October 12th, 2010 at 5:25 PM ^
The main difference is that the alumni cheerleaders and alumni marching band come back for that game.
October 12th, 2010 at 5:56 PM ^
I always get nervous when the 70+ year old male cheerleaders do their backflips. I can't believe I've never seen one of them get hurt as a result.
October 12th, 2010 at 6:39 PM ^
Also there is the one old twirler, he's normally down in front of the student section, that shows up everyone else on the field.
October 12th, 2010 at 7:09 PM ^
That guy is awesome
October 12th, 2010 at 8:34 PM ^
Dont forget about the tandem male cheerleaders who lock arms and and hoist each other up forever...
October 12th, 2010 at 9:00 PM ^
What about the slightly pounchy male twirler who who twirls the flaming batons.
October 12th, 2010 at 10:31 PM ^
I don't know that I've seen the flaming batons, but it sounds awesome. Maybe I was just too mesmerized by the twirler.
Fun story for Halo fans, last year during homecoming the twirler guy picked up two machetes used for twirling (I'm not sure if there's a better name for them). Anyway, some guy in my section yells out "Hey look, he's dual-wielding!" Made me laugh.
October 12th, 2010 at 7:46 PM ^
I think one of them was an old drum major from the 1990s when they used to use twirler batons
October 12th, 2010 at 8:58 PM ^
RAH-RAH-RAH-RAH-OX-Y-GEN, OX-Y-GEN!
October 13th, 2010 at 1:43 AM ^
It's been mentioned to me by a former Alumni Band member that they smuggle adult beverages into the stadium in the bells of their sousaphones, or at least used to (he would have been in it maybe 15 years ago). If true, this is awesome.
October 12th, 2010 at 5:30 PM ^
If you have time to kill before the game go to the mud-bowl. Always entertaining.
October 12th, 2010 at 7:42 PM ^
I can't find confirmation, but I remember reading somewhere that it was not going to be held during homecoming this year due to a break or exams or something.
[Edit: Nov. 6 for Illinois http://mvictors.com/?p=8019]
October 12th, 2010 at 7:15 PM ^
It was a lot of fun just running around in the mud acting like I was gonna blow the whistle. The frats actually said the game was two-hand touch.
The only negative was that I was so dirty that I couldn't get cleaned up in time for the 12noon kickoff.
October 12th, 2010 at 5:30 PM ^
Usually 5, 10, 25 years class reunions for different schools held throughout Ann Arbor on Friday nights.
October 12th, 2010 at 5:30 PM ^
and man.. those alumni cheerleaders still got... they do the flips and everything... I think one guy had to have been in his 60's or 70's... doing stuff my 30-year-old body would never be able to do...
Those guys and gals are awesome.
October 12th, 2010 at 5:39 PM ^
he practices at home.. or that's something you never forget like riding a bike...
Seriously... I could NOT do that.
October 12th, 2010 at 6:05 PM ^
Definitely a little bit of both.
Which reminds me... I gotta practice for Saturday...
October 12th, 2010 at 6:14 PM ^
You're in the alumni band? That's cool. How often do you guys practice before the game? Is it open to any former marching band member?
October 12th, 2010 at 6:44 PM ^
Yep.
The Band Alumni Association has several functions throughout the year. There's a concert band that practices once a week during both fall and winter and gives concerts. There's also the pep band that fills in for the "Junior Band" for basketball, volleyball, hockey, they play softball and baseball games, things like that. Those rehearsals are periodical during the season. Then there's the Blast From The Past on Homecoming, which is of course the largest group. The rehearsal for that is optional on Friday night before Homecoming, and then the morning of the game both in Revelli and Elbel.
Eligibility for any of the alumni bands is if you were a member of any School of Music ensemble during your time at Michigan, you're eligible. From Campus Band to the University Philharmonic to the Marching Band. Mostly, it's MMB folk who participate on Homecoming. The older folk cover the entire gamut of the SoM ensembles, as men were required to do Marching Band until the late 60's-early 70's. There are older women who participate who were never eligible to march in the MMB (no women until 1972). The oldest participant to sign up is usually Bill Parkinson, first year in the band was 1935, though I don't think he's actually marched in several years. He's in his mid-90's, and a retired professor in (I think) the Physics department.
It's a pretty fun gig, no pressure, lots of jokes and fun and swapping stories, everybody making themselves sound a lot more important in the past than they really were. :) I just get a kick out of it, even if I'm on the younger end of the spectrum.
October 12th, 2010 at 9:08 PM ^
A few years ago when I was in the MMB, I remember chatting with an alumni band member who told stories about playing William Revelli's band in the 1940s (right after the war) and traveling to Ohio State. This gentleman played the tuba and couldn't play and march at the same time anymore at his age, but he was proud to have the opportunity to march into Michigan Stadium with his instrument.
