2014 Spring Game will be April 5th
Title says it all. Make your plans. This information was slipped into the announcement for the inaugural Big House 5K: Trail to the Victors.
"The inaugural "Big House 5K: Trail to the Victors" will be held on Sunday, April 6.
"We are excited to host a charity race in conjunction with a great athletic weekend on the Ross Athletic Campus," said Rob Rademacher, associate athletic director. "In addition to the spring football game, we will play lacrosse, baseball and softball during this spring weekend. We look forward to having our fans and runners participate in fun and exciting races through our beautiful university and athletic campus. We will definitely make this event a 'wow' experience for all participants and help benefit and support our local Washtenaw County charitable partners."
http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/community/spec-rel/121313aaa.html
December 15th, 2013 at 4:33 PM ^
December 15th, 2013 at 3:48 PM ^
Huh. Weird to think about. I'm graduating this year, and will be moving to a different state immediately after. Spring game brings to mind a future for Michigan football where I won't be able to attend for the first time in years.
Might not be the most coherent of questions, but... how does that go? I know I'll still be able to watch on television, but I won't feel near as connected to the program, I'm sure.
December 15th, 2013 at 5:21 PM ^
the longer you are away from campus, the more different it seems. My recommendation is to find an alumni associaton whereever you end up. It's a great networking opportunity and most put on events for watching football and basketball games. It's a good way to stay in touch with the university with people that have a common connection.
December 15th, 2013 at 6:59 PM ^
I haven't been to a game since 1991 and I still think about Michigan football every day.
December 15th, 2013 at 8:32 PM ^
That's is the exact reason I don't get so bent out of shape about recruiting anymore. I'm a junior now and every single kid we are recruiting still won't make an impact while I'm still a student here and I won't be here while most of these kids hit campus. Makes me step back and realize I won't be able to enjoy the success of these kid's careers as much as if I was still a student.
December 15th, 2013 at 3:49 PM ^
December 15th, 2013 at 3:57 PM ^
... is that the Michigan Athletic Department has effectively taken over the "Big House, Big Heart" fun run.
Last year, in an absolutely epic display of MBA-speak, the Athletic Department canceled the independently-run (but longstanding tradition) 10k/5k/1m Big House Big Heart run. Here was that story, from a year ago:
So now, would it be correct to say that the Athletic Department is doing more or less exactly the same thing, but controlling it themselves? Is there any plausible explanation other than, Yeah, a fun run that day is such a good idea that we decided to take it over ourselves... ?
December 15th, 2013 at 3:58 PM ^
that it was marketed as if it was affiliated with the school even though it wasn't.
That means that anything potentially shady that happens over there could have negative impact on the school itself, which is a risk that that the school shouldn't have to take on.
December 15th, 2013 at 7:20 PM ^
Mott and the UMMC Cardiovascular Center were beneficiaries, and of course the whole thing was geared around a fun run finishing through the Stadium tunnel and onto the field. It was run by UM alums (Champions for Charity) and it probably attracted a very large portion of UM students, faculty, staff and other alumni. Additionally, individual charitable organizations could use the event for their own fundraising (getting pledgers to support runners) where the money never went through Champions for Charity at all. It was not inconsiderable. I think they raised a million bucks in later years.
I know only the basic outline of the story. And I am not terribly surprised. The University -- I am guessing -- might still be happy to have Champions for Charity continue its fun run, and would be able to use the Stadium/tunnel; all they have to do now is to pay the new rental fees like all of the weddings, bar mitzvahs, etc., do. (Or maybe not?!? Does the AD want no other fun runs to conclude in the Stadium? Thereby making the University's new 5k a kind of exclusive? Was the University saying no to CfC's money?)
But that first link, to the story where Ablauf and others are quoted about why the cancellation of the Big Heart Big House run last year; that is some amazing jargon offered as an explanation.
Champions for Charity page on Facebook: (LINK). I didn't see much of any misleading M branding there; and the regular Champions for Charity web page seems to be defunct now.
December 15th, 2013 at 4:04 PM ^
December 15th, 2013 at 5:25 PM ^
It was my understanding that the Champions for Charity was not actually a non-profit and therefore, part of the reason for the athletic department discontinued it's relationship with them was to have better control over where the charity dollars were flowing. Probably a lot of AD speak in there, so take that for what it's worth.
December 15th, 2013 at 4:05 PM ^
December 15th, 2013 at 4:08 PM ^
Good planning. Michigan will have hockey game a week later on April 12th.
December 15th, 2013 at 6:51 PM ^
In Philadelphia
December 15th, 2013 at 7:02 PM ^
December 15th, 2013 at 4:24 PM ^
December 15th, 2013 at 4:43 PM ^
This.
