Major Stadium Security Upgrade, questions for scannerblue
So a completely different stadium security topic!
This weeks game they are suggesting fans arrive early to go through a new walk through weapons detection system. I've never not felt safe in the Big House, but it's always kinda weird to take my hat off while entering like that's the major safety concern. I have never been to any other sporting event where they make you do that. Scannerblue, any reason why we do this?
In our group we always bring a cowbell in. Some gate agents hassle and deny us and we have to try to find a different entrance. Other agents have been completely fine with it and ask to play the Let's Go Blue cheer in line. Any insight on how this new weapons system will treat the cowbells or is this the end of another tradition?
November 3rd, 2023 at 10:27 AM ^
No inside info of any sort, but...
Seems like a weapons detection system is designed to find weapons that people are attempting to conceal. It sounds like you're not concealing the cowbell, you're just getting mixed opinions on whether you're allowed to have it or not. Given that, I shouldn't think the new systems should change anything.
Now, people sneaking metal flasks in may have some new issues...
November 3rd, 2023 at 10:28 AM ^
They make plastic flasks
November 3rd, 2023 at 10:51 AM ^
Too much planning. Pint of vodka in a plastic bottle w/ plastic cap.
November 3rd, 2023 at 11:16 AM ^
just chug the pint before you go in. Can't detect it if it's in your tum-tum.*
*this does not constitute medical advice. I am not a doctor. MGoBlog and it's authors and also definitely me take no responsibility for claims made in this comment. Please drink responsibly.
November 3rd, 2023 at 1:14 PM ^
as a doctor, this is excellent advice according to my brother who blacked out in the truck 10 min before the game and managed to wobbled to his seat at halftime
November 3rd, 2023 at 2:38 PM ^
There was a guy sitting in front of us earlier in the season that stood up, passed out, and fell down several rows of seats. Messed himself up pretty good.
November 3rd, 2023 at 11:06 AM ^
What, no carbon fiber?
November 3rd, 2023 at 11:50 AM ^
how could this not have been posted yet:
November 3rd, 2023 at 12:46 PM ^
Easy, guys... I put my pants on just like the rest of you - one leg at a time.
Except, when my pants are on, I make gold records.
November 3rd, 2023 at 3:20 PM ^
*moar
(As in "MOAR Blue Öyster Cult!)
November 3rd, 2023 at 3:29 PM ^
Yo sb here - busy at work so didn’t see this - but my user name is a little outdated - more like Portal blue. Yes there are metal detectors at each gate now after a few Beta tests at various gates the last few games. I am up sweet talking and entertaining the visiting team’s parents in the SE corner.
November 3rd, 2023 at 3:38 PM ^
Singing opera, no doubt!
November 3rd, 2023 at 10:28 AM ^
The hat thing has at least as much to do with people hiding alcohol as weapons. It's been done at Dodgers games for years.
November 3rd, 2023 at 10:32 AM ^
Yeah, but at M games you can stuff as many nips into your coat pockets as humanly possible to later rip in the bathroom and they don't even check -- so there's no real need to even attempt the hat thing.
November 3rd, 2023 at 10:49 AM ^
“Rip in the bathroom”?!
November 3rd, 2023 at 11:01 AM ^
phrasing
November 3rd, 2023 at 2:46 PM ^
He who dealt it...
November 3rd, 2023 at 10:30 AM ^
November 3rd, 2023 at 10:36 AM ^
Sources tell me that the new "walk through weapons detection system" only detects if you're Connor Stalions... because we all know he's a major weapon and other teams fear for the safety of their players...
November 3rd, 2023 at 1:08 PM ^
I could see it. After all, way back in the days of Mystery Science Theatre 3000, when they still did Invention Exchange at the beginning, one episode had Fridge Alert (in the vein of First Alert naturally), except it only worked if William Conrad was raiding the fridge (not quite in the vein of First Alert, which William Conrad was the spokesperson for, as some of us will recall). I mean, theoretically, you could build such a system, I think.
November 3rd, 2023 at 3:19 PM ^
+1 for you kind sir for the MST 3K reference!! Loved that show growing up!
November 3rd, 2023 at 10:40 AM ^
I for one am glad to see the University investing in an industrial-strength cowbell detection system. We need to be prepared for when Mississippi State visits in
/checks notes
uhhh.... maybe 2057?
November 3rd, 2023 at 10:42 AM ^
What's wrong with the cowbell??? Next thing you know, they'll be paying out stupid "3" signs to distract offenses.
November 3rd, 2023 at 10:46 AM ^
This obsession with safety and security is not healthy.
