Herkie the Dog's World Musings
50-3
The Stadium
It's more than just a game.
Some people don't understand that. Some people never understand that. But if you're really passionate about a sport, you do. Nowhere is that more true than to a Michigan Wolverine fan. Normally rational people have been known act very strangely and irrationally when their team prepares to take the field.
Having been on the road last week, this was the first game we went to in the new football season. And heading down to Michigan Stadium, it's obvious that it's more than just a game. For some, it's almost a livelihood as they try to broker their own questionable game ticket sales to passing fans. But for all, it's a way of life. You see it in the campus. Fraternities are blasting music and having parties at an hour on a Saturday that they would normally not be awake, unless they just never went to sleep. Students are throwing a football in one hand and holding a beer (or stronger) in the other. You see it in the parking lots, where tailgate parties abound ranging from the simple hot dog and hamburger grill-out to the catered affair underneath a maize and blue awning. You see that in the people walking to the stadium-kids, students, alumni, people of all ages with this one thing in common.
The people: it's definitely one thing that makes this special. You look at a total starnger in the stands and depending on what colors they are wearing, you immediately decide on their worth. After sitting in the same seats for a number of years, you start to recognize and talk to the same people. They're your seatmates, sometimes people you would never even acknowledge in your everyday life, but here, they the people that you experience some of the most primal emotions with.
People like "Yakov"-a guy in the section next to us who once was a splitting image of Yakov Smirnoff, but has since shaved the beard. Occasionally, after a great defensive stand by the Wolverines, he would wait until the cheers died down, stand up after everyone else sat down, and yell almost deadpan, "Yay Defense," then slowly sit back down as if someone flipped his power switch off.
People like "The Dentist"-an alumnus who sits in front of us that runs his own dental practice. He owns the four seats in front of us and will fight to make sure no one, I mean no one, infringes on the space that the U of M Athletic Department has given him on these benches in the stadium.
People like "Heart Attack Guy"-A skinny old guy who, when we first got our alumni seats, looked like he was about 60 years old. It's been about 8 years since we've had these tickets, so he's got to be pushing 70 by now. But this doesn't stop him from being the biggest and most active cheering fan in our section. He stands up. He jumps around. He waves his arms frantically like a baby bird trying to fly for the first time. He runs back and forth along the walkway. He tries to fire up our section. Each time, we wonder if it'll be the time that his exuberance causes someone to have to administer CPR.
And, last and truly least, the "Go For It Guy"-A guy with the appearance of a trucker who thinks he knows everything about football, but constantly demonstrates his lack of knowledge of basic football strategy as well as poor eyesight. He is not one to ever be satisfied. No incident can ever measure up to his expectations unless it's a touchdown. Not the play result. Not the play call. Not even the referee's on the field rulings. If he had his way, every play would be a long yardage pass for a TD and there would never be a run up the middle. He is most famous for yelling "Go for it" on every 4th down play, and follows it up by berating Coach Lloyd Carr when the punting unit comes on the field. He is certainly consistent. Whether it's 4th and goal on the opponent's goal line or 4th and 15 on our own 2 yard line, he's always looking to go for it.
But these are the things that add the color and make fall Saturday afternoons special on Stadium and Main.
The Game
A 50-3 spanking, but that's what happens when you play on overmatched Conference USA team at home. But the details are also as important:
The passing game is still not quite where we would like to be. John Navarre is still a mediocre, inconsistent QB, but he does have a large arsenal of receivers to throw to....assuming they don't drop the pass.
The rushing game appears to be excellent. There is great depth at RB as well as an offensive line that can clear out. If Michigan can establish the run each game, opposing defenses will be worn down by the second half, which will allow the points to flow. This essentially is how Michigan has won these two games, wear down the defense and score by the bucket loads in he second half.
The defense made the improvements that we expected from the previous week. There is a lot of speed there, which can cause great pressure on the opposing QB. There is a lot of depth. Players are rotated in and out with no real loss in talent, which keeps them fresh well into the late stages of the game. As they gel throughout the season, they have the potential to be very dangerous...assuming they work on tackling drills every week.
The Future
Now the fun begins. Two teams down, two wins. Frankly, two lesser Division 1-A teams. It's been a good warm up, a chance to get the timing down and work out some of the bugs.
Because next week, the embers become a raging fire.
Next week, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish come to town.
Nothing less than victory is acceptable. And the more crushing the defeat is for the Fighting Irish, the better it will be for Michigan fans everywhere.
