Help Fund Two New Giant Flags at Yost!
EDIT: Thanks to our amazing donors, including a generous Mr. Aaron Ward, our goal has been reached! Thanks to everyone who contributed, we will keep you posted on the status of the flags!
If you've been to Yost Ice Arena for a Michigan hockey game in the past two years, you're probably familiar with the student sections' giant Swedish and Texan flags. Next season, we plan on adding two more giant flags to our arsenal, and we would greatly appreciate your support in our fundraising efforts.
Because we are not, and never will be, a University-sponsored student group, we cannot seek funds through the Student Activities Fund. We are very grateful to the Eckert family, who handmade the Swedish flag and donated the Texas flag, but now we seek support from the entire Michigan family for these next two flags.
Below (in the first comment) is a link to our Paypal account. Our fundraising goal is $600, which will cover both flags (one of which will be a custom design) and shipping. We had issues setting up on Kickstarter and Indiegogo, so we're just going to keep it simple with a Paypal account. We'll keep you posted on our progress via @ChildrenOfYost on the Twitters.
Thank you, and Go Blue!
February 15th, 2012 at 3:09 PM ^
February 15th, 2012 at 12:44 PM ^
What are the two new flags? (I don't follow hockey recruiting.)
February 15th, 2012 at 12:45 PM ^
Surprises. We aren't telling anyone until we get them into the building.
February 15th, 2012 at 12:53 PM ^
what the flags will look like?
February 15th, 2012 at 12:56 PM ^
Didn't reload the page before posting. So you're asking for hundreds of dollars for a secret project? Maybe strike a deal with donors so they can get a sneak peek at the design.
February 15th, 2012 at 1:00 PM ^
They will be really big, and rectangular, and we promise you will love them!
February 15th, 2012 at 1:35 PM ^
"We won't tell you what it will be for but we need your money to do it!"
People may be fully ready to help donate, myself included, but the actions of the student section, historically, can leave some people not entirely confident about how thought out the practice may be.
February 15th, 2012 at 1:47 PM ^
So you're afraid we're going to ask your money to throw it's shoe or swear at it?
All joking aside, just because we're too salty to be a University-recognized club does not mean we do not have the personnel to operate like one when need be. We've told others in our replies here and on Twitter as much as we are willing to divulge in order to preserve some surprise for the players and fans. The amount we are raising comes from the sale price of the most affordable 8x12 state flag we could find and our quote on the custom flag. If there is anything more we can do to earn your confidence, please let me know.
February 15th, 2012 at 2:20 PM ^
the shoe thing is something that's lived on much longer than this iteration of the fanbase. i'm speaking more towards a self-facing mentality that jumped in right around the time rooster sucker entered the chant. the michigan student section took berenson's request for moderation so much to heart that they continued the chant with an added "we love you Red" kicker. very little things bother me but that one did.
i guess what i'm getting at is i, and i know plenty of people from Dekers, etc., have grown eery of how interested the student section is becoming with their own legend. being a vibrant community is one thing but it becomes dangerous when it gets to a "look what we can do" level. that's all.
now please stay off my lawn.
(fwiw the flag thing a couple years back was so good that it made me really hate how i felt about the section as a whole bc it harkened back to a creativity that was lacking at times the past 10 yrs. my suggestion for fostering trust would probably be along the lines of providing info via email to those pledging an amount)
February 15th, 2012 at 2:45 PM ^
And I was not there the year of that incident, so this iteration is a bit removed from that which upset you, but I understand.
We are proud of being recognized as the best student section in college hockey, and to stay at the top, you need to keep improving. I realize we've never had to ask for donations before, but it's unfair to keep asking one person's family to fund these projects. I appreciate your suggestion, and I invite anyone who has donated or is considering donating to DM us @ChildrenofYost, and we will get back to you as quickly as possible. If you don't use Twitter, you can email ChildrenOfYost17 at gmail dot com.
February 15th, 2012 at 5:54 PM ^
thank you for your response. i believe you see where i'm coming from and that my feedback was only that actions of the past may have blanked the ability of the section to play the "trust us" card when calling upon others for donations.
i will also note, simply because i received criticism for what apparently came off as an attack, that i did donate even while writing some of these comments.
