Unverified Voracity For Heisman, Deserves It
Brief position paper on hanging a banner on the other team's stadium. It's better than not doing it. It involves scaling a locked fence and risking a night in not just any jail, but a Northern Indiana jail. Judging from the billboards you pass to and from Chicago, the very bars of said jails are made from child molesters righteously imprisoned by the local sheriff.
So, like, what's up, SI? Not one but two of their CFB folks have dumped on the above. Aunt Stabby:
Son, I am disappoint. So here’s the thing: You travel from Ann Arbor to South Bend. You get close to the stadium, circumventing students guarding its iron and concrete honor or whatever. You hang what looks, from a distance at least, like a very well-made banner on a stadium gate. And that banner says … “BEAT THE IRISH”??
We'll discuss the changing fan culture at Notre Dame in more depth later, but Michigan may also want to embrace a new, snarkier age. How could the same fan base that gave us MGoBlog -- one of the best, most irreverent college football sites on the web -- embark on anOcean's Eleven-style caper to infiltrate Notre Dame Stadium only to hang a banner that says "Beat The Irish?" You're traditionalists? Fine. I get that. But in bygone days, college football fan bases also committed better pranks.
Flattery gets you nowhere, Staples. Yeah, okay, it would be a lot better if the sign said simply "RETURNING TO GLORY SINCE 1993" right under "University of Notre Dame. But did Clemson students scale something or other at Doak? Did Notre Dame students set Sparty's head aflame? Bah, bah on you and your bahing. Bah. I bah at you.
ATTENTION STUDENTS THINKING ABOUT DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN THE FUTURE: I am now available for snarky consultations on these matters.
I can post this again, I think. If Special K hauls you-know-what out again this will be in error, but since I believe we have dumped you-know-what for good, it's Freekbass time on mgoblog again:
That feels amazing.
BONUS GRATIUTIOUS YOUTUBIN':
Boom.
2010 from the field from Ryan Terpstra:
2009:
Yakety Clausen:
Unfortunately the original Yakety Sax went up in flames thanks to Thought Equity Motion.
Holy crap! Mike Rothstein profiles Roy Roundtree and drops a fact that I can't believe no one knew already:
The first major change in Roundtree's life might have set everything else in motion. When he was starting school, his maternal grandmother died and his mom, Sheila, took the Roundtrees from Pahokee, Fla., to her hometown of Dayton, Ohio.
Roundtree is originally from the Muck. Small world. Also read that, it's good and not paywalled.
Previewland! Hey, guess who forgot to link to everyone's previews in the preview post? This guy. Here you go:
- BWS: "Arbitrary percentage that Michigan wins: 43.79%"
- MNBN: "I have no earthly idea who is going to win this game. I don't even have any criteria in which to make an educated guess. I got nothing."
- M&GB: has an average score of 30-28 M. Also preview.
- TTB: not exactly out on a limb with "Denard Robinson has his worst career performance of the Notre Dame series," predicts 24-20 ND.
- HTR: "This is essentially a greatly scaled down version of the Alabama game," predicts 27-17 ND. Also Who Are You, Why Do We Care.
- Tremendous breaks down the ND defense.
- Know Your Foe from the MZone.
- Meinke predicts the spread, the crafty dog, with ND 31-27.
Auerbach on Mealers. Go:
"After all the bad things, it's been hard to push through that and continue to believe that good things are going to come our way," Brock said. "I just love being able to see him succeed in something he's worked so hard for. He's put in that time and effort for the last four years, and he inspires me the same way so many people tell me I inspire them."
I don't even want to know you. Bacon hears these people on the radio and has written about it in the News:
So, the day after Michigan slaughtered UMass, I was not surprised to hear fans complain about quarterback Denard Robinson's performance. Mind you, Denard ran for 106 yards and a touchdown, and passed for almost 300 yards and three touchdowns.
And that, to one caller, was the problem: "I'm tired of living and dying with Denard." In other words, Robinson was too good for that fan's taste.
hate you hate you hate
Etc.: Ugh, enforced know-nothing user content highlights plague Baumgardner's life. Let's all keep him in our hearts. Also from him are Michigan coaches' first trips to South Bend. Infante on the O'Bannon case documents.
