An update from Sara Wilcox, my contact at Guinness Book of World Records PR in New York. As far as the 85,451 number, as you know by now, she provided this update: “We are still waiting to review ticket counts and the number is subject to change.” I followed up via email and asked if they had an idea when the count will be done, and if they had a read on whether they expected the number to go up or down. (The GBWR blog post indicated numbers were going up). Her reply: “Unfortunately not, we are not sure when we’ll have the final ticket scans to count. At this point we do not know how or if the number will change.” So what to read from this? It sounds like they do indeed base their figures on ticket scans which definitely won’t jive with the U-M figure which includes “everybody” – bands, ushers, media…and I believe factors in tickets sold. We’ll see what they come up with. The other question is the reliability of using scanned tickets as the data point. I know that in the past we’ve had problems with those – I mean, half the time I went to hockey games last year the guy tried to scan me three times and then just let me in. …
-
-
Lovely Parents – Big Chill | Sights & Sounds
It was quite a day in the Big House yesterday and Michigan smoked the Spartans 5-0 in front of 113,000 plus. A few notes: Sam and Ira firing up the Victors Lounge before the game. Ira taught fans the traditional Yost chants all week but the classic “UGLY PARENTS” was left in the chamber in the shut-out. An example of the nice touches they included – the hockey team going under the Go Blue banner before the game Mike Hart was in attendance. I asked him if he smoked peace pipe with Jim Harbaugh. Hart told me he’d support whomever is Michigan’s coach, including Harbaugh, but reminded me that Rich Rodriguez is our coach. Teams assembling for the national anthem. My weak lens doesn’t illustrate the view from the 6th level of the press box. Surprising to me, you could actually following the puck very well up there. Unfortunately I couldn’t see the stealth bomber fly over from the photo deck but it got rave reviews from folks in the stadium. Funny – I didn’t see this on the rack at Moe’s Almost 5 minutes into the game I left the photo deck and headed to my east side seats. The West lower concourse was a mess – huge lines. There was no wait to get in on the…
-
Lightly Chilled (Pregame Notes and Photos)
I popped over to the stadium for a few minutes to get a flavor of the action and the scene. Notes: Achtung! Media relations announced that they have CLOSED both golf courses tomorrow due to the weather. Fend for yourselves! mgoblog’s game preview is up. Check out The Only Colors for the Spartan preview if nothing else for the photo that leads off the post. I ran into the pyrotechnic crew (at least a dozen guys). From the sound of those cats, it’s going to be pretty good. If-Dwight-Scrute-were-in-charge good. Tune into WTKA 1050AM for the pregame show. I’ll be doing a Big Chill edition of This Week in Michigan Football Hockey History. It involves life, death, ice and you might even from Red Berenson in the middle of the segment. And here it is: [display_podcast] FWIW – I’ll likely be in the Victors Lounge tomorrow if you have the means. A few photos for you, enjoy. It was beautiful out there around lunch time: A view of the Blue line from one of the benches Refrigeration in Exexcelsious deo From the student section
-
2,000 Foot Big Chill – Michigan Stadium
Thanks to reader Ken for passing this exclusive photo along – a view of the hockey rink in Michigan Stadium from 2,000 feet: Make sure you follow MVictors on Twitter.
-
Dave Brandon joins WTKA (12-01 audio)
Great get by Ira Weintraub and Sam Webb on WTKA 1050am. Here’s their interview with AD David Brandon from this morning, helping promote the Adopt-A-Family program: [display_podcast] _ All of the WTKA podcasts are found here. While he spoke about the AAF program primarily, they did ask Brandon about the timeline for the coaching decision (about 6 minutes in). Update: Brandon’s response transcribed by BKFinest of mgoblog: "I have to look at the big picture thats what I do and approach things and the big picture is most important. Everything you do impacts recruiting…there’s all this firestorm about speculation and all that. What i try to be is infinitely consistent, we have our banquet tomorrow night, we have a bowl game to play, 15 practices to prepare for an undoubtedly a really fine opponent..the players and coaches have earned that right, get that experience behind them hopefully in a positive way. So all the firestorm that’s trying to move timetable is not going to work."
-
Light ‘em Up
I got an email this morning from reader David D. who tipped me that it appeared as though the permanent lights were going up already. Brandon indicated earlier that the project would start after the Wisconsin game to have them ready for The Big Chill. Per Dave Ablauf of U-M Media relations, they have indeed started the project and don’t blink, they’ll be in and done by Saturday: “The permanent lights are in the process of being installed and will be in prior to this weekend’s game with Wisconsin.” That’s fast! I think most fans are ok with the concept of permanent lights but I’m sure there’ll be some reaction on the aesthetics once they are in place.
