Not entirely OT: your worst away game experience
I noticed on another board that there was a little bit being thrown around concerning fans of other teams, and since this is a bye week, I am curious to know if any of you have any away game experiences you would share that were not entirely pleasant. Or, if you have more than one, what was your worst?
October 12th, 2021 at 2:22 PM ^
I went with some friends to Iowa City to watch Iowa play MSU about 10 years ago. On Friday night before the game, someone stole all of our jackets. Our driver had his car keys in the pocket. Probably should have had his spare key FedExed from home but he didn't and to make a long story short my buddy and some others got stranded in Iowa City until Tuesday having to take days off work and what not. Fans were cool though.
October 12th, 2021 at 2:23 PM ^
Also, Iowa jacks everything up on gameday. Taxis have double the normal fair (this is pre-Uber days), restaurants have special menus with food 2x normal costs, hotel rooms are the same way. A total rip.
October 13th, 2021 at 12:21 AM ^
I mean that's just capitalism
October 13th, 2021 at 9:21 AM ^
Doesn't mean it's desirable
October 12th, 2021 at 3:37 PM ^
This is a bummer. I went to Iowa City for the RR night game and it was one of the best days/nights I've had at an opposing city.
October 12th, 2021 at 10:23 PM ^
I was there, too. 2009, correct? Early-to-mid October and it was SO DAMN COLD. But, great atmosphere, terrific game -- we got to see a fledgling Denard that night -- and Michigan really lost only because of a muffed punt.
October 12th, 2021 at 2:27 PM ^
I was in the MMB in college and that creates the potential for some negative opposing stadium experiences. The band aren't just fans, they're representatives of the university and some dumb fans want to take out their frustrations with someone in uniform and the football players are in the locker room.
During my time there were a couple of bad experiences at OSU - which, okay....DUH!
The most surprisingly negative fan experience was actually at Northwestern. Usually their stadium is effectively full of the visiting fans and thus the experience is mild. But back in the 1990s when they were finally good for a minute they upset us in a game. The behavior of the rich, old, white suburban people toward us leaving the game was shockingly bad. Every other time I've been there it was fine - but that one time it was terrible.
Otherwise I haven't had too many negative experiences - even at ND or MSU. After college we traveled to a lot of away games and never really had a bad experience. Now and then we'd get a remark or two, but nothing significant.
October 12th, 2021 at 3:03 PM ^
Yep, I was in the Band in the early 90's and can confirm that nothing comes close to OSU. It may just because we are Michigan, plus we were in the middle of a streak of kicking their butts, but they were exponentially worse than any other fans I've encountered.
We did have one super-negative incident at ND one year, but it was more of a "one stupid fan" thing than the overall experience like OSU.
MSU fans tend to be crude but harmless compared to OSU.
Mississippi fans may be the most annoying, but in a "good god they are stupid" not a "wow they want to hurt me" way.
October 12th, 2021 at 3:18 PM ^
I'll continue with the band stories. My freshman year we went to Madison. We left a day early and spent the night in Whitewater, WI but not before playing a pregame and halftime performance for the Whitewater High School football game on Friday night. There were roughly 200 fans in the stands and about 250 of us band members. It was 20 degrees and windy and the worst weather of the season. Our hosts owned a dairy farm (of course they did) and asked if we wanted to get up at 4am to help milk the cows. There were six of us staying there and the first five said absolutely not. I went along with the group and wish to this day I had experienced the cows.
The truly bad part came the next day when we beat Wisconsin and the students threw beer and wine bottles out of the upper deck at the band. We spent the 4th quarter with our backs turned away from the field to keep our eyes peeled for projectiles. The fans were drunk and out of control.
October 13th, 2021 at 1:24 AM ^
Which year? '01?
