reading this thread is the +1 I just acquired from hitting save.

Might I remind everyone it was three short years ago we were discussing the entrails of three of the longest seasons anyone with a heartbeat can recall.

This must be how the chocolate cake tastes if grandma didn’t first wash her hands after mucking out the horse stall.

@Frito

As far as I'm concerned, the authentic 98 jersey IS the ol' Harmon sweater version.

Totals

NOAA: 30%

Wunderground: 20%

Weather Channel: 30%

AccuWeather:  10%

Intellicast: 30%

WXYZ (Det mets): 30%

UNISYS: 30%

TOTAL: That's 180%  Uh oh!

Hello 8th grade kid (2018)

Hello 8th grade kid (2018).

@ Dominate: +1 more Oh

You have one too few “Oh’s”...said the husband.

 

Drunken girls flailing: then and now

Clearly, kids have different standards today when it comes to drunken girls flailing.

 

0% is still a chance.

One particular day this summer in my local area the official forecast called for 0% chance of rain.

It rained.

 

<Insert Dumb and Dumber clip here>

Lloyd: What do you think the chances are of a guy like you and a girl like me... ending up together?

 

Mary: Well, Lloyd, that's difficult to say. I mean, we don't really...

 

Lloyd: Hit me with it! Just give it to me straight! I came a long way just to see you, Mary. The least you can do is level with me. What are my chances?

 

Mary: Not good.

 

Lloyd: You mean, not good like one out of a hundred?

 

Mary: I'd say more like one out of a million.

 

[pause]

 

Lloyd: So you're telling me there's a chance... *YEAH!*

 
Backpacks

Uh.  No.  See prohibited items here: http://www.mgoblue.com/genrel/060109aaf.html

That passage shows

how today's English is no longer the King's English that was once revered.

Somehow a phase such as, "the embodiment of all who dare stand on the gridiron to represent his team, and void of being reticent, through his tough play, speaks of well of his toughness as a man and of his character" sounds much better than "our team is going to kick your ass."

 

 

Point 3: Photo-Ops for the OP

I offer up these selections for photo opportunities, some of which I include in a previous post.

 

Exterior of the stadium

  • Head to Gate 8 at the northwest corner.  Just inside the gate is a bronze wolverine statue.  At just the right angle, you can get the wolverine, the pine trees and the block M on the back side of the north video board all in the same shot.
  • The northwest tower of the west sideline structure.  Look for the stairs immediately south of Gate 8.  Depending on the placement of concession stands on the lower concourse, the area between Gate 8 and the aforementioned stairs is my pick for the best shot of any of the four towers.  It puts the size of the building in perspective of the surroundings.  You may need to wait to be let into the stadium before you can take an unobstructed photo of said view.
  • On the north end, Gate 9.  A clear shot of the block M on the back side of the north video board.
  • Gate 1, east sideline, the tunnel.  This is a very popular location.
  • By 6:00 p.m., from Section 1 left stairway (at the tunnel), watch the players and coaches arrive to the stadium locker room. Gates to Michigan Stadium open at this time also. I recommend walking in immediately after watching the team arrive.

 

Interior of the stadium

  • Enter stadium at Gate 1 and begin taking in the enormity of the new construction on the East side. Note the old art deco style “michigan stadium” letters (all lower case) over Section 1 entrance into the bowl straight ahead. These letters, and the corresponding letters over Section 23 entrance on the West side, came from atop the former press box.
  • Take a peek inside the bowl from Section 1 or Section 44. While there, note the section of chair back seats at midfield at the top of the bowl on the opposite side. That area is the footprint of the former press box. Note the spatial differences between the location of the old press box and the new sideline structure.
  • Heading back out of the seating bowl to the concourse, walk from one end of the East lower concourse to the other, noting the signage of former Michigan greats along the outer wall. At the Southeast corner of the lower concourse is a display of the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Wall of Fame.
  • By way of the north end or the south end, walk around to the west side of the stadium. Along the way take in the special inlaid bricks at each of the four corners (entrance gates) of the stadium and the corresponding “plazas”.
  • On the west side, note the shields mounted on the exterior wall of the lower concourse identifying each of Michigan’s 11 national championship teams.
  • Again, above Section 23 entrance, note the “michigan stadium” letters.
  • My selection for TOP PHOTO-OP: From either the southwest tower or the northwest tower of the west sideline structure, take the public stairway to the upper concourse. It is the ONLY space from within either sideline structure available to the public. This space, being above the last row of seats in the bowl, provides a vantage point of the stadium never before available to fans.  Be sure to take in the breathtaking view at the northwest end (above student section) of downtown Ann Arbor.  It is exceptional!
  • When matriculating from one end of the upper concourse to the other, you will want to take the path around the back side of the concessions (closest toward Main Street).  Be sure to take in the view of what is at this point in the evening a closed Main Street.
For Sllepy81 and MGoSoftball

