I Ran In To Tate Today
I have been working at the stadium since February and have not met a single notable Michigan figure since I have been there. The one day Lloyd Carr came through and shook hands with my crew I was at a different job filling in for a day. Figures.
Today, however, I was out with the guys for breakfast and in walks Tate. I thought briefly about trying to get a 'see, I got proof' pic with him and then realized I didn't want to be the guy that bugs the 19 year old phenom in the middle of a southern omelet. We got up to pay and I turned around and he was right there. I shook his hand and wished him good luck against Penn State, and that was that.
It was cool to meet someone in person that we all talk so much about on the boards. It was one of those rare, unexpected things that you won't forget. Has anyone else had any of these experiences, and should I have gone for the photo op? For the record, he actually might be a legit 6'1"!
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:21 PM ^
Ouch! You'd better watch where you're going...
(thanks - I'll be here all week!)
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:26 PM ^
I sense some negativity coming your way, but I give you street cred for hangin' your balls out there.
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:30 PM ^
As VA says below - as long as it wasnt the right shoulder...
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:55 PM ^
I stand corrected. Well done, kind sir.
October 23rd, 2009 at 9:51 AM ^
is the job worth it now?
where were you eating? did he order the eggs?
October 24th, 2009 at 12:56 AM ^
We were at Mark's Midtown on S. State. That place wins.
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:40 PM ^
I'm surprised I didn't read about this collision in the injury report.
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:58 PM ^
That's actually pretty funny. I assume you didn't go to OSU and are just a fan.
October 23rd, 2009 at 2:19 PM ^
it's the Redneck Rocker.
P.S. What's the 0 stand for in your picture, Pryor's completion percentage?
October 24th, 2009 at 9:42 AM ^
No, it stands for the amount of big games he's won.
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:27 PM ^
Before the Wisconsin game last year, I was hanging out on my friends front porch on State street. Mike Hart and Ryan Mundy randomly drove up in a golf cart and parked in the front yard. It was pretty cool, they came up and drank a couple of beers with us. Hart was saying that he was happy to finally get a chance to tailgate for a Michigan game. We almost convinced him to do the two story beer bong, but he didn't want pictures of that all over the internet.
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:26 PM ^
what color sling was he wearing?
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:29 PM ^
No sling, just a crisp new Michigan Adidas hat cocked slightly to the left. Does that make him a Blood or a Crip? I always get those mixed up.
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:31 PM ^
That makes him a Blip.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:35 PM ^
Didnt the crips and bloods become friends with the YMCA lockin
October 23rd, 2009 at 9:47 AM ^
+1 for your South Park reference!
October 23rd, 2009 at 10:32 AM ^
i think that actually makes him fernando rodney
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:26 PM ^
I used to see Lavell Blanchard at the Union all the time. That kid always had people around him and always had a smile on his face.
I had a class with Eric Brackins and talked to him quite a bit. He was very quiet and down to Earth. I talked to him a little before NFL draft time and I asked him if any teams were giving him a look (as a free agent, obviously), and he said the Bears had been in contact with him. Obviously that never came to fruition.
I also always sat near Pierre Woods and Tony Pape (in separate classes), but I never really talked to either one except to say what's up. Pierre Woods' neck is larger than his head. It was rather impressive.
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:42 PM ^
LaVell Blanchard is one of the my favorite Michigan basketball players of all time. He deserved so much better than the disaster teams he played on.
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:47 PM ^
The poor guy had the terrible luck to come here when we had Ellerbe. He would have been a really good fit in Beilein's system.
October 23rd, 2009 at 2:31 AM ^
I'd run into those guys often when I was an undergrad (2000-2004). God, time flies. Two of the nicest Michigan Men around, though I expect the same is said of every crop of M athlete across the pike. But that's just the tradition of Michigan athletes.
I remember one occasion I ran into B-Rob and Lavell at Skeeps. I was running up to the bar to get a couple drinks for myself and a date, and sure enough I spot those two. Lavell was graduating, and I asked him what his post-grad plans were. We chatted for probably 20+ minutes about Italy and the pro-league he was getting into, as B-Rob just joshed him and was altogether incredibly cool. B-Rob was probably as Skeeps more often than I would have expected an athlete to be at Skeeps, actually, LOL. Good players and good men.
October 23rd, 2009 at 9:10 AM ^
B-Rob did plead down to assault and battery charges after being charged with sexual assault while he was at Michigan.
So ... I'm glad he was fun to talk to at the bar?
LaVell Blanchard always seemed like a nice guy.
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:58 PM ^
I used to see Courtney Sims around the Union, and it was a struggle to not tell him how much he fucking sucked.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:14 PM ^
As opposed to all of his teammates who flourished under Amaker's tutelage?
