OT-Slippery Rock and the Big House
So I'm getting tired after an extremely long day which leads to crazy thoughts and ideas. I was thinking what is everyone thoughts on Slippery Rock coming back to the Big House and play a game vs. GVSU or WSU. Its a crazy idea, but maybe on a friday night when Michigan is out of town. I thought since they haven't been here for some time and we acknowledged them last year, it would be a cool idea. Thoughts? I know this going to get a huge up vote or a huge down vote, but let me have it. I think it would cool for this small college and their players to experience the Big House again.
September 28th, 2011 at 10:22 PM ^
No. There's no more novelty. It would be an embarrassingly sparse crowd. It would cost too much money for all involved parties. Just no.
September 28th, 2011 at 10:36 PM ^
Why would you even ask this. GOSH!! /s
Can I have your tots? Vote for Pedro.
September 29th, 2011 at 12:38 AM ^
Forty years ago, before the days of mambo scoreboards, it was cute when the announcer gave the Slippery Rock score. Now, it's just a quaint artifact of a bygone era. Some bygone things are better left bygone.
September 29th, 2011 at 3:15 AM ^
No more novelty? I disagree completely about this.
And an embarassingly sparse crowd? Have you been to a DIII game? If the bottom 5 rows are filled we may break an attendance record.
Personally, I think the idea is cool and would definately go, but it is very unlikely to happen again.
September 29th, 2011 at 10:05 AM ^
Throw a game in every year to the season ticket package. I would definitely attend. Slippery Rock would be pumped. Hell, you never know. It could be the exposure they need to become an elite DIII school. I am all for that!
September 29th, 2011 at 10:14 AM ^
Slippery rock is d2. A bit larger than d3
September 29th, 2011 at 10:17 AM ^
Point noted, I can't say that I am very knowledgeable about FCS and smaller by any stretch of the imagination. Thanks for the correction.
September 28th, 2011 at 10:23 PM ^
Why not, I think all the players would love the big college town atmosphere. Wouldn't draw a huge crowd but its about the experience. I'm sure Brandon wouldn't oppose if it could draw some revenue
September 28th, 2011 at 10:29 PM ^
Question is, would it generate enough revenue to cover the operating costs of the Big House?
September 28th, 2011 at 10:32 PM ^
Thats true. Each of the teams might have to chip in a small fee to take care of it. It might be worth it for them though depending on their athletic budgets though. We all know how tight things are gettin for everyone. I'd love to see Slippery Rock vs GVSU though
September 28th, 2011 at 10:38 PM ^
Apparently a wedding does, so why not have a Slippery Rock game?
September 28th, 2011 at 11:28 PM ^
And how are operating costs of a wedding, featuring a few hundred people, and a football game, featuring several thousand people the same?
September 28th, 2011 at 10:48 PM ^
When they played here the other time, they drew something like 60,000. If we have a bye week, fans might turn out. If it's competing against a Michigan game, forget it.
September 29th, 2011 at 12:22 PM ^
Don't forget, though, it was band day. That 60,000 included about 10,000 HS band members plus 30,000 of their grandparents, parents and siblings.
September 29th, 2011 at 8:55 AM ^
I'm OK with it as long as part of that revenue draw doesn't include a "Brought to You by Arbys" tagline with a Curly Fries mascot.
September 28th, 2011 at 10:23 PM ^
If we have an open date, I don't see why not. It's been, what, 30 years since the last time?
September 28th, 2011 at 10:24 PM ^
Why are people negging him? Internet really brings out the women in men. Lol.
September 28th, 2011 at 10:25 PM ^
People get alot tougher behind the screen
September 29th, 2011 at 1:09 AM ^
The Lion wasn't a complete sissy. Time to reevaluate.
September 28th, 2011 at 10:25 PM ^
We acknowledge them at every game. The score going up is still one of the great highlights. When it went up and they were losing during the EMU game, the whole crowd moaned disappointedly more than they had at any of EMU's long runs.
September 28th, 2011 at 10:28 PM ^
They had a few coaches and few players and their mascot on the field last year vs. wisconsin. They were given a special thank you during the game.
September 28th, 2011 at 10:27 PM ^
I think that if we let em come back again, more of the students would understand why we actually show them on the scoreboard and what now. I think most of em just cheer/moan because others do, not knowing the background behind it. I was one of em until not long ago
September 28th, 2011 at 11:32 PM ^
Attended UTL and wasn't sure why the big deal with slppery rock. now it's all coming back....thank you.
September 29th, 2011 at 11:39 AM ^
care to shed some light on the subject? i have no idea what the affiliation is, and to be honest, i never even noticed it through 5 years of college.