November 3rd, 2023 at 10:48 AM ^
Not being safe and secure in places you should be is not healthy.
November 3rd, 2023 at 1:15 PM ^
I mean, safety and security is mostly an illusion.
November 3rd, 2023 at 11:43 AM ^
I'd revise that slightly:
Our obsession with "security theatre" is not healthy.
November 3rd, 2023 at 12:12 PM ^
November 3rd, 2023 at 7:21 PM ^
Indeed! Ask any TSA agent holding up a 45-minute line while he consults with 3 other agents and 2 supervisors over whether the toothpicks in your Dopp Kit are lethal weapons.
November 3rd, 2023 at 5:40 PM ^
Hatter's original is right.
Yours is too though.
November 3rd, 2023 at 10:53 AM ^
Anybody else notice how nobody down there was digging for dirt when they were beating us every year?
November 3rd, 2023 at 10:54 AM ^
There are currently a lot of whacked out people in this world. Read an article the other day how we are on high alert for terrorism so better safe than sorry.
November 3rd, 2023 at 10:55 AM ^
I've had to go through scanners for years at New England based concerts, etc..
But, I've never tried to bring in a cow bell - because, after Mountain (with West, Pappalardi, Laing, etc.), everyone realizes the pinnacle for cowbell has forever been established.
(Edit/add: I'm happy that this security upgrade is being done - the planet's inhabitants are increasingly angry about too many things)
November 3rd, 2023 at 11:02 AM ^
Fuck! My biceps are considered lethal weapons in most states including Michigan.
November 3rd, 2023 at 1:17 PM ^
your biceps have the clap and that’s why they’re lethal and not allowed.
November 3rd, 2023 at 11:07 AM ^
I hope everyone on the west side of the stadium takes out their phones and records the coded signs on the Purdue sidelines.
November 3rd, 2023 at 11:09 AM ^
I thought cowbells was a MissSt. thing?
November 3rd, 2023 at 11:17 AM ^
It used to be pretty common to see and hear fans individually playing "clank, clank, clank-clank-clank, clank-clank-clank-clank, GO BLUE!" on cowbells in The Big House.
Rarely happens anymore.
November 3rd, 2023 at 12:51 PM ^
That's exactly it. We are in upper North East corner, and there's another guy much lower in the corner that also has one. We get a pretty large amount of fans joining in and get a lot of calls for "More Cowbell!" :D
November 3rd, 2023 at 1:09 PM ^
It was definitely a thing in the 90s and up through the early 00s.
November 3rd, 2023 at 11:13 AM ^
I miss the days when a few fans brought in telescoping flag poles and waved the Michigan flag after touchdowns. And will the toilet tissue toss in the student section ever make a comeback??
November 3rd, 2023 at 11:40 AM ^
And marshmallows. Particularly appropros when Day comes to Michigan Stadium.
November 3rd, 2023 at 12:54 PM ^
I love this idea! One of my earliest Big House memories is seeing the whole corner of the field near the student section covered in white.
In my day we try tossing the marshmellows at the mobile camera rig in front of the student section. Had to arc them over the shield but when you did everyone cheered, good times!
November 3rd, 2023 at 1:11 PM ^
It's been a while since they cracked down on marshmallows, so I'm guessing they're not really looking for them these days. I think a few hundred students could sneak them in and bring back the tradition. It's not like "weapons scanners" pick up marhsmallows.
November 3rd, 2023 at 1:30 PM ^
Marshmallows were added to the banned list in '89 after they just got completely out of hand that season, even making national news. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-10-25-sp-774-story.html
But, it continued nonetheless, and The Great Marshmallow Banning Crackdown came after artificial turf was re-installed in 2003. It was an expensive PITA to clean them off the field turf - far worse than getting it off the grass or even off Canham's Carpet before that (I recall some sporadic marshmallow tossing even back in the mid-70s; oddly, specifically directed at the Stanford Band! )
November 3rd, 2023 at 11:21 AM ^
Is this going to cause problems for people with little single shot airplane bottles of booze? Might have flimsy metal caps, not really sure.
November 3rd, 2023 at 11:35 AM ^
In my vast experience with this, airport scanner type machines don't register mini bottles or their metal lids. As long as they are visually out of sight, I don't believe it's an issue.
November 3rd, 2023 at 11:25 AM ^
Nice try, Connor.
November 3rd, 2023 at 12:26 PM ^
I don't give a shit about weapons, can I still bring in my touchdown airplane whiskey bottles in my socks? Priorities. Geez.