It's more than just a game.
Some people don't understand that. Some people never understand that. But if you're really passionate about a sport, you do. Nowhere is that more true than to a Michigan Wolverine fan. Normally rational people have been known act very strangely and irrationally when their team prepares to take the field.
Having been on the road last week, this was the first game we went to in the new football season. And heading down to Michigan Stadium, it's obvious that it's more than just a game. For some, it's almost a livelihood as they try to broker their own questionable game ticket sales to passing fans. But for all, it's a way of life. You see it in the campus. Fraternities are blasting music and having parties at an hour on a Saturday that they would normally not be awake, unless they just never went to sleep. Students are throwing a football in one hand and holding a beer (or stronger) in the other. You see it in the parking lots, where tailgate parties abound ranging from the simple hot dog and hamburger grill-out to the catered affair underneath a maize and blue awning. You see that in the people walking to the stadium-kids, students, alumni, people of all ages with this one thing in common.
The people: it's definitely one thing that makes this special. You look at a total starnger in the stands and depending on what colors they are wearing, you immediately decide on their worth. After sitting in the same seats for a number of years, you start to recognize and talk to the same people. They're your seatmates, sometimes people you would never even acknowledge in your everyday life, but here, they the people that you experience some of the most primal emotions with.
People like "Yakov"-a guy in the section next to us who once was a splitting image of Yakov Smirnoff, but has since shaved the beard. Occasionally, after a great defensive stand by the Wolverines, he would wait until the cheers died down, stand up after everyone else sat down, and yell almost deadpan, "Yay Defense," then slowly sit back down as if someone flipped his power switch off.
People like "The Dentist"-an alumnus who sits in front of us that runs his own dental practice. He owns the four seats in front of us and will fight to make sure no one, I mean no one, infringes on the space that the U of M Athletic Department has given him on these benches in the stadium.
People like "Heart Attack Guy"-A skinny old guy who, when we first got our alumni seats, looked like he was about 60 years old. It's been about 8 years since we've had these tickets, so he's got to be pushing 70 by now. But this doesn't stop him from being the biggest and most active cheering fan in our section. He stands up. He jumps around. He waves his arms frantically like a baby bird trying to fly for the first time. He runs back and forth along the walkway. He tries to fire up our section. Each time, we wonder if it'll be the time that his exuberance causes someone to have to administer CPR.
And, last and truly least, the "Go For It Guy"-A guy with the appearance of a trucker who thinks he knows everything about football, but constantly demonstrates his lack of knowledge of basic football strategy as well as poor eyesight. He is not one to ever be satisfied. No incident can ever measure up to his expectations unless it's a touchdown. Not the play result. Not the play call. Not even the referee's on the field rulings. If he had his way, every play would be a long yardage pass for a TD and there would never be a run up the middle. He is most famous for yelling "Go for it" on every 4th down play, and follows it up by berating Coach Lloyd Carr when the punting unit comes on the field. He is certainly consistent. Whether it's 4th and goal on the opponent's goal line or 4th and 15 on our own 2 yard line, he's always looking to go for it.
But these are the things that add the color and make fall Saturday afternoons special on Stadium and Main.
The Game
A 50-3 spanking, but that's what happens when you play on overmatched Conference USA team at home. But the details are also as important:
The passing game is still not quite where we would like to be. John Navarre is still a mediocre, inconsistent QB, but he does have a large arsenal of receivers to throw to....assuming they don't drop the pass.
The rushing game appears to be excellent. There is great depth at RB as well as an offensive line that can clear out. If Michigan can establish the run each game, opposing defenses will be worn down by the second half, which will allow the points to flow. This essentially is how Michigan has won these two games, wear down the defense and score by the bucket loads in he second half.
The defense made the improvements that we expected from the previous week. There is a lot of speed there, which can cause great pressure on the opposing QB. There is a lot of depth. Players are rotated in and out with no real loss in talent, which keeps them fresh well into the late stages of the game. As they gel throughout the season, they have the potential to be very dangerous...assuming they work on tackling drills every week.
The Future
Now the fun begins. Two teams down, two wins. Frankly, two lesser Division 1-A teams. It's been a good warm up, a chance to get the timing down and work out some of the bugs.
Because next week, the embers become a raging fire.
Next week, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish come to town.
Nothing less than victory is acceptable. And the more crushing the defeat is for the Fighting Irish, the better it will be for Michigan fans everywhere.
posted by Jon at
5:43 PM
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