September 21st, 2012 at 4:35 PM ^
Andy Staples should stick to blathering on about BBQ. Because there's nothing the world needs more than another moron going on and on and on about BBQ.
Also. Don Criqui has a solid supply of Quaaludes.
September 21st, 2012 at 4:37 PM ^
...Michigan 31-23. Denard will get enough time to exploit ND's inexperienced secondary and he and Touissaint will each break at least one long run that will leave Irish eyes not smiling.
The prank was solid and it existed. I mean it's not MIT's Balloon Animals, but it still gets high marks for audacity and execution.
September 22nd, 2012 at 2:52 PM ^
September 21st, 2012 at 4:38 PM ^
do not match the captions. At least for me
September 21st, 2012 at 4:43 PM ^
Wait, so people are mad the pranking ND stadium didn't take it far enough? I thought that the whole thing was so great because it's not any sort of vandalisim, and it doesn't try and 'shock' people with some inappropriateness. Maybe the 'returning to glory' sign would have been a little more salt-in-the-wound and still not cross the line, but man, I loved that it was so classic and simple. If they did that to our stadium I would give them a slow clap.
September 21st, 2012 at 4:57 PM ^
It was really tame, which isn't good with pranks. I guess I can't be too critical because I didn't make the trip all the way to South Bend from Ann Arbor, but go big or go home. You don't have to resort to vandalism, but it should be more adventuresome than "Beat the Irish." Lines are there so college students know how much they have to work to cross them.
September 24th, 2012 at 8:23 AM ^
It's so tame that it barely even ranks as a prank at all. Hang a sign on a stadium in the middle of the night is not impressive. When everybody looks at your "prank" and just thinks "wow, that's lame. Even I could do that, but I don't because it is so lame" then the prank is really just better left undone.
A good prank requires some derringdo and the ability to surprise/shock/embarrass your target. You know, something like unleashing a real wolverine in Notre Dame stadium or something like that. Don't these kids have any imagination any more? Or have we become so feeble that actually doing something (as opposed to just photoshopping an M flag on Notre Dame stadium) now ranks as impressive? Good grief.
September 21st, 2012 at 4:47 PM ^
Just a quick point, there is no locked fence, and probably no chance to spend the night in jail. You can walk right up to that gate. I took my in-laws photo in the same spot back in May.
September 22nd, 2012 at 9:00 AM ^
I took my in-laws photo in the same spot back in May.
When you also noted there was no locked fence or gate, and carefully plotted your fall prank. Nice work there mister.
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:10 AM ^
September 21st, 2012 at 4:58 PM ^
September 21st, 2012 at 5:03 PM ^
Should we have poisoned their sacred trees? Would that make them happy?
September 21st, 2012 at 5:04 PM ^
so, I live in a Columbus suburb, and got hoodwinked into going to Meijer with my Wife and Son last weekend. As I was waiting for her to gather all of the necessary grooming/make up items, I stumbled across the school supply section, full of OSU gear, and only one single lonely box of Michigan folders. Idle hands being the devils playground and all, I decided to not act my age (35). The result:
September 21st, 2012 at 5:06 PM ^
Oh well struck sir, well struck!
September 21st, 2012 at 5:06 PM ^
...I had enough points to upvote, posbang, etc. Nice work!
September 21st, 2012 at 6:58 PM ^
September 21st, 2012 at 7:41 PM ^
I saw the picture first and then began to read your post and got down to, "...and only one single lonely box of Michigan folders." and I thought to myself, "What is he talking about? There's like 12 boxes there!" I finished reading and it all came together.
Beautifully done.
September 21st, 2012 at 10:11 PM ^
September 22nd, 2012 at 5:38 AM ^
September 22nd, 2012 at 9:03 AM ^
why the five-point posbang limit sucks balls. Nice work sir.