Since I shoot on the field, I am not a stadium team member.  I know the limit on length of lens is officially "under six inches."  However, I have seen someone who got away with carrying in a camera with a lens much larger than the six inches and a monopod!  I was surprised he was able to get it through the gates.  I have never seen anyone at the gates take out a tape measure to see if a camera is within the limits.  The biggest issue is making sure your camera is protected from the rain!!!  Rain is NOT good for all of those electronics.

 

My suggestion is, if you're adamant about taking in your camera, be prepared to have to walk it back to your car if you are turned away at the gate.  If you can get it in, good for you.  Just make it worth your while once you get it in there!

An ad for mac-n-cheese

on a college campus is like offering water to someone who has been lost in a desert for days.  From the wide shot of it posted yesterday, the noodle is positioned on the north concourse.  With the new rule requiring students to enter at Gate 10, EVERY student will have to pass by it.

 

EDIT:  It is stated above that this was only inside the stadium for the WOW Friday tours and may not be there for the game.  Even so, look at the marketing tests DB is doing.  Everyone who was at Fan Day this year saw the Good Hands logo on the north upright nets INSIDE Michigan Stadium.  It was later reported that the nets will not be adorned with the ad for the football season to keep the policy of no ads inside Michigan Stadium (at least for the football season proper).  With these two not-so-subtle examples, there may be a 180-degree shift in that longstanding policy MUCH sooner rather than we think!

Check in for my weather report

after 7:00 p.m. Saturday.  It will be 100% accurate.

 

The fact is, it’s going to be so damn warm tomorrow that the rain will actually feel good.  I’ll have my raincoat for my camera gear!  That’s all that matters to me.  Anyone who was at the game in ’06 and/or at WMU ’11 are veterans and will stick around until the clock reads 0:00 (or game cancelled, whichever comes first).

 

Go Blue!

A photographer's list

I appreciate this post for slightly different reasons than most.  Shooting in inclement weather is a significant challenge.  Between rain, snow or ice, rain is by far the worst as very expensive equipment can be easily ruined without protection.  Warm rain is even worse as it can also produce fogging on the lens making it difficult to focus or render a clear photo.  The only challenge in cold or snow is keeping hands warm and batteries charged.

 

My top 3 in order of photography significance (I was not at Purdue game or else that would have appeared here):

 

#3        2006 CMU – Michigan’s first delayed game in program history.  One hour delay due to lightning in the first quarter.

 

#2        2008 Northwestern – Probably overall the worst combination of weather; cold temps with freezing rain/snow all game long.  This was the coldest game I’ve ever shot.  The loss made it even worse.

 

#1        2011 Western Michigan – This was close between the Northwestern game.  The sheer amount of rain made this game very memorable.  I got some great shots in the heavy rain.  The fact that it was a 3:30 p.m. start probably saved my camera.  I had placed an order for special camera/lens rain gear the day before through a store in NYC and ordered overnight delivery due to the forecast.  Just before my 11 a.m. departure to head to Ann Arbor, UPS delivered it to the house.  I just threw it in my bag and headed to AA.  As it came time to head out to the field, I pulled out my new rain gear.  Many of the other photographers were looking at me with extreme jealousy because I was prepared.  Others just laughed and suggested that I wasn’t going to need it.

 

As we all know it didn’t just rain.  It was a monsoon!  I couldn’t believe how many photographers were ill-prepared and trying to cover their equipment with whatever they could – towels, zip lock bags – anything.  Some photographers and videographers left their equipment out in the elements.  The THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of dollars exposed to all of that rain was mind-boggling.  That $70.00 rain coat saved my ass that day….and I take it with me to every game.

Make the most of your pregame time at Michigan Stadium

I actually just posted this on another thread and is applicable here, too.

