Hackett interested in expanding Maize Rage

Submitted by SAMgO on

Michigan Daily article: https://www.michigandaily.com/section/sports/hackett-interested-expandi…

Quote:

“I think it’s the kind of thing where some of the best fans would be willing to trade for their University and their students,” Hackett said. “That’s the idea — would you be willing to make something special for them, get recognition for it and get it back? But you give it to them for a game, for an Ohio State or Duke.”

The idea, essentially, is for season-ticket holders to offer their seats in a coordinated fashion for select high-profile games, clearing out full lower-bowl sections to create a more student-driven environment.

MGoBoard

BlueMars24

January 21st, 2016 at 2:53 PM ^

Hard pill to swallow for big donors, but you wouldn't give up your tickets, just move up for a couple big games. I would like to see them implement something like the HAIL points and if you don't show for all the games, you loose priority for the big games. Yes, even for big donors. I'm a donor (not a big one) and would be ok with that with my upper bowl tickets...not that any students would want them!

Joined: 03/28/2011

MGoPoints: 753

bringthewood

January 21st, 2016 at 3:06 PM ^

Agree, way too many empty seats in the lower bowl. Even for big games like Maryland. I'd like to see the lower bowl packed. If you can't come to the game find someone who can.

I have had season tickets in both the lower bowl and upper bowl but have not had season tickets in years, but when I do try to find single game lower bowl seats they are hard to find on something like stub hub - yet the lower bowl continues to be 1/4 to 1/3 empty.

I too am a minor donor but I think it you can't be bothered to make sure your seats are used them you should get crappier seats the follwoing year.

Joined: 09/07/2009

MGoPoints: 5554

bluebyyou

January 21st, 2016 at 3:42 PM ^

There are often reasons why people can't show up for games.  Penalizing big donors is not the way to win friends.

About the bowl....I was wondering if there were a piece of software that could be written where, for example, people with seats in the lower bowl, could go online and indicate the seat is available and a set of verified students on a waiting list would be able to get the recently made available (free) seats.  I'd probably include a feature where a student would have to show up at the game with ID in hand so the seat couldn't be sold to a third party.

Joined: 09/07/2009

MGoPoints: 18562

BlueMars24

January 21st, 2016 at 4:38 PM ^

Of course there are reasons you can't make every game. But the problem is letting your seats go unused. Give them away or sell them (to other UM fans of course), but don't leave them empty. 

 

Great idea on the software though. Doesn't seem too difficult. Maybe make a rule if your ticket isn't scanned 10 minutes after tip, your seat is made available to others. If you show up after that, you get to sit somewhere else. 

Joined: 03/28/2011

MGoPoints: 753

JeepinBen

January 21st, 2016 at 4:44 PM ^

If them's the rules, them's the rules. Do NFL season ticket holders like paying full price for 2 preseason exhibition games? Hell no. They do it, because that's how they get season tickets.

However, if you want season tickets, your seats will be row 1 seat A for games X,Y,Z and Row 30 Seat A for game B. If that's the new policy, will people bitch? Sure. Will some give up the tickets? Maybe. Will M Hoops survive? Yup.

Joined: 01/22/2010

MGoPoints: 32227

MGoBender

January 21st, 2016 at 3:34 PM ^

As others said, he can't do this.  The only reason those big time season ticket holders have those tickets is because of high profile games.  Because they sure as hell don't use them for any other games.

Huge Hackett fan like everyone, but this seems like lip service.  It would never happen.  He needs to bring out the pimp hand and say "Show up or stop buying the tickets," then expand the Maize Rage since they are the ones that actually show up and will be the future donor base anyway.

Joined: 03/26/2010

MGoPoints: 15128

Toasted Yosties

January 21st, 2016 at 3:44 PM ^

A group of fans coordinated in the first 10 rows or so all around the stadium. It'd have to be like 100-250 people? Theyd be spread out evenly in each section's bottom rows. When it's a defensive 3rd down, they all stand up, cheer and encourage others in rows above to stand up. Once a critical number of people stand, everyone stands. People seem likely to stand in the 4th in close games, but I'd love to see this behavior in the early parts of every game.

EDIT: There are 28 sections that actually reach the field. If you could get 10 guys in each section's first few rows, I bet that would be enough. That's 280 dedicated standers. Others will join in, they always do when enough people are into it. Could make things very interesting for opposing teams!

Joined: 06/05/2013

MGoPoints: 9261

UM Fan from Sydney

January 21st, 2016 at 2:46 PM ^

I've been interested in this for years. It should be, when watching from the TV, at least the top and two sides.