February 15th, 2012 at 4:04 PM ^
Sports is supposed to be "about the students" and "about the student-athletes." I think it's great that the Yost crowd has differentiated themselves from the rest of college hockey. That kind of stuff contributes to a better home-ice advantage.
I used to go to a lot of hockey games in the 1970's and there were two small groups of non-students that tried to do a lot, while the students didn't do much. I would have loved to have gone to games alongside a student section as vital as everyone says this one is.
Congrats to the students for getting noticed.
February 15th, 2012 at 5:57 PM ^
i'm not critiquing differentiation. God knows UMs fanbase needs to more given how much our traditions are derived from another program. what i was getting at is to avoid behaviors that take AWAY from the student athletes. the fact the school was threatened with in-game penalties if certain behaviors continued, and that said behaviors were continued because "you can't tell us what to do," was a troubling shift since i was a student
insert more "back in my day" bs.
February 15th, 2012 at 4:30 PM ^
Geaux Blue as a Deker, I will tell you that your opinion does not represent that of the Dekers at all. I know plenty of Dekers as well (even those on the Dekers Board) that support the COY. So please don't talk like you represent the Dekers organization overall. Intelligent individuals recognize that the FYS incident (and that of the Miami series) were isolated incidents. We are lucky enough to have great COY leadership that self-polices students who take their actions over the line (throwing stuff on the ice/overly vulgar chants above the penalty cheer/cheering for opponent injuries).
That is all I have to say for you and I have given my piece.
February 15th, 2012 at 5:52 PM ^
nor did i say "the Dekers feel this way." i said i know a number of Dekers that feel the student section took a dive during that period and are just overall ambivalent or negative about students since. it's a bit sweeping to also loop COY as the student section as a whole when i merely noted collective chants and behaviors that dropped the group. bad apples, barrel - sure.
the fact i wasn't even referring to the FYS and Miami incidences should say something
February 15th, 2012 at 6:50 PM ^
I know a board member who read you comment above and was very offended. Many members of the Dekers board loves many things the COY does including Don Cherry Night, the Flags, Having fun the with refs (FYI both the COY leadership and the Dekers disapprove what happened Saturday night against Miami with the candy).
I know what you were reffering from the earlier post, it doesn't take psychic abilities. Next time don't speak for everybody, becasue your opinion is the minority.
Besides the point, I love that I got labeled as trolling, when I all did is call you out for attempting to speak for the Dekers. Honestly, that was your original intent in the post to throw around the Deker's organization to make your opinion seem like it actually means something,
"i know plenty of people from Dekers, etc., have grown eery of how interested the student section is becoming with their own legend.".
I am not buying trying to back away from your reply. Your reply right above this, is what I see everyday from my 9th graders when I am about to send them down to detention.
Just FYI, don't use the Dekers in this discussion. I am done here for real this time.
February 17th, 2012 at 12:56 PM ^
my entire point was i know people who are wary of the student section due to their actions years past. all you've done is inform me of more recent events that show it's still going on in some part. not to mention it seems you even admit the student section =/= COY, of whom I have absolved and praised throughout this thread. you tell me i can't speak for the Dekers, something i have not tried to do, while at the same time you're... trying to speak for the Dekers.
tl;dr: COY is not a problem. student section taking things too far in the past decade is.
February 15th, 2012 at 12:57 PM ^
Right there from the gang at HSR. Good luck guys, and use them in good health.
February 15th, 2012 at 1:00 PM ^
Honestly, keeping it a secret is gonna make people not want to donate. Just tell us. If I think it's a worthwhile idea, I'll donate a few bucks.
February 15th, 2012 at 1:08 PM ^
The first is along our usual route, honoring a player's home.
The second will be a reproduction of a piece of Michigan history so great that following its announcement, a Mr. Brian Cook commented on our Facebook page "Oh my god. This must happen. I solemnly vow to do everything in my power."
Also, all donors are more than welcome to join our Facebook page, where we discussed the plans.
February 15th, 2012 at 1:28 PM ^
Please let this be a giant Fielding Yost picture...
February 15th, 2012 at 1:10 PM ^
I hate to be the typical cynical internet user, but 600 dollars seems like a lot. I bought a giant Polish flag off Amazon a few years ago for 5 dollars and it's holding up fine. I don't think people are going to be willing to donate if you're not willing to show them what exactly they're donating to get.