October 13th, 2021 at 8:07 AM ^
1974. I was a senior in that band.
October 13th, 2021 at 2:24 PM ^
MTuba is correct - 1974
October 12th, 2021 at 3:29 PM ^
Further band stories, my worst experience was MSU 1979, the only time I was ever physically attacked while wearing a band uniform. Assholes! My personal problem was that I was relatively small in stature so I looked like an easy target, but I had also been on my HS wrestling team so I was able to fend them off. Our trips to OSU in '78 and '80 were actually just fine- it helped that we won those games, but the OSU fans in this kinder, gentler age of days gone by were actually polite and respectful, and even wished us luck in Pasadena as we were marching out of the stadium.
October 12th, 2021 at 3:56 PM ^
The OSU fans my freshman year were fine but as our MMB bus convoy left the horseshoe, the CBus cops stopped traffic to let us pass and then as a unit flipped off our buses. It was almost like it was choreographed.
October 13th, 2021 at 9:50 AM ^
There's something different about msu fans. We expect the worst from osu but I feel like I've seen and heard WAY worse stories about msu fans -- including, but not limited to, knowing a guy who got like 5 teeth knocked out by a group of msu fans before a game once.
October 12th, 2021 at 4:09 PM ^
There was the Illinois 2000 game (the Rocky Harvey Fumble Spectacular) where fans tried to push over one of the band buses and a horn player punched a fan that jumped from the stands.
That was....special
October 12th, 2021 at 2:28 PM ^
MSU game my sophomore year. Stayed with my wife's (then gf) high school friends in their dumpy campus house. They made us drink out of penis shot glasses. I had to sleep on the floor. Got woken up at 7am by one of their neighbors busting through the door playing reveille on a trumpet announcing it was time to get drunk. Got too wasted to go to the game. Watched it at some shitty bar. It was the Tate game that we lost in overtime.
Sparty fans decided to celebrate by throwing empty beer glasses at us while we walked back to our friend's place. We went out that night, got separated from our friends and our phones died. Couldn't get back to the house so we had to sleep in our car. It was a bottom 1% weekend in my life.
October 12th, 2021 at 3:47 PM ^
Second time I've seen a comment from you that confirms a similar experience (also in class of '12). Grew up in Lansing so I had a bunch of friends at that game. It actually wasn't terrible at the game, especially because it was so so quiet during the 5 minutes of fun game time when we tied it up.
But the walk home was absolutely brutal. Took like an hour and yeah, got shit thrown at me, good times.
I actually enjoyed my experience there for the senior year game, aside from that game being rough.
October 12th, 2021 at 4:52 PM ^
MSU, East Lansing circa 2011... I believe that was the bumble bee uniform game. 60 year old dude just hurling racist shit at me all game and even followed me to the bathroom before an usher realized that someone might be sent to the hospital if it were allowed any longer. Not to mention the shit thrown at my other buddies sitting in other parts of the stadium.
No one else, not even OSU, comes close. MSU FUCKING SUCKS.
October 12th, 2021 at 7:34 PM ^
When I was a student (early 00s), MSU pregame tailgates were acceptable (unlike Columbus). Not sure if it was because I was with a mixed MSU-M group or what but other than some booing and light ribbing, no issues really.
It was after games if Michigan won that it got worse for me. Had sad, drunk 50 year old guys come up to me after a Michigan win (we in the midst of a 6 game in streak in the series) and be like, "Go back home, go back to Ann Arbor" and I was like well, we own East Lansing so maybe I am home.
Columbus on the other hand was legit frightening before the game when I was there for the 2002 game. This was when a win for them meant going to the BCS title game. Like intense verbal abuse, even some physical bumping just walking down High Street (think that's what it's called). Had batteries thrown at us. It was brutal.
After the game was a scene I could not believe. I watched at a friends apartment (we didn't have tickets, drove down on a whim to try to buy some and prices were way too high and had a place to stay with a HS friend that went to OSU), and when Navarre threw the pick to end the game, the entire town erupted. Looked out the window and drunk dudes were streaking down the street, one threw an empty keg down the street. People going absolutely nuts. They were much nicer though from that point onward after the win.
I just read the ESPN recap from that game and this struck me:
"With Michigan controlling play and clinging to a 9-7 lead after
three quarters, Ohio State seemed destined for more heartbreak
against the Wolverines."