October 12th, 2010 at 9:10 PM ^
He used to wear a suit and tie (!) - looked all kinds of dashing, twirling away.
October 12th, 2010 at 5:40 PM ^
More derrrrinkin' (and longer lines at Rick's?)
October 12th, 2010 at 5:59 PM ^
Not a chance compared to last weekend. Not that I was at Ricks. Or even made it to South U.
October 12th, 2010 at 6:25 PM ^
and Rick's is a disaster. You usually get douche guys (I may be one this year, depending on who I'm hanging out with) that try to bribe the bouncer to skip the lines.
October 12th, 2010 at 6:46 PM ^
There's a point in time for Rick's. And that point in time ends when you turn 22.
Just like there's a point in time for Skeepers. Which ends at 20.
I'll be seeing everybody at Old Town, followed by some late night eats at Fleetwood with the rest of the cultured alums. :)
October 12th, 2010 at 5:41 PM ^
party more hardy
October 12th, 2010 at 5:43 PM ^
Usually some prom stuff and "Home Coming Kings and Queens" and parades, etc
October 12th, 2010 at 6:08 PM ^
Lots more guys in older varsity jackets at the Brown Jug - line is much longer for breakfast at Angelos.
And we always bust out that insanely stupid locomotive cheer that i'm sure was just as non-inspiring then as it is now.
October 12th, 2010 at 6:15 PM ^
about that completely lame-ass Michigan locomotive cheer. I'm always embarrassed by it - do the opposing teams fans think this is the best we got? It needs to be retired ASAP.
October 12th, 2010 at 7:01 PM ^
What do you recommend? The claw "you suck" chant that is a rip-off of Florida State? I think the locomotive cheer is unique and a part of Michigan lore. Ultimately, isn't this what homecoming is all about? I remember talking to this 70ish year old man who had come back for homecoming and he was telling me stories about how that was "the cheer" back in his day and he had fond memories of putting on his maize and blue scarf and going to the Ohio State game with his friends. He told me they would always do it because they would run over people like a train.
I think the locomotive chant shouldn't be about what the opposing fans think. It should be a tribute to the past and those coming back for homecoming. That's just my two cents anyway.
EDIT: That's not to say that I like the chant. I just think that if it is something of a "Michigan Tradition" then it can be tolerated for one game of the year.
October 12th, 2010 at 8:34 PM ^
You, sir, are the one whose ass is lame. The cheer might be old fashioned, but it makes the old guy with the flags happy, and that's what homecoming is all about.
Plus, like, rah rah rah rah Michigan Michigan, and such.
October 13th, 2010 at 9:39 AM ^
RAH RAH RAH RAH
MICH-IGAN MICH-IGAN
October 12th, 2010 at 6:17 PM ^
Oh come on. It's old-school. It's more unique than listening to "Party in the USA" over the PA.
October 12th, 2010 at 6:52 PM ^
October 12th, 2010 at 7:11 PM ^
Part of what separates college football from the pros are these kinds of kitschy old cheers. I won't ridicule any school that does stuff like this. (OTOH, I will ridicule a school that tries to copy the pro-sports experience, down to "racing dots on the JumboTron for 50 cents off popcorn" and all the rest.)
I know that Minnesota has some weird cheer like "Ski-U-Mah!" I have no idea what that means, but they've been saying it for 100 years. I respect that.
Likewise, Georgia Tech's fight song begins, "I'm a rambling wreck from Georgia Tech, and a hell of an engineer." Cornball? Yes. But timeless.
October 12th, 2010 at 9:10 PM ^
I heard somewhere that Ski U Mah has Native American origins
October 12th, 2010 at 6:11 PM ^
and historically, domination of the opponent on the field <crosses fingers>.
October 12th, 2010 at 6:55 PM ^
Even more old people at the game. As if we didn't have enough already. Expect to hear "down in front" more than usual.
October 12th, 2010 at 7:17 PM ^
does the locomotive Michigan cheer. Straight out of 1932, its embarrassing to have to explain to visiting fans we only do it at homecoming.
October 12th, 2010 at 7:40 PM ^
There was a guy who used to be there and he juggled samurai swords and flaming batons and other cool stuff. I don't know if he's still around, but that was the highlight for me at halftime.
October 12th, 2010 at 8:02 PM ^
The band actually plays Hawaiian War Chant, because you can't have one without the other. Also, the Alumni Band usually will play Rocky and Bullwinkle.
October 12th, 2010 at 8:15 PM ^
We need more Bullwinkle on a regular basis.
October 12th, 2010 at 8:40 PM ^
many, many students going home ... the pregames (already smaller due to hc) are gonna be very tame (ok tame in comparision)