 

 

In case this is the first trip to Michigan Stadium for either of you – or the first time since the new construction – these these are my recommendations to make the most of your pregame time:

 

• By 1:30 p.m., from Section 1 left stairway (at the tunnel), watch the players and coaches arrive to the stadium locker room.  Gates to Michigan Stadium open at this time also. I recommend walking in immediately after watching the team arrive.

 

• Enter stadium at Gate 1 and begin taking in the enormity of the new construction on the East side.  Note the old art deco style “michigan stadium” letters (all lower case) over Section 1 entrance into the bowl straight ahead.  These letters, and the corresponding letters over Section 23 entrance on the West side, came from atop the former press box.

 

• Take a peek inside the bowl from Section 1 or Section 44.  While there, note the section of chair back seats at midfield at the top of the bowl on the opposite side.  That area is the footprint of the former press box.  Note the spatial differences between the location of the old press box and the new sideline structure.

 

• Heading back out of the seating bowl to the concourse, walk from one end of the East lower concourse to the other, noting the signage of former Michigan greats along the outer wall.  At the Southeast corner of the lower concourse is a display of the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Wall of Fame.

 

• By way of the north end or the south end, walk around to the west side of the stadium.  Along the way take in the special inlaid bricks at each of the four corners (entrance gates) of the stadium and the corresponding “plazas”.

 

• On the west side, note the shields mounted on the exterior wall of the lower concourse identifying each of Michigan’s 11 national championship teams.

 

• Again, above Section 23 entrance, note the “michigan stadium” letters.

 

• From either the southwest tower or the northwest tower, take the public stairway to the upper concourse on the west side.  It is the ONLY space from within either sideline structure available to the public.  This space, being above the last row of seats in the bowl, provides a vantage point of the stadium never before available to fans.  Be sure to take in the breathtaking view at the northwest end (above student section) of downtown Ann Arbor.  It is exceptional!

 

If you go with my suggested timeline you will have more than enough time to watch pregame warm-ups since you will already be inside the stadium.

 

For this seasoned Michigan Stadium veteran, these are my pregame recommendations.

 

Have a great day.  I certainly plan to.

 

Go Blue!

For the Michigan Stadium first-timer

Blazefire is dead on.  Take in the stadium.

 

My recommendations for the first-timer:

 

• By 1:30 p.m., from Gate 1 left stairway (east side, at the tunnel), watch the players and coaches arrive to the stadium locker room.  Gates to Michigan Stadium open at this time also. I recommend walking in immediately after watching the team arrive.

 

• Enter stadium at Gate 1 and begin taking in the enormity of the new construction on the east side.  Note the old art deco style “michigan stadium” letters (all lower case) over Section 1 entrance into the bowl straight ahead.  These letters, and the corresponding letters over Section 23 entrance on the west side, came from atop the former press box.

 

• Take a peek inside the bowl from Section 1 or Section 44 entrance.  While there, note the section of chair back seats at midfield at the top of the bowl on the opposite side.  That area is the footprint of the former press box.  Note the spatial differences between the location of the old press box and the new sideline structure.

 

• Heading back out of the seating bowl to the concourse, walk from one end of the east lower concourse to the other, noting the signage of former Michigan greats along the outer wall.  At the southeast corner of the lower concourse is a display of the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Wall of Fame.

 

• By way of the north end or the south end, walk around to the west side of the stadium.  Along the way take in the special inlaid bricks at each of the four corners (entrance gates) of the stadium and the corresponding “plazas”.

 

• On the west side, note the shields mounted on the exterior wall of the lower concourse identifying each of Michigan’s 11 national championship teams.

 

• Again, above Section 23 entrance, note the “michigan stadium” letters.

 

• From either the southwest tower or the northwest tower, take the public stairway to the upper concourse on the west side.  It is the ONLY space from within either sideline structure available to the public.  This space, being above the last row of seats in the bowl, provides a vantage point of the stadium never before available to fans.  Be sure to take in the breathtaking view at the northwest end (above student section) of downtown Ann Arbor.  It is exceptional!

 

For this seasoned Michigan Stadium veteran, these are my first-timer recommendations.

 

Have a great day.  I certainly plan to.

 

Go Blue!

 

THIS JUST IN...new State of Michigan motto

Everyone in Michigan should be aware of the state’s new motto: Si quaeris 43rd Big Ten Championship amoenam, circumspice (mostly Latin)

 

If you seek a pleasant 43rd Big Ten Championship, look about you.

 

 

I have friends

with that last name.