Oh how times have changed.
October 13th, 2021 at 5:33 AM ^
Batteries seem to be a particularly OSU thing. A size C battery narrowly missed me in ‘94 in Columbus as a freshman in the MMB.
Can also confirm AC1997’s NW story. I believe that was 1995.
October 13th, 2021 at 3:21 PM ^
I was at this game also, and had batteries thrown at me. Vowed never to go back, it was a nightmare. Worst experience at a game ever.
October 12th, 2021 at 2:29 PM ^
I was at Columbus in rich rods first year
October 12th, 2021 at 3:02 PM ^
Why in the world would you go to Columbus to watch a 3-8 Michigan get curb stomped?! That sounds awful.
October 12th, 2021 at 4:49 PM ^
Hey. T Pryor did throw an interception on that first drive, so there was some hope. Maybe.
October 12th, 2021 at 8:39 PM ^
My OSU co-workers at the time tried to crack jokes about their victory. Their attempts were so lame that it didn't bother me a bit.
October 12th, 2021 at 2:30 PM ^
Wisconsin 1997 - Flew in early on Saturday morning to Milwaukee from Detroit City Airport on Pro Air. Super cheap airfares and a rental car of under $20. My 12 year old son and I were seated on the side that is part of the older part of the stadium, temps were in the low 30s, NW wind 10-20 and light snow - it was very cold. During the game the fans around us were totally psycho - screaming Fuck Woodson, Fuck Griese and on and on in the same vein. We were a bit concerned about what would happen if we won, which we did 26-16. Alakazaam - once the game was over they were as nice as can be and we couldn't believe the switch. My son still talks about it as one of his weirdest experiences ever.
October 12th, 2021 at 2:31 PM ^
This is easy. OSU 1996 and 1998, then again in 2006. I have lots of family in Ohio, so I'm aware of how they can act, but the shear hate and incivility from the OSU fanbase at the actual Game takes it to a whole new level. Its the only away game experience where I felt no need to hang out before/after the game to take in the college experience. In fact, it wasn't really that safe for me.
We won in 1996 and it was bad, but since we won it was no big deal. But we lost in 1998 and at the game, I got hit in the head by a 9V battery that drew blood. The surrounding OSU fans just laughed. I told myself that I would never go back again....but I then I did in 2006. Same experience. So I will not go again (and I mean it this time!)
In general, Columbus is like Mos Eisley and OSU fans are POS humans with no discernible futures.
October 12th, 2021 at 2:36 PM ^
I initially misparsed your last sentence as 'no discernible features', but I think we can agree that we're both correct here.
October 12th, 2021 at 4:52 PM ^
Hey. I’ll give you credit for your reply, because I know you live in Ohio (perhaps even in the Columbus area) and often defend the fans there.
October 12th, 2021 at 6:25 PM ^
I do live in Columbus but trust me, I give the gap-toothed mouthbreathing fans a wide berth by a) staying the fuck away from anything resembling campus on game days, b) avoiding prisons and c) intermittently refreshing Google on my neighborhood's sex offender registry.
There are certainly civilized OSU fans to be sure and most actual alums are fine, but yes you still want to keep them at arms length on the chance they have a ne'er do well cousin who will spit Natty Ice in your face if you happen to wear anything yellow
October 12th, 2021 at 2:34 PM ^
2003 at Iowa. Michigan started up 14-0 and ended up losing 30-27. It was Iowa's homecoming and their fans were RUTHLESS.
Next up would be 2012 at Notre Dame. Michigan had 6 turnovers and lost 6-13. The fans, unlike at Iowa, were actually great and despite the outcome of the game, had a great time.
October 12th, 2021 at 4:51 PM ^
My wife and I were also at this game and I can confirm that the Iowa fans were god-awful. It was the worst away-game experience I have ever had, and I have been to many away games.