The fact that Sims actually played in a few NBA games last year speaks volumes.
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:22 AM ^
I don't recall his teammates bricking on what should have been a game-tying dunk in the last minute of what could have been the biggest game of the season, and I don't see how you can blame something like that on coaching.
October 23rd, 2009 at 10:56 AM ^
That C Sims has gotten minutes in the NBA speaks volumes about the lack of player development under Amaker.
He played a couple years in the NBDL, then made the league. It's pathetic that he regressed under Amaker, not unlike Daniel Horton, Dion Harris, etc.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:38 PM ^
True or not that comment was hilarious. Lighten up guys.
October 23rd, 2009 at 10:19 AM ^
Eric Brackins? no thanks.
Tim Bracken? yes plx.
http://www.michigandaily.com/content/bracken-gets-opportunity-behind-pe…
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:26 PM ^
didn't bump into his right shoulder. You did the right thing by not acting like a groupie.
I had Martin Sheen walk right by me at Dulles airport outside of DC five years ago when he was in West Wing. It was just he and I as we were crossing right in front of the terminal. He was heading out and I was heading in to fly to a meeting. As he moved closer I exchanged eye contact with him and said..."Good afternoon Mr. President" and he responded "Good afternoon". We kept walking in seperate directions and that was it. The interaction could not have been better.
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:28 PM ^
It's much less creepy to just photo shop a picture of you two together, and it doesn't even require you to actually run into him.
Learn to use photo shop and you'll have celebrity pictures with anyone you want. You can even put yourself in a man-sandwich between Tom Brady and Tate Forcier.
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:30 PM ^
I've actually had to Photoshop myself OUT of some pictures/videos. I once made a video on a boat with Pamela Anderson. You might have seen it... Anyway, I didn't want to embarrass my family, so I pasted some rock 'n' roll guy's face over mine. I can't think of his name, though.
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:32 PM ^
MS Paint or it didn't happen.
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:36 PM ^
I'm pretty sure only ND qbs like being in man-sandwiches. See Brady Quinn grabbing other dude's junk pictures that float around.
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:46 PM ^
I've been meaning to comment on that photo for a while now. Anyone ever hear know the term "elephant walk?"
Anyways, that's what I think Jimmy is doing in that picture.
Just for those who need a little hint:
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:31 PM ^
and then that way asking for a picture would have been apropos.
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:34 PM ^
Then Rosenberg would have had ammo for an expose on NCAA violations in the form of bacon and eggs.
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:33 PM ^
is in the LSA and told me he has a class with Mathews, Roundtree and the younger Grady among others. He also worked at one of the cafeterias over the summer and served a lot of the incoming freshman (both basketball and football). I remember going to the game in which Perry broke the record for most carries in one game (51) in East Lansing. We waited outside the stadium for a while and met most of the starters: Perry, Navarre, Edwards, etc. It was awesome to see them turn down all the State fans for autographs.
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:39 PM ^
I walked by Tate while I was on a tour of Newsterbaan the week after MSU. We were getting ready to leave as the players were coming in for practice. I didn't say anything because I didn't want to look like a creep-dog. I actually thought he looked shorter than everyone says, but my opinion may be biased though since I'm 6'4".
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:45 PM ^
Lloyd isn't 6'4.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:03 PM ^
Ah, I knew someone would comment on that. That picture was taken 2 years ago, and I had a large growth spurt in between then and now.
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:23 PM ^
I'm amazed that on the anonymous intranets, everyone seems to be 6'4.
Neg bang for dorky picture of yourself as an avatar.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:56 PM ^
I'm 6'4'' also and when I saw Tate I thought the same thing that he was shorter. Glad to see I'm not alone.
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:40 AM ^
I agree with you on Tate's height. I'm 6'3" and have passed Tate a bunch of times between classes. From my point of view, there is no way he is 6'1".
October 23rd, 2009 at 9:30 AM ^
I ran into Tate on campus after the Spring Game and at 6'2", I was suprised at how close to my height he was. I wouldn't be surprised if he was 6'1"...
October 23rd, 2009 at 9:53 AM ^
I often pass Tate in the hall and he is without a doubt taller than me.
October 23rd, 2009 at 6:03 PM ^
I'm 5'7". I often pass tate on my way to salsa classes. from my point of view the dude is at least 6'1".
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:42 PM ^
Double post...
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:46 PM ^
I saw Matthews and Sheridan today at Yost and told Matthews to beat Penn State. He was open to the idea.
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:58 PM ^
i like it
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:33 PM ^
I'm glad the football players go to hockey games; we always do really well in the sense that our athletes support others sports' athletes.