Dem and My First Football Game

Surprisingly until this past Saturday Dem and I have never gone to a football game together. Last year we went to the same Michigan game, but we didn't have tickets next to each other. Fortunately for us this was a rather historic game. It was the 500th game at the Big House and Micheal Phelps and all the Olympic athletes from Michigan were there. I took some video of the band before the game, Phelps being announced, and the team after the game, but I'll just include on the blog Michigan coming out of the tunnel.

Here are a few pictures recapping the game. Even though I've gone to the majority of Michigan games over the past 4 years, this definitely had a different feel with the new luxury suites and the first time I wasn't sitting in the students section (so nice to sit down for the majority of the game).

Outside of the Big House with the new luxury suites being built.

Dem and I got there pretty early and got to see the student sections make out the block "M" in the student section (see picture below). Sadly once the game started the excitement instantly went away. Rather than recapping what happened in the first half I'll just say that at halftime Michigan had 5 turnovers (could have easily been more), 21 total yards (rushing + passing), 1 first down, and rarely made Wisconsin start beyond the 50-yard line.

The stadium before the game got started.

However, the second half was a totally different story. Thankfully the defense played good in the first half and only gave up 19 points (this is amazing considering Wisconsin almost always started in field goal range). After Michigan got their first touchdown they really got going. The second touchdown came with a ~30 yard run from Minor, which was followed with Wisconsin's next offensive play by Michigan intercepting their pass and running it back for a touchdown...in minutes it went from Michigan being down 19-0 to Michigan ahead 20-19.

Linebacker John Thompson returning his interception for the touchdown to give Michigan the lead.

Michigan then continued to play well with stopping Wisconsin, getting the ball back, and scoring again. That scoring drive was highlighted by Threet's 48 yard run. Wisconsin then got the ball, drove the field, and was about to score when Michigan sacked the quarterback resulting in him fumbling and Michigan recovered. Wisconsin then got a second chance and succeeded in driving down and getting a touchdown (FYI - it was an amazing touchdown catch). Then Wisconsin needed a two-point conversion for the tie. They successfully got it, but thanks to the loud crowd Wisconsin wide receivers screwed up their formation resulting in an illegal formation penalty. When they retried the conversion they failed and with only 13 seconds all that was left was to recover the onside kick, which they failed to kick 10 yards...thus Michigan WINS. This completely the largest comeback in the Big House.

Scoreboard with the sad Badger fans below it.

Immediately after the game the team ran over to the student section to celebrate with them and a few rows behind us the chant of "It's great - to be - a Michigan Wolverine! It's great - to be - a Michigan Wolverine!" That was a chant that I didn't expect to hear Saturday...I actually specifically thought that at half time. What a great game.

Dem and I happy about our Michigan team after our first football game.