Being at Yost that night is one of my favorite Michigan sports memories. 1997 was peak Yost, before the renovations. The media and Michigan staff were perched way above the stands on the side opposite the teams. You could hear the phone ring up there during games which triggered a cheer about the opposing goalie's mom. That night during the game, I remember a couple of the Michigan staffers up there start jumping up and down. We figured out what the excitement was about and news swept through the arena by word of mouth. In a minute or two, they put on the scoreboard that Woodson had indeed won the Heisman. Yost went wild.
Was in Rome for a couple days last summer and did standard tourist things. Top of the list were the Colosseum/Forum and Vatican Museum, well worth the time. Highly recommend reservations with a tour to avoid the lines. When we went to the Vatican, we also visited the nearby Castel Sant'Angelo. You can do it in an hour. A friend had recommended we add it because from the top there are great views of Rome. He was right. Worth it if you have the time.
We sat outdoor at a cafe at the Piazza Navona and loved the atmosphere, but not sure about the weather when you'll be there.
The best meal we had in Rome was at La Carbonara [Via Panisperna, 214].
Don't know if you're a wine drinker, but if you are, I recommend you try local wines and grape varietals. Don't look for wines that are familiar. Do the opposite.
I know you said you've got your to-do list for Florence already, but if you have a chance, look into an enoteca named Le volpi e l'uve [Piazza dei Rossi, 1]. It's on the other side of the river, just over the Ponte del Vecchio, but as you know everything is a short walk there. Tiny, intimate. Great wine and bar food. Really encapsulates that aspect of Florence culture.
If you consider yourself a foodie, I'd take a day out of your trip and get up to Modena. It's a fairly short drive from Florence. In Modena, you can make reservations to tour a Parmigiano-Reggiano producer, a Balsamic Vinegar producer and a Proscuitto producer, easily all in one day. Unique experiences and surprisingly easy to arrange. Happy to make specific suggestions if you want.
I was at the Cornell series, attended many games every year during the 90s and traveled to Boston to watch the 1998 Frozen Four. These posts bring back such unique and fantastic memories. "Ugly parents!"
I'd add Ohio stopping Oregon in the Rose Bowl to your list, also Iowa stopping Georgia State last year is similar, although not the spread. Same idea.
If the OL can't block the DL, you can't run it. That applies to any offense, including the Oregon (Rodriguez) spread. Auburn, Ohio, Iowa all had dominant defensive linemen.
Tell me again the offense that isn't inconsistent compared to Oregon?
We were one of the least penalized teams in the country the last two years. We were around the top ten -- along with the service academies (Army, Navy, Air Force) and senior-laden teams like Wisconsin this year. Plenty to complain about RR, but penalties are not a fair reason. They are a pretty good measure of team discipline (service academies, again) and considering how young we have been the past two years, the low penalty rate is even more of an accomplishment.
Every Michigan fan is dissatisfied with the team's record the past three (or more) years. Every Michigan fan recognizes the defense is really poor and has a long way to go.
But this is The Ohio State Week. Our knives should be turned outward. The amount of negativity, complaining, etc. is really sickening. I can't even stand to be on the other boards.
I'm going to Columbus on Saturday. I don't usually go to away games and haven't been to the Shoe since the mid-90s. But I decided to go this year. I wanted to support our team - both the players and the coaches - in the way they deserve.
There is time for discussing our coaching staff. Personally, I'm about where Brian is on this issue. Make changes on the defensive side, but don't get rid of RR. But whether or not I think the entire staff should be fired, THIS IS NOT THE WEEK for it.
An Ohio State alum, Chris Spielman, takes a shot at our defense, and the number of fans who can't agree with him fast enough just makes me want to throw up. He's a BUCKEYE, dissing MICHIGAN on the week of the game. How could any Michgan fan possibly give comfort to that this week.
Some of the naysayers need it too.
Seriously, the offense was substantially better this year, despite a true frosh at QB and our best RB and best OL hurt much/most of the year.
The defensive woes are mostly explained by a shocking lack of depth and youth.
Not that anyone is happy with the past two years, but realistically it's going to get much better. It's not like RR forgot how to coach football when he left WVU.
This explanation makes sense to me. I was among the group (of Michigan fans) who bought these one-time-only season tickets. They were small, white tickets.