October 12th, 2021 at 5:18 PM ^
I've been to Kinnick twice in the past 8-10 years. Although nobody specifically bothered my group, it was amazing to hear students openly chanting slurs -- calling Michigan "faggots" -- as if that's just ok and normal. Nobody, including the adults and ushers, tried to stop them. It was a real lesson in what corn country folks really think.
October 13th, 2021 at 12:00 AM ^
Re: Iowa and Kinnick. No it's not. You had some stupid bad apples around you. We/they in ethanol I mean corn country don't typically go around yelling that at opposing fans.
October 12th, 2021 at 8:27 PM ^
2 visits to South Bend: 2008, when we experienced rain harder than I have ever seen before, and 2010, when the Irish got Denarded and one of their fans tried to pick a fight with Michigan fans minding their own business walking to the car.
October 12th, 2021 at 2:35 PM ^
This one is pretty lame, but I'm bored right now. We went to Purdue with the kids (4 & 2 at the time) when Speight got hurt. There was an old man in front of us who kept making comments about our kids. They weren't even being annoying. Haven't liked the place since. Also because of the treatment of hurt players.
October 12th, 2021 at 2:51 PM ^
That game was so hot.
October 12th, 2021 at 5:12 PM ^
Insert Paris Hilton gif
October 13th, 2021 at 12:35 AM ^
I was at that game and confirm. Fortunately we were seated in an area of the stadium that was shaded all game. I don't think I could have made it otherwise. I'm the kind of person who gets uncomfortable in the low 80's.
Also, West Lafayette has zero pregame culture, at least none that we could find. We parked quite close to the stadium and no one was out and about. We ended up just drinking a couple beers on the curb.
Also also, the hit on Speight, while legal, was absolutely intended to inflict injury. Happened right in front of me
October 13th, 2021 at 8:39 AM ^
That was the only away Michigan game I have ever attended; I do my best to avoid situations where I may end up in jail. It was so hot half the people around me, including my wife, had to depart early due to heat exhaustion. The game was shit despite the win because Purdue was trash and we kept doing everything we could to lose. And it was the ultimate foreshadow for the rest of the season.
October 13th, 2021 at 11:44 AM ^
I admit that after the game I thought O'Korn was going to be good the rest of the season, and boy was I wrong,
October 13th, 2021 at 1:03 PM ^
Same here.
October 12th, 2021 at 3:01 PM ^
That same game caused me to despise Purdue fans for eternity.
October 12th, 2021 at 3:07 PM ^
Jeff Brohm and his psychopath DC at the time, Nick Holt, made me dislike Purdue that day. Those two acted like complete lunatics on the sideline all game long. Just embarrassing displays of sportsmanship.
(I temporarily forgave them when they destroyed OSU in 2018.)
October 12th, 2021 at 2:36 PM ^
The lone time I've been to see Michigan play an away game was at Camp Randall. My wife was working for one of the organizations that raise money for the UW-Madison and we were with donors, though, so I was pretty quiet about who I was rooting for. The crowd was a bit sparse and not terribly lively.
This was in Barry Alvarez's first year and Michigan was in control the entire game. Desmond Howard caught a couple of touchdown passes and the only real suspense was whether or not Wisconsin would score; they kicked a field goal late in the fourth to cut the final margin to 41-3.
Badger football tickets were pretty easy for me to get until a couple years later, when Alvarez won his first Rose Bowl.
October 12th, 2021 at 2:50 PM ^
Was at that game as well. Hot day. Michigan band member passed out during their performance. A few of sparse W fans cheered. Classy.
October 12th, 2021 at 2:41 PM ^
2009 at Illinois.
Up 13-7 and Roundtree catches a pass and scores a 76 yard TD, great! Just kidding he was down at the 1. No worries, we'll punch it in from there.
Stuffed 4 times (all reviewed IIRC).
Illinois promptly drives 99 yards for a TD, takes the lead and blows the doors off for a 38-13 W.
Fun drive home after that!
October 12th, 2021 at 2:53 PM ^
I was at this game as well. I have never seen fan base turn as quick as the Illini did that day. They hated their team and then turned their hate to Michigan.