That said, the student section needs to be louder and have a MUCH greater variety of chants.

Joined: 09/17/2015

MGoPoints: 58076

SAMgO

January 21st, 2016 at 2:51 PM ^

The best chant the maize rage has ever come up with was during the Stu Douglass tenure. When the "Let's Go Blue" offensive chant was going on, whenever Stu got the ball it would seamlessly transition to "Let's Go Stu" and then switch back when he shot or passed.

The "bum of the game" thing is beyond stupid though.

Joined: 07/15/2013

MGoPoints: 18745

UM Fan from Sydney

January 21st, 2016 at 3:03 PM ^

I feel that there are only three chants:

"Gooooo Michigan go <clapclapclap> (repeat)"

"Let's go blue <clap> Let's go blue <clap> (repeat)"

"Here we go, Michigan, here we go <clapclap> (repeat)"    -------> It might be "let's go, Michigan, let's go." I dunno.

Joined: 09/17/2015

MGoPoints: 58076

ak47

January 21st, 2016 at 3:22 PM ^

The maize rage is such a joke and the worst part is that they think they are good. Its like the dollar store version of the Cameron crazies, with sad cheer sheets and all. At least when I was there it was led by a bunch of frat stars who wore camo jackets and got pissy if anyone sat in what they thought where there seats so they could lead mostly terrible cheers. Its pretty depressing.

Joined: 05/05/2011

MGoPoints: 33614

SAMgO

January 21st, 2016 at 4:22 PM ^

It's gone downhill fast. 2011 and 2012 seasons had a lot of good, passionate fans that could get good seats. But when we got really good and more people bought tickets it created a number of problems.

1. A lot of freshmen in the bleacher section. People started showing up so damn early to the games and you had to go outrageously early to get those seats. Who has that sort of time? Freshmen of course, and they were willing to wait out in the cold in droves because they had the time and wanted to experience it for the first time. That led to a lot of the more experienced fans being stuck in the upper bowl.

2. Too many people buying tickets and the athletic department screwing it up. We all know about the ticket claiming fiasco and what Brandon did to paying student ticket holders. That drove a lot of loyal student hoops fans away.

3. When I was in school the Maize Rage leadership just sucked, flat out. They thought they were a lot more important than they were and assumed an absurd amount of influence that didn't exist. There have been plenty of line issues documented on this blog and you can all see how inept they are at leading a student section on TV. It's really too bad but the 'core' or whatever they call it needs to just be disbanded, they're hurting the student section.

Joined: 07/15/2013

MGoPoints: 18745

Gulogulo37

January 21st, 2016 at 5:44 PM ^

My favorite student section thing is when the opposing coach starts arguing with the refs and all the students start throwing up their arms and yelling "Hey!"

Also, I know Crisler is really never an intimidating place to play (except maybe against State?), but are the big games versus Duke or Ohio State, etc. really the problem? Seems the problem is some of the mid-level games where no one except the students makes a peep. I don't think the Maize Rage needs to expand for the sake of expanding. If we actually had non-students showing up and making some noise, that'd be fine.

Joined: 03/16/2010

MGoPoints: 28306

LSAClassOf2000

January 21st, 2016 at 3:32 PM ^

I didn't think about it before, but I believe you're right - I do recognize that house, come to think of it. I know you asked someone else, so apologies for butting in, but I would be surprised if it wasn't.

It happens to be the stretch of Greenwood where the shoe vortex seems to be the most dense, and indeed, we spend a couple hours now and again cutting shoes out of our equipment on Greenwood. As long as the laces don't go phase-to-phase in the primary, we're good. 

Joined: 01/07/2011

MGoPoints: 130610

michgoblue

January 21st, 2016 at 3:32 PM ^

I don't understand why you are being negged for this - he is just being honest.  Many of us who purchase "rich old guy lower bowl seats" shell out a hefty chunk of change primarily to be able to attend the OSU / MSU games.  We aren't purchasing for the Purdue / MACtion / Hawaii games (whichyou can usually get at close to face value on game day anyway. 

So, I get why he would feel this way. 

Joined: 11/16/2009

MGoPoints: 32166

MGoBender

January 21st, 2016 at 3:38 PM ^

People neg because many (not all and probably not this poster since he's an MGoDenizen) of those season ticket holders don't show up for even mid-level to important games and don't seem to put up much of an effort to make sure the tickets are used.

Joined: 03/26/2010

MGoPoints: 15128