I wondered if there were any OSU-related packages. I bought the entire season for $400 (times two). If there was a subset OSU package for $165 that would fully explain a large number of those seats available. I'm sure those busy Buckeye fans would tip each other off to their availability.
There definitely were more visiting fans there than usual. And they did stand out more because they all wear red. Some of the estimates I've seen (20%) are much exaggerated. 5-8% seems about right to me.
Excellent post.
I came away from the Big House today sad about the outcome of the game and also distraught about all the stupid Buckeye fans in the stadium.
But overall I was extremely encouraged about our future. I thought the team showed considerable improvement and we played a much older/better team almost even.
Can't wait to see what RR can do when he gets a full roster of experienced players.
I've seen Miller play a couple of times and was very underwhelmed both games. He's an above average junior high school QB, that's about it. I'd take him on my high school team, but I was expecting someone who stood out dramatically, and at least in those two games he didn't. His running was OK, but tentative at times. He's a very average passer in terms of accuracy. Again, I'm not saying he's bad, just that I don't agree with all the hype.
I just bought tickets through the MSU site for our game. The seats are actually pretty good. Section 125, upper deck, but appear to be at about the 30 yard line.
First time I heard "It's great..." was after the hockey team's National Championship in 1998 in Boston Garden.
When the offense lines up in balanced formation, say two tight ends, a split end on each side, and one back, the "strong side" can't be determined by the # of people.
Most teams then use the rule that if the offense is balanced, the strong side is the wide side of the field.
The Strong Side is where the offense is strongest, either by having more blockers on that side or by having more of the field to run to. Different defenses have different rules.
The real fun begins when the offense is balanced AND the ball is in the middle of the field. Then the defense usually has no clear rule. That's why sometimes when the offense breaks the huddle the defense looks confused about where to line up.
Add to that how some teams flop their TE after the teams get lined up (change the Weak Side into the Strong Side) and the defensive plan becomes even trickier.
Why does this matter so much. Two reasons (1) Many defenses use strong/weak side players - like Stevie Brown being the Strong Side LB - so they have to figure it out each play in order to know where to line up, and (2) defenses are often designed to overplay to the strong side. Michigan vs. ND was "slanting" to the Strong Side in the first half. Obviously you have to determine which is the Strong Side for that to work out.
The 3-9 record from last year, coming as it does with the loss to MAC school Toledo should be more than enough to maintain a very high level of motivation. We shouldn't be taking anyone for granted this year.
I'd add a couple more unique factors: playing against a former coach, playing the team from 8 miles away, and wanting to improve on the #26/#25 rankings.
Coach Rod's emphasis on weekly competition and working to get better is designed to overcome trap games like this one. I don't think the coaching staff will let down, and that generally carries over to the team.
I respect the band deeply. That's WHY I want to be able to hear them. The last people in the world I would blame for this situation are the members of the band.
Should those of us who can't hear this wonderful band (and I agree with that) just "shut up"?? Don't you care if we can hear you??
After all the work that is put in by the band, which I completely respect, aren't you incredibly disappointed to hear that a gigantic portion of the crowd NEVER hears you during the game?
There has to be a better place to locate the band so that more of us can hear you.
I totally, 100% appreciate the effort that the members of the MMB put in to be exceptional. They are hardcore, intense, musically talented and attractive. I think everyone, really, everyone on this board agrees with that. It's a false argument to imply that someone is insulting the band or that we want to ruin the fight song.
But what good is all of this talent, effort etc. IF I CAN'T HEAR the band at all? I sit in Section 12 and for the past two games I literally have never once heard the band. I know we have the best fight song in the land, although I only know that from the pre-game show, because otherwise I never hear it being played.
I repeat, what good is all of the practice and training if half the stadium can't hear the band?
The reforms I prefer - location of the MMD in the stadium - do not concern changing the quality of the band.
There is a place for both, but I would still like the band to be audible where I sit (section 12) because it would be nice to be able to hear The Victors during the game at least once.
My tickets were in sections 12 and 13 the past two games and we literally could not hear the band at all, which is very disappointing. I think the piped in music has a definite role, but there are still implementation issues to be fine-tuned, so to speak.
I wish the band would relocate to the end zone near the student section and face the center of the field. It seems like that would maximize the dispersion of their sound. It would still be very close to the student section.
