OT: 1st game

Wherever your seats are, stand on top of the bench and tell the old people behind you to shut the fuck up when they tell you to sit down.

Get there early enough to see the band march to the stadium and then obviously be there for them to take the field. One of the coolest moments in life...ever....and somehow always gives me chills. If I were you, I would go to the WMU game to say you were there for the debut of the real ninja offense!(or at least the cheap version where the words don't quite match with the mouth movements) Or at least to say you saw Tate's first game.....I'm just sayin'. Make a paper airplane for me and yes, tell the old people to STFU when they say down in front.

tix for the non confrence games are cheap enough. I go to the first one every year (have for the last 3 years anyway) and I think for the price the endzone seats are pretty good. last year I was on the corner of the endzone (near the goal line) about 6 rows back and could not see. I reccomend being higher than that, unless you can get front row. I have the time of my life when I go and look forward to it every year. I guarantee you will never forget it. If your kids are old enough take them too, the time spent with Dad is something they will cherish forever, win or lose, they will love it, my kid does anyway.

don't bring Michael Scott with you

House of pain, do you by any chance know Michael Scott or Tyler Perry?

The mere thought of attending a Michigan game always brings a smile to my face. The band, the Victors, the Big House, 100,000+ people, the banner, the line of parties down State Street, tailgating, etc. etc. etc. Oh, and cowbells. MORE COWBELL! Just awesome. And considering that this will be your first foray outside of Pennsylvania, it should be that much sweeter. And like the other posters have said, the fans near the endzones and, of course, the student section will be the most vocal. If cheering loudly (and often) is considerably important to you, the improved "game experience" may be worth the sacrifice in view.

I say this half-seriously, but I'd wait until 2010

curiosity - do you work for dunder miflin, house of pain?

I think I have some information to share with you. Coming from PA, the drive is about 8+ hours, and a relatively easy one. Head south on 81 and pick up 80W at Hazleton. You'll be on 80 for most of the trip, heading out through northern Steelers country and northern Ohio. You'll pass Youngstown, Akron, Cleveland, Sandusky, and ultimately get close to Toledo. Somewhere around there you'll ultimately pick up Rt. 475 (check mapquest to be sure, obviously) and from there you pick up Rt. 23 towards Ann Arbor. I'm sure the Toledo people here can help you figure out that interchange better than I can. My first time out on THE PILGRIMAGE I made it in just in time for the game, and because of traffic and other issues I really didn't get to enjoy the Ann Arbor town experience. It was just a little too rushed and ultimately I didn't quite know the lay of the land enough to really 'get it.' My second time out and subsequent trips, and what I'd suggest, is travelling either VERY EARLY on FRIDAY or even start on THURSDAY NIGHT and perhaps staying overnight somewhere in Hell (aka Ohio). THEN you can get into town and spend the afternoon bumbling around the town and/or the athletic campus. Definitely find a parking garage off of State and you can hit all the M stores around the Diag... and if you get a chance go to Schembechler and get your picture with Desmond's Heisman and check out all the cool stuff in the museum. As far as gameday, I'm sure there's plenty of locals who can offer better advice than I can. Keep in mind it's not quite like Penn State where the stadium is within walking distance of all the town hoopla. Granted, it IS... but from my experience the whole gameday scene is rather isolated from the town itself. As far as where to stay, I can't help you there. I have family in K'zoo, and always drove west to stay there on the night before the game. If you're a Michigan fan, I absolutely GUARANTEE you it'll be a trip you never forget. PLUS, our own state is absolutely a beautiful drive in the fall, especially in the west out near Clarion County, etc. If you have any further questions I'd be happy to answer 'em to a fellow Michigan Man in Nittany country. Good luck, and TAKE THE TRIP. Don't talk yourself out of it because of money or travel... You won't regret it. I guarantee that the moment you first walk into that stadium and the Big House in all its glory unveils itself to you will be something you never forget.