I've never been to a spring game that was an actual game format. Just the lame scrimmages.
Currently on a streak of 5 straight spring games and 8 of the last 9. My first was the one where Lloyd Carr caught the touchdown pass at the end of the game (2005).
December 15th, 2013 at 4:54 PM ^
December 15th, 2013 at 5:13 PM ^
December 15th, 2013 at 4:41 PM ^
1st Saturday of Spring Break (at least for my kids)
December 15th, 2013 at 4:55 PM ^
Question 1: Who of the 2014 recruiting class is looking to enroll early?
Question 2: Do 2014 early enrollees participate in the spring game?
December 16th, 2013 at 12:59 PM ^
We hopefully will get to see some Drake Harris in the spring game, assuming his hammy should be healed up by then (which it should)
December 15th, 2013 at 5:05 PM ^
December 15th, 2013 at 5:14 PM ^
December 15th, 2013 at 5:33 PM ^
QB and OL/DL depth should be okay to make it a game one would think. Last year was rough because Shane wasn't on campus and Bellomy had just been hurt. This year we'll have four scholarship QBs plus Cleary and Sweica.
If not I'm going by myself because I can't handle the complaining by my family about it not being a game.
December 15th, 2013 at 5:42 PM ^
I don't get the complaints about the format. I wanna see exactly what a glorified "practice" format provides. Basically, if I can see the O-Line block against the D-Line, receivers run competetive routes covered by our DB's, and see running backs hit the hole hard, I'm good to go.
These things usually turn into defensive showcases because the offense is still geling and the defense knows what plays are coming, so I don't put too much stock in the defensive showing.
December 16th, 2013 at 1:57 AM ^
Have you ever been to a football practice? It's a lot of special teams practice and some 11 on 11 two hand touch.
I went a couple of years ago, it was cool to see the players up close and have free access to the stadium, but it is definitely not like a game. Not even close.
December 15th, 2013 at 6:10 PM ^
Have gone too many years to count. Its where I used to get all my autographs for the books I have purchased. I have met so many parents of the players, after they come down from the press box. I would tell all of them their son is my all time favorite wolverine he he he. It worked for some good conversations with alot of them. There was a few years when you could head to the Hash Bash afterwards. The only downer, yeah I know, not another Debbie Downer but I just wish it were April 20th instead of early April when we would have a better chance of warmer weather. Of all the times I have gone I can only remember a handful of games when the weather was nice enough to wear a T-shirt and start your first tan of the year. Anyway, looking forward to it no matter how cold it might be this er... next year. GO BLUE!!! P.S.My days of going to the HashBash are over. I am now and have been a member of AA for the last six years and am proud to say I have stayed clean the whole time since the first day I walked in there... Just wanted to end on (what I call) a good note....Again GO BLUE!!!
December 15th, 2013 at 6:11 PM ^
that's why, give something back to the fans, give us some football in april. I miss that we haven't done that in a while, I'd like to think we do finally have enough players, esp with so many incoming guys too.
December 15th, 2013 at 7:03 PM ^
The crowd may be a little extra subdued this time. Or some intending to go may walk into Dominick's and forget about it entirely.
December 16th, 2013 at 3:40 AM ^
December 16th, 2013 at 7:56 AM ^
Domino's sucks.
December 16th, 2013 at 9:07 AM ^
Will this be a DJ'ed event, or will the band play? This is a very important question.
(I've actually never attended a spring game...does the previous season's MMB usually play?!)
December 16th, 2013 at 9:37 AM ^
That's what I've noticed when I go. The glee club sings the anthem and maybe a few other songs. Last year they did not have the play-by-play over the loudspeakers like they did previously, which was much better.
December 16th, 2013 at 10:31 AM ^
Thx for the info. Much appreciated.
Can any MMB members explain to me how long the band stays together? Is the 2013 version of the MMB disbanded (sorry...can't think of a more elegant word) after the bowl game, or is it considered the 2013-2014 MMB that has official functions well into the 2014 calendar year?
December 16th, 2013 at 10:45 AM ^
MMB is only a fall-semester class, so barring unusual circumstances, the entire band is on hiatus for all of the winter semester.
However, subsets of the band continue. Fanfare band still has gigs and drumline continues with a 1-credit class called drum tech that mostly serves to bring in new prospects and allow former reserves to prove themselves.
There's usually a band contingent at the spring game done on a volunteer basis and out of uniform.
December 16th, 2013 at 10:13 PM ^
to a Spring Game. How do you get tickets? Just show up and get them at the door or what? I couldn't find them on MGoBlue