Recent Comments
Being at Yost that night is one of my favorite Michigan sports memories. 1997 was peak Yost, before the renovations. The media and Michigan staff were perched way above the stands on the side opposite the teams. You could hear the phone ring up there during games which triggered a cheer about the opposing goalie's mom. That night during the game, I remember a couple of the Michigan staffers up there start jumping up and down. We figured out what the excitement was about and news swept through the arena by word of mouth. In a minute or two, they put on the scoreboard that Woodson had indeed won the Heisman. Yost went wild.
Bet
Just like football.
Round Hill Napa Cab in 94 cost $12. There's almost zero chance it was made to last 30 years. More likely it peaked around 2000.
Was in Rome for a couple days last summer and did standard tourist things. Top of the list were the Colosseum/Forum and Vatican Museum, well worth the time. Highly recommend reservations with a tour to avoid the lines. When we went to the Vatican, we also visited the nearby Castel Sant'Angelo. You can do it in an hour. A friend had recommended we add it because from the top there are great views of Rome. He was right. Worth it if you have the time.
We sat outdoor at a cafe at the Piazza Navona and loved the atmosphere, but not sure about the weather when you'll be there.
The best meal we had in Rome was at La Carbonara [Via Panisperna, 214].
Don't know if you're a wine drinker, but if you are, I recommend you try local wines and grape varietals. Don't look for wines that are familiar. Do the opposite.
I know you said you've got your to-do list for Florence already, but if you have a chance, look into an enoteca named Le volpi e l'uve [Piazza dei Rossi, 1]. It's on the other side of the river, just over the Ponte del Vecchio, but as you know everything is a short walk there. Tiny, intimate. Great wine and bar food. Really encapsulates that aspect of Florence culture.
If you consider yourself a foodie, I'd take a day out of your trip and get up to Modena. It's a fairly short drive from Florence. In Modena, you can make reservations to tour a Parmigiano-Reggiano producer, a Balsamic Vinegar producer and a Proscuitto producer, easily all in one day. Unique experiences and surprisingly easy to arrange. Happy to make specific suggestions if you want.
I was at the Cornell series, attended many games every year during the 90s and traveled to Boston to watch the 1998 Frozen Four. These posts bring back such unique and fantastic memories. "Ugly parents!"
I'd add Ohio stopping Oregon in the Rose Bowl to your list, also Iowa stopping Georgia State last year is similar, although not the spread. Same idea.
If the OL can't block the DL, you can't run it. That applies to any offense, including the Oregon (Rodriguez) spread. Auburn, Ohio, Iowa all had dominant defensive linemen.
Tell me again the offense that isn't inconsistent compared to Oregon?
I was driving by O'Hare Airport on May 25, 1979, when AA 191 crashed to the ground and exploded, killing 273 people.
We were one of the least penalized teams in the country the last two years. We were around the top ten -- along with the service academies (Army, Navy, Air Force) and senior-laden teams like Wisconsin this year. Plenty to complain about RR, but penalties are not a fair reason. They are a pretty good measure of team discipline (service academies, again) and considering how young we have been the past two years, the low penalty rate is even more of an accomplishment.
Ski mask experts and all. If I were the AAPD I'd start by seeing whether the Michigan State football team has alibis for last night.
We do what we can.
Nice avatar! Made me smile.
Every Michigan fan is dissatisfied with the team's record the past three (or more) years. Every Michigan fan recognizes the defense is really poor and has a long way to go.
But this is The Ohio State Week. Our knives should be turned outward. The amount of negativity, complaining, etc. is really sickening. I can't even stand to be on the other boards.
I'm going to Columbus on Saturday. I don't usually go to away games and haven't been to the Shoe since the mid-90s. But I decided to go this year. I wanted to support our team - both the players and the coaches - in the way they deserve.
There is time for discussing our coaching staff. Personally, I'm about where Brian is on this issue. Make changes on the defensive side, but don't get rid of RR. But whether or not I think the entire staff should be fired, THIS IS NOT THE WEEK for it.
An Ohio State alum, Chris Spielman, takes a shot at our defense, and the number of fans who can't agree with him fast enough just makes me want to throw up. He's a BUCKEYE, dissing MICHIGAN on the week of the game. How could any Michgan fan possibly give comfort to that this week.
Go Blue! Beat the Buckeyes!