September 22nd, 2012 at 2:46 PM ^
September 21st, 2012 at 5:07 PM ^
Freakbass and this are almost like Temptation and the Hawai'ian War Chant...
You're welcome!
September 21st, 2012 at 5:13 PM ^
In the era of throw back jerseys, a classic, understated banner as part of a prank seems just about right to me. It was simple, a bit audacious, and didn't hurt anyone or any property, and it was enough to prompt some minor figures with a national audience to comment. I say well done to the pranksters who pulled it off.
Also, I don't think I'll ever get tired of watching replays of that TD to end the game in last year's contest, and it is so much sweeter with Criqui's clueless voice over.
September 21st, 2012 at 5:14 PM ^
It's almost too perfect. It's a well made sign. It, in fact, looks very similar to the Michigan AD's twitter avatar orthodoxy (the Beat the Irish font is certainly similar even if in white instead of maize.)
It simply states an easily defended opinion/desire "Beat the Irish" and not something snarky.
It came from a specially designed, not easily traceable Gmail account created specifically for this purpose.
It is non destructive, it did no lasting damage, no one was injured, jailed, or psychologically scarred.
it got major play on websites, blogs, and ESPNU in a week that Michigan isn't playing at home. It's like some low opportunity cost guerrilla marketing.
I'm not saying that this was done in an official capacity, or even in an unofficial official capacity. But if I found out that a group of Sports Marketing kids from 1000 South State Street did this, I wouldn't be surprised in the least.
September 21st, 2012 at 6:32 PM ^
Someone check the flight tracker. Where was Dave Brandon a few nights ago?
September 21st, 2012 at 5:31 PM ^
That video has to be the worst thing I have ever seen. Thank god Michigan has never had any non talented musician types try to make a song....Yes that's right, it never happened. I am happy you guys posted that, because every time I feel like throwing stuff at the TV tomorrow night, I just have to watch 15 seconds of that video.
September 21st, 2012 at 5:38 PM ^
Unfortunately the original Yakety Sax went up in flames thanks to Thought Equity Motion.
Thankfully someone saved it, and someone on the "Images of the Rivalry" thread linked it
September 22nd, 2012 at 8:53 AM ^
September 21st, 2012 at 7:40 PM ^
the scan of the student section in the 2010 on field video is PRICELESS (2:38). Irish tears taste so sweet.
September 21st, 2012 at 9:09 PM ^
....and then BOOM Denarded.
That never gets old.
September 21st, 2012 at 9:49 PM ^
September 22nd, 2012 at 4:52 AM ^
Can someone explain to me the problem with one man being the entire offense? It didn't seem like Colts fans were complaining with Manning being the entirety of their offense, so why should it matter that the man who makes up all of our offense can run and throw, albeit no where near as well as Manning. It just seems odd to me to complain about the best player on the field dominating the game because others weren't able to get involved enough.
September 22nd, 2012 at 9:15 AM ^
the ND cheerleaders in that stupid video are HOT?
LOVE me some hot cheerleaders. Nom nom nom
OH, M's pom squad is yummy as hell too, IMHO (in my horny opinion?).
September 22nd, 2012 at 9:18 AM ^
here I am, thinking how I'm not gonna be sick to my stomach watching Denard walk off that field for the final time, and we STILL have idiots who are upset we are too reliant on him. Well guess what. WE ARE BECAUSE HE IS THAT FUCKING GOOD. I mean come on...this is it for him. We are only assured of seeing him play in a winged helmet so many more times. ENJOY IT. Because soon, we are never gonna see him on our team ever again. Appreciate every moment we have left of one of the most exciting, electifying players we will ever see at Michigan in our lives. These types don't come around that often. Sorry to rant
/rant
September 22nd, 2012 at 9:23 AM ^
I'm no fan of "In the Big House" obvs, but I still think "We Are ND" is an order of magnitude more horrible.
September 23rd, 2012 at 12:31 AM ^
September 23rd, 2012 at 12:34 AM ^
This is fucking stupid. Do you really think the Notre Dame team that has had it's heart ripped out 3 years in a row didn't have motivation to win until some people put a banner up?
Comments