UM allegedly threatens to arrest early birds for MSU Game

Submitted by Lionsfan on

According to some reporters online, UM had a designated 5am lineup time for the students today. But when some students showed up early, the school threatened to arrest them.

Some U-M students said they lined up at 5 a.m. and were threatened with being arrested -- because they arrived too early. #huh

— Rod Beard (@detnewsRodBeard) February 23, 2014

Apparently, it's illegal to line up early in Ann Arbor. RT @official_jmort: @detnewsRodBeard I'm one of them...that is 100% true rod

— Rod Beard (@detnewsRodBeard) February 23, 2014

Getting tweets from Michigan students who arrived before the designated 5am line-up time. School allegedly "threatening to arrest" 100+ fans

— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) February 23, 2014

Seems a bit excessive

MGoBender

February 23rd, 2014 at 11:12 AM ^

When I sat on a focus group for the growth of the basketball student section about 5 years ago, one of the things they said was they don't want any camping out.  That's a good thing - as a student you wouldn't want to have to camp out and with Michigan winters, it could be dangerous if students aren't prepared properly.

That all said - if they added student tickets to the lower bowl like they said they would at that focus group, there wouldn't be a need to lineup before 5am.

Wrap the student section around like the Izzone.  Reward the students (and future donating alums) and create a great atmosphere.  Prevent the need to lineup so early.

But no, logic doesn't beat $$$ in this athletic administration.

mGrowOld

February 23rd, 2014 at 11:14 AM ^

Holy shit.  it seems like the only thing our Athletic Department hates more than squeezing the last penny from each paying customers is the students.

Awesome strategy to destroy your future fan base guys - one jerkoff move after another.  I am so thankful when I was at Michigan the school seemed to LIKE the students being around.

WolverLaker

February 23rd, 2014 at 11:17 AM ^

Yeah, my roommates little brother was one of them.  I go to GVSU, but his little brother goes to Michigan.  They got there and lined up.  They were actually talking to a security guard and joking around with him.  He never mentioned anything.  Some other students showed up and started forming a different line. After that, a police officer showed up and asked them to move and if they didn't they would be arrested.  A little overboard. My understanding is they weren't going to move at first because they were there first, still a little much IMO.

Doc Brown

February 23rd, 2014 at 11:18 AM ^

I wish Dave Brandon and the rest of the athletic department good luck in growing a healthy season ticket holder and donor base. Completely alienating and threatening future donors is not an effective method. They are making my decision to end my donations to the athletic department easier and easier. 

Go Blue Rosie

February 23rd, 2014 at 11:20 AM ^

Give me a break, Brandon haters. Do you honestly think he controls campus police and APD? Clearly there was a miscommunication somewhere but blaming Brandon for this is a bit silly.

Go Blue Rosie

February 23rd, 2014 at 12:39 PM ^

All I'm saying is that not every decision made related to athletics comes from David Brandon. I'm not a fan of his but he has a lot of people reporting to him who are responsible for things like this. Making it sound like he ordered the police to arrest students is a bit far fetched. As AD he is ultimately responsible but according to people on this board, you'd think he was in the police cruiser giving the orders.

mGrowOld

February 23rd, 2014 at 11:23 AM ^

I'm sorry but this bullshit has to stop.  I know it's will undoutably fall on deaf ears but I'm going to write a letter to our esteemed Athletic Director and tell him, as a fellow alumnus, I am ashamed and embarrassed at the terrible way his department is treating this batch of future allums.  It really makes me mad to think all the shit students have to go through to watch a simple game played by THEIR fellow students.  

The catch 22 for the students is the only way they can protest this type of crappage they keep getting fed is to not show up for games.  Which then leads to more crappage from our Athletic Department because marketing studies have proven that unhappy customers return when treated even worse than before they left.

This is insane.

G0B1U3

February 23rd, 2014 at 12:39 PM ^

There's a very good chance you're severely overreacting. If you've ever encountered the parking people around the Yost Grey lot area, you know that they take their jobs crazy seriously. Like no matter what you say they delay you, I'm sure there was some sort of protocol the people were given, and they followed it..the situation was resolved no need to freak out about it.