Best road game trips for 2009
I will be going to Illinois, and of course Sparty.
I've never been to Illinois, so I am looking forward to that the most from a "see a game in a stadium I've never been to before" aspect, but from a "I can't wait for this game" standpoint, it has to be Sparty.
The game experience at Illinois is a lot of fun. They really hate us. The city and hotel accommodations are terrible. We stayed at the team hotel (can't remember the name) and it was a complete dump. There was a used condom beneath our bed. I am thinking about going back to Iowa. Long trip but should be a good game.
I've been to a road game at Illinois before. Overall, it is a fairly nice venue. My only complaint is that there is a pig farm down wind. So if the wind is blowing just right that day, be ready for a putrid smell.
When I went to an Illinois game all I heard is "Appalachian St." all day. It's true - they really don't like us. People that I know that went to U of I consider Michigan their biggest rival. Kind of flattering I suppose. Aside from the actual game, it was pretty boring there.
i heard app st. jokes at almost every road game except osu
Iowa should be a great game. Night game, if I'm not mistaken. Their team should be good, but certainly beatable if we're having a decent season. I think the length of the trip is part of the fun. Road trips of only a few hours (e.g., Northwestern) just don't have the same feel as a commitment to a longer excursion.
The PSU game was absolute murder, but the trip was a lot of fun. I was glad to have made the trip, no matter the outcome. Beaver Stadium is intimidating.
For reference, I live in Grand Rapids, and left very early in the morning from my brother's in Detroit, so the total drive time to and from was roughly 16 hours.
The Purdue game was about 8 hours round trip from GR (stupid construction in Indiana slowed me down).
....Iowa and Wisconsin. I live in the Twin Cities so they are both doable.
The last time I was at Camp Randall for a Michigan game was in 1997. I hope the result is the same.
Got a crew flying in from LA for the Iowa game.
I would choose Iowa b/c I've never been to Iowa City, and atmosphere of night game should be great. If it weren't a night game, then Wisconsin.
As for next year, with a 2nd year Tate or Denard, and a team which should be running the spread without hiccups, I'd go down south to Ohio.
Have been to Iowa before the finished the remodel. I think it was when Henne and Hart were sophmores Michigan won in OT on a Jerome Jackson TD. The people we were around were very nice, great atmosphere lots of fun. Worth the Trip. we stayed in Davenport about an hour away from Kinnick.
I'm going to Wisconsin and it is by far one of the best places to watch a game. Everyone there is hammered, they have the best student section in the big ten, and is great for tailgating.
I'll actually be at Camp Randall twice next year to watch Michigan. First, for football. Second, for the outdoor hockey game.
As one of the "Down in front!"ers, I'm amused by your use of "everyone there is hammered" to justify Camp Randall as "one of the best places to watch the game."
I've never been to Madison, although I hear it is a great town. But my experiences with the drunken UW undergrads who come to A2 for our games are enough of a headache to give me pause at the thought of sitting amongst great teeming masses of them. Your "endorsement" is doing little to change that perception.
for like 20 minutes, after that it's just really annoying.
I'll being going to the Iowa game. It is a night game and we are meeting up with some UofM grads/fans from Kansas City. We made the trip to Purdue last year...we set up our tailgate in an area filled with Michigan fans and had a great time.
Iowa is a long ride but you can never see enough corn I always say...
A few friends and I are heading to the Iowa game.