Yesterday I returned home from my weekend in Ann Arbor with my father. I plan on spending the rest of the week talking about pretty much everything that happened while I was there. This was a very important and very fun trip for me. Many people have asked how it was, and the best response I can give them is, it was awe inspiring. I told my dad at one point that I felt like a yokel because I was just staring and my mouth was agape. I was in total awe of what I was looking at. I couldn't believe my eyes. I was soaking it all in because I do not know when I will be there again. Today I am going to focus on my experience at the game.
I'll start with how we spent the morning before the game started. My dad and I stayed at a hotel about 30 minutes from Ann Arbor, which was smart. It was cheaper and there wasn't an insane amount of traffic. We left the hotel in the morning, a little after 10 local time, and made our way. When we got to downtown Ann Arbor, we parked and went shopping. I needed to get my niece a birthday present and I wanted to get my wife and kids a little gift. I had 2 stores in mind. I wanted to go to Underground Printing and the M Den. These are the 2 shops were I personally get the majority of Michigan gear that I buy myself. They have all the best prices. Also, the M Den has about 8 different store fronts, but we went to the original one. Underground Printing was great. It is cool to go to the store and look and hold the gear in my hands. It is so much nicer than just looking, and hoping that it will fit, while online shopping. The M Den was a madhouse, it was packed and I couldn't have been more happy. This place was enormous and filled with people. My dad took a picture and it was nuts. But, this is where all the official gear is sold. Sure, it has a bit of a markup, but still, it is the best of the best. I wanted to buy everything in the store. I, which I am shocked by, did not buy anything for me. I only shopped for the people I needed to shop for. But, for any Wolverine fan, the M Den is the place to go. It is like the greatest candy store one can imagine.
After some shopping, we walked around, got some coffee and went to a local burger spot, more on that place later this week. After lunch we decided it was time to go to the stadium, 2 hours early, so we could park and take as many pictures as possible.
First off, the parking lot at the high school by the stadium, Pioneer High, was great. It was spacious, the tailgaters were welcoming and we found our spot with ease. We then started our walk to the stadium. I have been to a ton of college football games. My dad and I try to go to one game a year, but every other stadium now pails in comparison to the Big House. It was incredible. Again, we got to the stadium 2 hours early, walked around outside for about half an hour, and then found our seats, and there were more people there than at any other game I have ever been too. The stadium was half filled, so around 50-55 thousand people were there 90 minutes before game time. I've been to games that only have half that capacity for the game. I took so many pictures once we found our seats, which were in the 7th row on the 40 yard line right behind Michigan's bench. They were amazing.
When I walked into the stadium I forgot that it was a bowl. That means when you walk in, you are at or near the top. We had to walk down a good 50 flights of steps to get to our seats. Then, to see that humongous maize M on the 50 yard line gave me chills. To see the navy end zone with the maize Michigan written across was beautiful. To see all the seats was jaw dropping. Looking at the 2 big screens on both sides of the stadium made me cackle with joy. But, the coup de gras for me were the giant navy sign on both sides of the stadium with the enormous maize M. That is the symbol I know from video games and watching this team on TV for three decades now. That is how I knew I was actually there. It all felt like a dream, like it was not real, until I saw that M. That was when it all flooded in for me. This is when the grinning began and didn't stop. I texted my wife so many pictures of it because I was so excited. I couldn't believe that I was actually there.
After the initial shock of all this, my father, ever the calming influence on me, decided we should walk around so I could calm down. This was great because I did calm down, but I also got to see the bowels of the stadium. I got to see all the memorabilia they had out. I got to see the pillars with their fight song. I got to see the Crisler Center, which is right next to Michigan stadium. Most importantly though, I got to commiserate with fellow Michigan fans. So often my dad and I are in the minority. We root for the guest. Saturday, we were one of over 100,000 people rooting for the Wolverines. I was with my fellow football people. It was amazing.