February 15th, 2012 at 1:12 PM ^
"I bought a giant Polish flag off Amazon a few years ago for 5 dollars."
Did you get change?
***had to be asked***
February 15th, 2012 at 1:23 PM ^
One of these is customized. There's no way it wasn't gonna be expensive.
February 15th, 2012 at 1:36 PM ^
We comparison shopped a lot of places, but didn't check ebay or Amazon until just now. There are currently no 8' x 12' flags of the type that we were looking for, and this one's a little harder to find than Texas.
Also, we are hesitant to tell you which location flag because we don't want to disappoint any players who aren't getting a flag yet while the season is still on. That would be counterproductive to our main goal, which is supporting the team first. Hoping for another long postseason run this year!
February 15th, 2012 at 1:36 PM ^
Well, I don't think they are looking for 100 bucks or anything from a single donor. ! or 2 bucks from anyone so inclined will get them there. And based on giant flag #1 and 2, they are batting 1000 so I think they deserve the benfit of the doubt.
I think a couple bucks is worth a little surprise..
February 15th, 2012 at 2:57 PM ^
but let the kids do their thing. Michigan alums are definitely known for being boring and that's started to change over the last few years, so PLEASE don't kill the fire.
Man. Sometimes surprises are GOOD, people.
Woot M Hockey Fans.
February 15th, 2012 at 1:11 PM ^
Not every flag should be waived.
February 15th, 2012 at 1:23 PM ^
Go ahead and waive that one
/what you meant to say
/homophone'd
February 15th, 2012 at 1:13 PM ^
Fairly certain the ratio of Mgoreaders to actual hockey spectators is in your favor so just spill the beans mano.
February 15th, 2012 at 1:26 PM ^
the custom is a stencil of fielding yost to replace the fabled lost medallion.
February 15th, 2012 at 1:36 PM ^
Jeez I read that as two new "Giants" flags. And I pictured these being hung in Yost:
February 15th, 2012 at 2:44 PM ^
CMR, if this is the case, I'm donating.
February 15th, 2012 at 2:02 PM ^
Once we hit our goal, we will post a notice and return any donations sent past that point. Thanks for all of your help!
February 15th, 2012 at 2:03 PM ^
1. Arizona flag (Moffatt)
2. Giant Fielding H Yost Flag
February 15th, 2012 at 2:03 PM ^
The bigger question is how do we know you reached $600?
February 15th, 2012 at 2:24 PM ^
We have $97. We're going to be as transparent as possible to keep everyone in the loop. As soon as we raise enough to order the custom flag, we will do so. At this rate, we could have it for the CCHA finals.
February 15th, 2012 at 2:06 PM ^
Happy to say that I have lived with Rob Eckert for 3 years. His Mom, who made the Swedish flag, is nothing short of amazing.
February 15th, 2012 at 2:10 PM ^
Come on, admit it. It is a State of Ohio flag and we're being punked.
February 15th, 2012 at 3:54 PM ^
Which will be awesome
EDIT: Flamebait?
February 15th, 2012 at 3:59 PM ^
I'm guessing it's because you and I are right
February 15th, 2012 at 2:54 PM ^
We thank you for all the donations, we have completed our goal through a generous donor (we're not joking, we're finished). DON'T DONATE ANYMORE!
February 15th, 2012 at 3:01 PM ^
February 15th, 2012 at 3:06 PM ^
If someone wanted to donate the money for the student section to have a giant 8'x12' Block M flag to waive, how much exactly would they be looking at, and would that be something the student section would want?
February 15th, 2012 at 3:30 PM ^
Hoping it is a giant "SIEVE" flag. For Sievenia, where all opposing goalies are from.
February 15th, 2012 at 4:35 PM ^
should be the Bolivian flag.
February 15th, 2012 at 5:22 PM ^
sounds like a lot to ask for. good luck with that!
February 15th, 2012 at 6:15 PM ^
...to compliment the COY on their initiative with this project. It's awesome that you guys are making giant flag flying a lasting tradition. Also, three cheers for Aaron Ward! How cool is that?
February 15th, 2012 at 7:06 PM ^