For those of you out of town, a brief YouTube of the current work going on at the Stadium. Gives you a flavor for what’s going on. I even caught them pouring part of the new foundation that will support the new structure. Most of this is from the west (press-box) side of the stadium. To spice it up, I added a few shots of the original stadium construction thanks to the Bentley museum: Here’s some of the photos:
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Shirts Optional in Big House?
If it feels good, do it. The Game Notes were released this week for the Appalachian State game and it included a disturbing photo. Leading the section of Michigan Stadium facts is a pic that features one fan who decided to abandon the Maize Out and start his own White Out: After reviewing the Stadium guide there doesn’t seem to be any specific rule against “peeling”, but to any non-students, please, out of respect for the people around you…please keep your shirt on. If there must be a ‘gun show’ on football Saturday, can it please be in the parking lot or golf course?
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Mallett Mayhem: Fan Day 2007
Another year and another Fan Day, your brief window to meet the coaches and players that make up this year’s squad. Here’s what we learned: 90 MinutesWhile I appreciate the players and coaches making time to do stuff like this, am I the only one who feels like an hour and a half is not quite enough? It didn’t help that a) the MC announced how much time was left in the event while reminding folks of how important the team’s time was, and; b) the clock was counting down the time left for people to clear out. Found a Kicker?According to the Free Press and noted by mgoblog, looks like we have Rivas’s replacement. His name is Jason Gringell and count me as one person who: a) knows that it takes some luck and a few close calls to win championships, especially national championships, b) realizes that difference could fall on the foot of the kicker, and; c) is anxious to see how this guy looks. Elsewhere, looks like Carson Butler has cleared a path to contribute. Mallett ManiaFans couldn’t get enough of true freshman Ryan Mallett. Those planning the event anticipated the rage over the cocky Texan. He had a gated-off section of his own along with handlers. The line to get a piece of the future M…
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Carr’s Wash Yields $ and Info
Saturday marked the latest edition of the “Carr’s Wash for Kids” as the Michigan football team assembled at Michigan stadium to clean the cars of the good people of Ann Arbor. All told the gang polished 536 automobiles and raised over $175,000. Added to the total from the Takeover of WTKA 1050AM, the team’s efforts on Thursday and Saturday raised around $300,000 for the new C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. Here’s more on the hospital and how you can still support this cause. The Ann Arbor News dispatched a few folks out there including Jim Carty who confirmed a few interesting items: Arrington’s Steps Back: Not a big surprise, but Carty caught up with talented receiver Adrian Arrington who was at the Wash and confirmed he’s back on the team. His penance? 60 Straight days of running the steps of Michigan stadium. The stink eye for Harbaugh: Don’t know the specifics, Carty reported that Coach Carr didn’t have any kind words for Jim Harbaugh given his recent comments reflecting negative on the program. Carty wrote “Carr had no comment [on Harbaugh]..but made it clear he’s not happy…”. Oh, to have seen the look on his face as he grumbled “no comment”. Mallett’s Misery: Cocky freshman QB Ryan Mallett was quite the center of attention on Thursday and Saturday, as folks from…
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The Wolverine Pack and 1926
Given the mood of most Michigan fans right now, it may be refreshing to take a look back at better days. Check out this graphic taken from the October 23, 1926 issue of the San Diego Sun which several members of the 1926 Wolverines.
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Wall Street Journal on Taxes & Stadium Renovation
Wednesday’s [12/27/06] Wall Street Journal featured a piece in its Marketplace section titled “Tax Breaks for Skyboxes” [full article here]. The article by Daniel Golden focused on convertroversy around tax breaks that the donors receive for leasing the boxes from universities and it focused on the biggest of the recent college renovation plans: The Big House. Here’s an interesting quote from U of M regent Laurence Deitch, although I’m not sure what this has to do with taxes: Opponents of Michigan’s renovation doubt the university will find enough customers for its luxury suites, where alcohol will be banned. “Why pay a whole bunch of money, drive up to Ann Arbor, sit behind a glass wall and not be able to get a beer,” says Laurence Deitch, one of two regents on the university’s eight-member board who voted against the plan last month. “I think I’d stay home.”
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Wait Until You See the Inside
“Ladies and Gentleman, Welcome to the Big Toaster Oven..”SALINE, MICHIGAN I never really questioned why the first batch of stadium renovation drawings only included the outside of the new structure. Thankfully many in the public did, and this week Bill Martin released artist renderings of what the inside of the Big House in 2008. You can view all the photos here. I guess I expected the outside of the building to translate to how the inside would look, that is, with a lot of brick. There is no brick.
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Man Builds LEGO Buckeye Horseshoe Stadium
[Update 1/16/2011: Check out the 2011 version of a LEGO Horseshoe, it puts this one to shame.] In the first shot across the bow between Buckeye and Wolverine fans, it was learned today that an OSU-backer finally achieved what nerds on both sides of the Michigan-Ohio border have been attempting for years: to construct replicas for their respective stadiums out of LEGO blocks. If you are not a fan or a nerd, this is comparable to the Russian launch of Sputnik in 1957. According to various sources, the 1:275 scale model of Ohio Stadium took 2000 hours (what?) & 2.5 years to build and stands about 10 inches tall. We can not verify if the builder included any drunk LEGO Buckeye fans sleeping outside the stadium or peeing on the Horse Shoe walls. Rumor has it that the original owner traded this LEGO masterpiece for a 6 pack and a half-spent tin of Kodiak. Several Wolverines are scrambling to complete their replicas before Michigan stadium undergoes its renovation in 2008. The closest we’ve come to compete with the mini-Ohio Stadium is a (gulp) LEGO Michigan Marching band tuba player (fyi, I really found this in google images, and it really is supposed to be an M band member):
