John U. Bacon on the GA Student Section
My son just pointed this out to me. I see it was published on May 3, but I didn't see any reference to it on the board when I searched. It does predate Brian's belittlement of the the MSA president's complaint about breaking the "long-held social contract."
Whatever. I think Bacon is on to something and I think we, the university, and the athletic department should treat the student attendance situation as something to learn from and adapt rather than to fight back with a stick. The problem might lie closer to a place where Brandon will never look: himself and others who are focused solely on money.
Anyway, here is Bacon's article: http://michiganradio.org/post/students-aren-t-leaving-michigan-football…
SIAP
How about those other "two" random people who wanted seats in the stadium? Those students didn't have student tickets or didn't have access to other tickets. It's pretty simple.
Those other two students were too busy "pre-gaming" with Pat Stansik and missed the pre-game and kick off.
Pre-gaming with Pat is everything that is wrong with the Michigan football student section.
I think this was sarcasm
You're going to be a senior? Ok maybe I was off since I was 12 in 2006.
Bacon's argument here is really thin. I know he grew up in Ann Arbor so he went to a lot of games as a kid, but thousands of students (both in-state and out-of-state) attended their very first Michigan game just a few short days after their parents dropped them off for Welcome Week.
I don't think whether you went to games as a kid really determines future fandom, it means that you lived within driving distance and someone you knew (family, friends) had an affinity for Michigan football.
I really do enjoy his writing and Three and Out was a very well-written book, but he does whine too much about how better thing were in the past. Sometimes I think he just needs to, as Don Draper says, "Move Forward"
Don Draper, Mike Valenti, Pat Caputo are all douchebags
I was just comforting Mrs Rosen Sunday night. Get over it.
Who?
That's ok, I will just have Daenary sick her three dragons on you
"YOU MAKE ME SICK!"
disagrees with you. DB's stated purpose for the mascot, jet-pack man, parachuting the football in, etc. is to excite and engage the next generation of Michigan football fan. Can't say there are that many non-affiliated young kids sitting in $95 seats, but you never know.
What exactly is a diehard student?
What exactly does diehard mean? Who's dying, and what's hard?
They would actually hire boys? There you go Ferbert, you could have done this during college to pay for tickets too
That doesn't seem like a good job for a ghost.
You were a ghost while in college? How did that go over with your roommate?
He didn't know he had a roommate.
I consider myself a diehard fan, but I wouldn't buy no matter what because at some point (fast approaching), I just won't be able to afford them. The people who WILL buy them no matter what are the rich kids who treat the games as a purely social event and don't go if they don't feel like it or are too tired.
I do have a job. Unfortunately, I also have a lot of other expenses.
Stop drinking at the bar and drink at home. Problem solved.
Whatever you do, do not follow this advice ^^^^^.
...and switch to malt liquor. When money is tight, you have to make sacrifices. We've all been there.
I must've forgotten that going out and finding a good company to co op with on my part turned me into Sack Lodge from Wedding Crashers.
The Sack would never miss a football game.
Although im a grad, I still have the honor of sitting in the student section. Maybe its because general admission sitting works in my favor I havent really given it much thought. If you want good seats, show up early. Ive been doing it for years, but now I will finally get rewarded for it. I thought Bacon's article brought up some good points, mostly about our cupcake out of conference games.
I can't recall which comment, but someone said that John U. Bacon only supports underperformers - Rich Rod and the students. What would the game day atmosphere be like without the students? As a rising senior at Michigan, I wholeheartedly feel that we make the crowd what it is. Between the 20s are old and lifeless ticket holders that make as much noise as a passed out kid at Phi Psi. The Big House would be very dull without the passion and cheering the students add to the gameday experience. Furthermore, the students, especially Seniors and Juniors, are very upset with the GA seating. Although I will be at the game (haven't missed a home game since 2004), it wouldn't surprise me if a bunch of students don't show up in a rebellious act. Should be interesting. A lot of fights may break out between upper and lower classmen as many 2014 and 2015 feel entitled to be seated closer to the field.
that entitlement attitude will do wonders for the students when they enter the workplace.
GET OFF MY LAWN!
You know where i watched the Game my freshman year in 1995? Yup, my parents couch in NJ because it was thanksgiving weekend. Didn't get to see biakabatuka run for 300 plus yards cause I was home for thanksgiving. Our student tickets also didn't include the UVa game because it was before the school term started. So Bacon can spare me the shit he is slinging that its all Brandon's fault for chasing the mighty dollar.
I see no issue for GA. Maybe the seniors have a legit beef but its really not a big deal. I think I sat in my actual seats like twice as a student. Hopefully all the loud, crazy fans will be closer to the field ad will make it louder. Not to mention hopefully it'll cure the awful bottleneck getting to the seats. It shouldn't take 25 min to go from concourse to seats.
This isn't the Greek community's fault, as much as I've heard people try to go that route. This isn't Dave Brandon's fault. Its the student body's collective fault. Because they thought chugging those last 5 beers were more important that showing up on time. As a recent grad who pregamed before every game and still managed to show up early for the games, turning on the TV at kickoff and seeing a half-empty student section pissed me off.
If you don't want to show up on time? Fine. Sell your tickets to someone who will. There's thousands of alums out there who will buy your tickets, show up early, and stay well after the game is done.
It is Pre-Gaming with Pat's fault for glorifying binge drinking.
There we go, we now have a scape goat.
I'm more pissed that ticket costs have risen at fairly extreme rates over the past few years...
I couldn't care less about General Admission, but if that's your remedy for getting higher attendance, how about drop the cost a little bit?
I am going to get them regardless, but it's still annoying
I wonder how the players actually feel about it as well. That's something I'd love to get the opportunity to ask. How do you feel about your fellow students not showing up on time to see you play but the rest of the stadium has no problem?
What does the 'U' stand for in John U. Bacon?