Youth Day Advice?
I'm driving in from Iowa for the Youth Day event with my 9-year old son who's desperate to meet Denard and get his autograph. Anyone know where #16 will be stationed? I know the offense will be set up around the North end of the stadium, from sections 37 to 25, but having some clue about where to go first might be helpful.
Go Blue!
August 11th, 2012 at 9:14 AM ^
The AD is not releasing as much information this year after the clusterf*** from last year's youth day/fan day. My only advice would be to get there as early as possible and station yourself outside the gate closest to the offense. I would also have mgoblog and twitter open on a smartphone, people will start posting locations ASAP.
Good luck! I hope your son meets Denard.
August 11th, 2012 at 9:16 AM ^
"I'm driving in from Iowa for the Youth Day event with my 9-year old son who's desperate to meet Denard and get his autograph."
I don't know if I should put you up for Michigan fan of the year or father of the year. I'm sorry I cant help you with your question but dad that is freaking awesome!
August 11th, 2012 at 9:17 AM ^
August 11th, 2012 at 9:56 AM ^
I remember the 2010 fan day. I got Tate,Denard and Gardner's Autos. Fan Day has changed a lot in 2 years and for the worse I hate to say. It needs a overhaul bad. But you sound like a great dad for taking your son. Good luck.
August 11th, 2012 at 9:58 AM ^
August 11th, 2012 at 10:22 AM ^
I have 3 kids in kids go blue club and we were not the winners. Guess I should have had more kids....I will be checking here for Denard's location....Thanks!
August 12th, 2012 at 12:00 AM ^
August 11th, 2012 at 11:06 AM ^
Wish I could go but in recovering from a surgery from yesterday.
August 11th, 2012 at 11:14 AM ^
August 11th, 2012 at 11:14 AM ^
I think changing the focus will be a very good thing, it's turned into a massive clusterfuck the past few years, by changing the focus to children it will likely scale down and people are less likely to be dissatisfied by the end.
Personally, this is my last chance to get Denard's autograph, so I really want to go. However they aren't even saying where he is this time (a good idea probably). I'll still go and just hope I get lucky.
August 11th, 2012 at 12:01 PM ^
I think the players should personalize every autograph, put a number on it, and only provide them for kids. That would help reduce EBay whoredom to another degree.
August 11th, 2012 at 12:07 PM ^
Things would be so much easier for Fan, er, Youth Day if adults realized coveting the autograph of an 18 year old kid is creepy. It's in the same general territory as not wearing a glove to a baseball game past age 12.
August 11th, 2012 at 12:42 PM ^
Why not simply deny admission to anyone not having....i dunno... a kid with them? If somebody claims they came to get an autograph for their kid tell them they will be mailed the autograph if they leave a SASE at the event.
If the intent is to have children connect with the players/team then require children to be present to be admitted.
Seems pretty simple to me.
August 11th, 2012 at 1:04 PM ^
August 11th, 2012 at 10:29 PM ^
eliminate personal items. Just have players handing out autographed UM posters like they do for most of the minor sports. My daughter was lucky enough to participate in a Umeet the athlete with women's softball. At the end of the experience they handed out university posters and the kids went station to station with the players to get their autographs. My daughter to this day has it hanging on her wall in her bedroom. It made a huge impression...kids do not need a helmet or whatever autographed to make that impact. It's pretty simple.
August 11th, 2012 at 2:40 PM ^
Is there still access to the field during this fan day? I haven't been to it since the mid 90's when they called it "media day" and did the team photo. After that the players all came onto the field and were fair game for autographs. Now it obviously sounds different. With the players at locations outside of the stadium or in the stands, can fans still get onto the field. I want to take my 5 and 3 year olds. Don't plan on them wanting to stand in autograph lines for 30 minutes, however I would love to get a few photographs of them running on the turf at the Big House. Any body know if they block the field off or if that is open to the public?
August 11th, 2012 at 3:06 PM ^
The field is supposed to be open. Details can be found on the athletic department's website along with a map of the stadium.
August 11th, 2012 at 3:50 PM ^
HI what time does it start
August 11th, 2012 at 7:46 PM ^
It's probably 100 times easier to google "michigan youth day" than it is to make an account for mgoblog to ask the question...
That having been said, it's 2:00-3:30 tomorrow. Get there early if you want a good autograph, lines will get pretty big an hour or so before 2:00 (or at least they did last year when it was just Fan Day).
August 12th, 2012 at 12:04 AM ^
August 11th, 2012 at 8:47 PM ^
I don't really like the idea of kids only just because there's college students and young adults tha would like to get Denard's autograph too.
August 12th, 2012 at 12:24 PM ^
Hope you get some good autographs and have a great time since you drove in for Iowa. Wish they could make it so you could get the whole team on a trip or at least all offense or defense. Still haven't seen what sections for what positions but sent my mom again as I sit in Charleston hoping she finally gets Denard for my son. Highlight last year was when she was in Devin's line and said "wow you are very muscular, do you think you will see any action on the field this year" not knowing who he was. His response was "I better" with a great big smile. Sadly even with the jerseys she doesn't know any player but Shoelace and the odds of her striking out this year are pretty much guaranteed.