Signing of the Stars was amazing but should move back to Hill Auditorium
Curious if those of you who also attened both years feel the same way as well. I think Crisler was able to fit an extra 1500 people, but to me sacrificing the perfect acoustics and ambiance of Hill isn't worth that trade. Someone on another forum pointed out Hill feels very similiar to Radio City Music Hall and the NFL Draft for this event and I agree. On a different note, the Sklar brothers and Players Tribune have done an awesome job both years.
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:08 PM ^
I think Hill just gives it more of a "classy" feel. Doing it once in Crisler was cool just because of how big it could get, but having it in Hill just makes it feel more special and gives it a different feel.
No matter what happens though, I'm sure Harbaugh is gonna make it memorable.
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:16 PM ^
We're moving into the Big House next year!!!
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:50 PM ^
I would answer the OP's question, but instead of going to "Signing of the Stars" this past Wednesday morning, I went to "Signing Shit in my Office Because I have a Job". It was a blast!
(Sorry, I'm bitter and salty).
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:55 PM ^
FauxMo is Scott Frost
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:59 PM ^
February 3rd, 2017 at 3:11 PM ^
No politics Trump
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:16 PM ^
I can't compare them directly. However, I think the acoustics aren't that huge of an issue for this type of event. I could hear clearly everything being said at Crisler. Having been in Hill, I could see that as having more of a "classy feel" though. So, that would be a plus there. Having the food more readily accessible at Crisler is good, especially with the event starting around lunch time. Ultimately though, I don't think the venue matters as much as the production itself - which this year was excellent.
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:38 PM ^
No Politics
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:19 PM ^
There was an event at Hill that evening.
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:22 PM ^
Signing of the Stars wasn't at Hill because of another event, it was because they wanted to try it at Crisler this year. Besides, SOS started at noon and ended just before 2.
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:51 PM ^
Proof? Hill was booked. You can say you want to do it in Crisler when your preferred event space is taken.
And it's not just like one event is over and the other can just start with an event space of Hill's size. The entire production needs to be torn down front- and backstage, plus another setup in time for brief soundchecks/rehearsals (it was an 8PM University Philharmonic concert) for dozens of musicians.
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:56 PM ^
Harbaugh said after Signing of the Stars last year that he wanted to do it at Crisler this year. These things are planned months and months in advance and you're kidding yourself if you don't think Harbaugh couldn't have had Hill Auditorium if he wanted it. And who is to say that event wasn't booked AFTER Harbaugh decided he wanted SOS at Cirsler? Hill has hosted multiple events on the same day plenty of times. My source is me and the 4 years I spent as a student at Michigan.
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:20 PM ^
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:47 PM ^
this is indeed unique in US lol.
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:55 PM ^
Second in line? You're not as great a fan as you proclaim.
February 3rd, 2017 at 3:43 PM ^
Why I know this... because the striped shirt in this photo survived to tell the tale.
February 3rd, 2017 at 3:49 PM ^
??? This is like Dudeness saying he really doesn't mind posbangs that much.
February 3rd, 2017 at 9:40 PM ^
FAKE NEWS.
You don't have friends.
Nice try WD.
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:21 PM ^
More Ric Flair.
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:24 PM ^
Where was Lou Holtz.
lol
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:48 PM ^
If Lou Holtz returns, it is going to have to be like a Gallagher performance where the front third of the rows all get gigantic plastic tarps just in case it should start to rain indoors, or if it is going to be a protracted speech, appropriate gear for needing to ford an auditorium.
February 3rd, 2017 at 3:02 PM ^
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:27 PM ^
Glad you gave recognition the Players Tribune and the Sklars. The stream has been excellent both years. I figure it is a tough hosting job with a varied demographic audience and trying to talk to 18 year olds who are not used to this kind of situation. The Sklars have been great.
February 3rd, 2017 at 3:15 PM ^
Definitely. One change I really liked this year was introducing entire position groups at the same time and then having their coaches come on stage to talk about them. Much easier and more practical than the appraoch last year. I also liked having Brad Gali in the crowed talking to the parents, that was a nice touch.
The Sklar brothers were great and it really helps that they follow recruiting so they know what they are talking about. I thought their jokes hit all the right notes and was suprrised they didn't get bigger laughs in Crisler.
February 3rd, 2017 at 3:42 PM ^
Yeah, they did a great job. You could tell they actually pay attention to Michigan and recrutitng.
Like MgoBlog-level pay attention.
They are not just some talking heads that showed up for a day.