With about 45 minutes of walking around we went back to our seats to "relax" before the game. This was when I got to see my beloved team in their home jerseys warming up. I was like a kid again. I kept pointing out players and coaches and saying their names to my dad, as if he didn't already know who they were. I snapped photos of the QB's warming up. I took pictures of the team stretching. I took pictures of Jim Harbaugh catching passes from all 4 of his dressed QB's. I watched the defense go through their drills with great joy. I was back into my mouth agape state. I was floored by how awesome the marching band was. All the before game stuff was heightened due to the fact that I was in Michigan Stadium.
Both teams then retreated to the locker room, and we edged closer to the game. It was Senior Day, so we got to watch the parents of the seniors walk out and hear the crowd cheer for them and their son's. They set up the big Go Blue banner that they touch prior to the game. The band played the fight song over and over again, and I sang it louder each time. By the way, I didn't even go to school there. And with about a minute left before the coin toss, the team ran out and touched the banner. This was like the big maize M for me. This is a thing I have seen all my life on TV or in video games, and I was now seeing it live and in person. It was heart stopping. I legit felt like crying I was so happy. Also, we were so close to the team that I could see each players face. It was amazing.
The game started and for the next 4 hours I was with my people. The game wasn't great, Michigan barely escaped, but I was there. I could see and hear everything that fellow lifelong Michigan fans do at home games. I saw Braylon Edwards little brother Berkley get knocked out cold. That was the most frightening things I have ever seen live. He did not move after he was hit, and they had to stretcher him off the field. I saw Chase Winovich get hurt. I saw Shea Patterson miss some throws, but also make some crucial throws. I saw Karan Higdon cut and dash and grind out 100 plus yards on 21 carries and score the go ahead TD. I saw the defense step up when needed. I saw Rashan Gary, who is as big a human as I have ever seen in person, get a critical sack late in the game. I saw the backup kicker set a record for field goals in a game. I saw Tru Wilson, a former walk on, play probably his best game of the year. Same for Chris Evans. I saw Harbaugh get on the refs. I saw Donovan Peoples Jones return punts with gusto. I have seen all this on TV, but I actually saw it in person, and it was ten million times better. Even after the game, my father said we were going to stick around for awhile and let the crowd thin out. I couldn't have been more thrilled. I got to see the players get interviewed on the field after the game. I got to see the players run to the student section and sing the fight song as they do after every home win. I saw all these things that I have seen my whole life from 7 hours away on TV in person. I was overjoyed.
I called my wife right after we got to the car and excitedly told her about everything I just told you all. She must have felt like she was dealing with another 6 year old. That was how giddy I was. This was an experience I will never, ever forget. I was, the best word I can find, in complete and total awe of Michigan Stadium and the game experience. No other stadium, college or pro, will ever live up to this for me, and I couldn't be happier about that. Michigan Stadium wildly exceeded my wildest expectations. I have been there once before, but I was in my early 20's, and I didn't appreciate it. I did not make that mistake this time. I documented everything, but honestly, I wrote this whole thing simply from memory. I know it was only 2 days ago, but I can guarantee that I will remember this past Saturday as well 10, 15 and 20 years down the line.
This was, by far, the greatest sports experience of my life. I'm still a little in shock at how awesome the whole day was. That stadium is a wonder of the world. The total crowd, they flashed it on the screen, was 110,158. I was one of those people. It was cold, and I didn't care. This was amazing. Everyone, even if you are not a Michigan fan or a football fan, should go see this place and gaze in amazement at how beautiful and big and imposing and wonderful it is. This was a once in a lifetime thing for me. Hopefully I get to do this again soon, but if not, at least I have this past Saturday. It was the best. It was awesome. I'm still shaking. I am still in awe.
Ty
Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He forgot to mention how awesome his bathroom experience was. When Ty flushed the toilet, the Michigan fight song would play. Maybe he just imagined that one.
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