September 29th, 2011 at 11:57 AM ^
The Origin of the Slippery Rock Score Fans in the Big House have noticed a special return on the out of town scoreboard this year -- Slippery Rock University. They've joined the likes of Ohio State, Alabama and Boise State on the big screens. The tradition began in 1959 when public address announcer Steve Filipiak reported the scores to the Big House crowd. Filipiak announced the score every Saturday until his final season in 1971, but the tradition lived on. Slippery Rock became so popular with Big House fans that they were invited to play at Michigan Stadium in 1979 against in-state rival Shippensburg. A crowd of 61,143 watched Slippery Rock fall, but it was a Division II attendance record. Slippery Rock played a second game at the Big House in 1981, drawing 36,719 fans in a 14-13 loss to Wayne State. The tradition dropped off in recent years but was revived during the first year of Dave Brandon's tenure as athletic director, much to the delight of fans that remember the old days of Rock scores.
http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/091810aaf.html
September 29th, 2011 at 3:30 PM ^
thanks, that was informative.
still have one question though, why did filipiak start announcing the slippery rock scores in the first place???
September 29th, 2011 at 7:29 PM ^
I think he just found the name amusing.
September 28th, 2011 at 10:29 PM ^
September 28th, 2011 at 10:37 PM ^
I usually click on the TV and watch the Michigan game.
September 28th, 2011 at 10:36 PM ^
Michigan Tech/GVSU game draw?
Maybe they could make it a band day and invite high school bands from all over Michigan like way back in the day.
September 29th, 2011 at 9:00 AM ^
I was at the game. I would think that GVSU against Slippery Rock would have a similar, if not better, attendence IF:
- It's on a Saturday afternoon when Michigan doesn't have a game
- Tickets are cheap..... kids are free
- It's early enough in the season where there's still a good chance of decent weather
One and three are kind of in conflict, unless you schedule the game the week before Michigan's first game. This wouldn't necessarily be bad. The excitement for the upcoming football season would drive people to the game. A downside would be that most students wouldn't be on campus yet.
September 29th, 2011 at 10:44 AM ^
That first week of the season can often be oppressively hot. An October date might actually bring a better chance of comfortable weather.
September 29th, 2011 at 12:00 PM ^
We have byes on the 29th and 28th of September the next two years, respectively. (Also Oct. 26th in 2013...Slippery Rock for Halloween?).
September 28th, 2011 at 10:45 PM ^
September 28th, 2011 at 10:45 PM ^
September 28th, 2011 at 10:47 PM ^
I am actually going to visit Slippery Rock next Friday while I am on my way out east since it is right on the way. Something seems interesting about visiting the university after all the mentions of it and the long, if random, history of the Slippery Rock score at Michigan Stadium. Does anyone know anything I should do/see while I am stopping over, besides grab some gear of course?
September 28th, 2011 at 11:14 PM ^
I go to school at Grove City College, which is five minutes away from Slippery Rock and you definitely want to eat at The Brewery, it's a really great place to eat, I'm underage so I don't personally know how good the beers are, but there are a couple guys on my hall that seem like they go down there for beer at least once a week, so I'm assuming it must be pretty good.
September 28th, 2011 at 10:47 PM ^
I'm a student at UofM and we were discussing this last week during the game. We thought it would be awesome if they came back, I know that a ton of the students would come.
September 28th, 2011 at 10:49 PM ^
Bring them in and let them play at 11am on a day when we have a 3:30pm home game. Staff, concessions would all be there anyway, just expand the hours a bit. Maybe the regular Mich game ticket is what you need to get in. Come early and enjoy the fun. ??
September 28th, 2011 at 10:53 PM ^
Let them play at half-time, just like how the Lions bring in the Pop Warner kids to play at half-time of the Lions' games.
September 29th, 2011 at 8:52 AM ^
I think this is a great idea. Or how about have them play a game right after the michigan umass game next year and fans can stick around if they want.
September 28th, 2011 at 10:53 PM ^
I think we should have a pop evil concert in the Big house!!! They're great and that big house song of theirs is awesome!
September 28th, 2011 at 10:58 PM ^
Back in 1979 Slippery Rock played Shippensburg at the big house and 61,143 fans came. They also played Wayne state in 1981 and the attendance was 36,719. I think we can get enough Michigan fans in the stadium for a game since we haven't seen them play at the Big House in a while.
September 28th, 2011 at 10:58 PM ^
You better check with Dave Brandon. I think the Big House is already booked on Fridays for weddings and receptions.
September 28th, 2011 at 11:01 PM ^
are you serious??
September 29th, 2011 at 1:14 AM ^
told me to say, "No.
I'm psychomatt."