February 4th, 2017 at 2:45 AM ^
did have 1 cringe worthy moment when one of them asked JaRaymond Hall how crazy it was that Michigan got the top 6 players in the state... Hall is the 12 ranked player in the state and he had a look like wtf
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:31 PM ^
While I like the concept and overall production of these ''Signing of the Stars'' events, I just cant see them staying around too much longer... Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if they pull the cord here on out. The first year was AMAZING, this year was still good - but we all know it wasn't hyped as much as year 1. I think we will see something new down the road - steering away from a ''theatrical'' setting.
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:37 PM ^
I have to disagree. They purposely made it more Michigan centric this year and since it was at Crisler had a higher attendance than last year. This is going to catch on like Midnight Madness did in CBB. Still, I would like to see the event return to Hill.
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:42 PM ^
Midnight madness is a completely seperate beast though. In the same lines of open practices at the Big House. Tough to compare a signing of recruits event to an acutal practice.
Either way.. Time will tell.. I personally don't see these events lasting much longer. Jim will think of something bigger and better - because other schools are now starting to do these events. Jim seems to always be one step ahead of the game.
With that said, I agree that the Hill had a more intimate feel to it.
February 3rd, 2017 at 3:45 PM ^
The recruits and especially their parents like it. It will keep being done.
Whoever shows up to watch, shows up. Whoever watches the stream, watches the stream.
It's not like it has to clear some kind of Nielsen ratings hurdle to reamin a thing.
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:34 PM ^
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:57 PM ^
Or just make the stage sircular in the middle
February 3rd, 2017 at 11:59 PM ^
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:47 PM ^
So the nefarious Buckeye plot to deny our fans tickets didn't really pan out?
February 3rd, 2017 at 3:10 PM ^
Once he got the screen shots, umbig11 helped put the kibosh on that little scheme.
February 3rd, 2017 at 3:15 PM ^
Imagine that...announcing a sting operation on social media ended in failure.
February 3rd, 2017 at 3:47 PM ^
The Ohio State Difference.
February 3rd, 2017 at 3:03 PM ^
I thought the same thing as the OP while watching the livestream. This year you could see empty seats along the sides, and often you could only see the little patch of the audience way up front with an empty walkway behind them. So it didn't appear to be as big of an event on camera as it did last year at Hill.
I'm all for moving it back to Hill...as long as they cover up the organ pipes for the event.
February 3rd, 2017 at 3:07 PM ^
The one thing unique to Crisler was the individual player entrances for the early enrollees. I thought it was a much cooler entrance with the overhead camera and walking through the tunnel as opposed to just walking down the aisle at Hill. But I do think overall, Hill is a nicer fit.
February 3rd, 2017 at 3:10 PM ^
Doesn't matter to me, just keep having the event. It's awesome for the players and their families.
Would love to see someone "announce" in a secret nearby location and then walk out on stage to a big ovation. I assume the NLI would have to be in, but at that point, who cares? The public won't know.
February 3rd, 2017 at 3:17 PM ^
It would be cool if one of those ESPN announcements could be live streamed in one year. I thought thay might happen with Rashan Gary last year but apparently he was still undecided too late in the day for that to happen.
February 3rd, 2017 at 3:48 PM ^
Not sure if that is allowed. Maybe they can live stream it, but they wouldn't be able to talk about the recruit until the LOI has been faxed and reviewed/accepted by compliance.
February 3rd, 2017 at 5:50 PM ^
February 3rd, 2017 at 3:31 PM ^
They were donating to charity. Adding 1500 more seats means more they can contribute.
February 3rd, 2017 at 3:51 PM ^
Great event. The audio on the stream was bad however. Lots of mumbling and the various bands sounded like they were 100 yards away.
Whoever is producing this should have somebody watching the stream real-time and relaying back to production how well / poorly the stream is working.
February 3rd, 2017 at 4:17 PM ^
no one mentioned the Sklar brother that rolled off the couch onto the floor.
It was just a little fun but it could have been a serious fall. I'm glad he wasn't hurt.
February 3rd, 2017 at 4:24 PM ^
I liked it in Crisler better - much better view of the stage for everybody, plus the extra bathrooms and concessions were a bonus.
February 3rd, 2017 at 5:53 PM ^
Personally, I thought last years event was more impressive with Todd Mcshay. Maybe Harbaugh can invite Sam Webb to next years event to be on stage. There isn't anybody more up to date than Sam on high school recruits. J.M.O.