Trip
I uploaded some photos of mostly Wrigley and Michigan Stadium. Overall, I had a very good time. Wrigley was nice, Cubs won in a high scoring contest, 13-8. There were 3 or 4 line drive HRs over the left field wall we got a good view off (all of which would have been singles at Fenway by the way). Soriano, Lee, and Ramirez all hit dingers.
Saturday was the main event however. Got to Ann Arbor at about 11 for the 3:30 game, walked around a little and then went to the Penn State rally. The Michigan fans were actually very nice. I'm sure it's different when Ohio State comes to town, but I was impressed with the civility shown between two Big Ten powerhouses. Maybe they're just more humble after losing to App State, dunno. By the way, quite a few PSU fans wearing ASU t-shirts to the game. A few also had shirts that said "Pennsylvania State is HOT HOT HOT" (reference to this).
Get into the stadium around 2, about an hour later the bands take the field. Really nice pregame ceremony. The whole stadium (minus the PSU section) sang the chorus to "The Victors" when the Michigan band played it. Even though I don't like Michigan it is the best fight song bar none.
As for the game itself, it was a battle of two pretty shitty offenses. Michigan grabbed an early 7-0 lead thanks to an Anthony Morelli fumble, and kept the lead throughout the game. Morelli played poorly by the way, he missed receivers, (including one wide open in the endzone), and was just 15/31 for 169 yards and 0 TDs. It was a 14-9 final with Penn St. again on the losing end. 9 straight losses now to the Wolverines, even though the last 4 have been within 1 score.
There were a few bad calls, but I don't think you can blame it on that this time unlike the 2002 game (which actually was the genesis for starting Instant Replay in college football) and 2005, where Michigan got :02 added to the clock, which was just enough for one final play; the winning touchdown. In this game Michigan had a 3rd and goal early in the 4th quarter, Mallet threw a pass, both players went for the ball and pass interference was called on PSU, giving Michigan a new set of downs. Apparently there was a push by the defender, but if so I don't think it was enough to warrant a pass interference call in a tight game. The refs were not calling that many penalties anyway, there was only 1 holding call the entire game (which was on PSU of course, Michigan never gets called for holding). So that gave Michigan another first and goal, and on 2nd down Mike Hart tried to sneak it in but was stopped short. Refs called a TD anyway, and it was 14-6 at that point. PSU could only manage one more field goal, and that was the final score.
Still a good time anyway. Michigan fans didn't rub it in after the game and we got out of there relatively easy. I'd be surprised to see either of these teams win the Big Ten. Gotta think OSU and Wisconsin are the front runners now. Michigan State might even have a shot.
Saturday was the main event however. Got to Ann Arbor at about 11 for the 3:30 game, walked around a little and then went to the Penn State rally. The Michigan fans were actually very nice. I'm sure it's different when Ohio State comes to town, but I was impressed with the civility shown between two Big Ten powerhouses. Maybe they're just more humble after losing to App State, dunno. By the way, quite a few PSU fans wearing ASU t-shirts to the game. A few also had shirts that said "Pennsylvania State is HOT HOT HOT" (reference to this).
Get into the stadium around 2, about an hour later the bands take the field. Really nice pregame ceremony. The whole stadium (minus the PSU section) sang the chorus to "The Victors" when the Michigan band played it. Even though I don't like Michigan it is the best fight song bar none.
As for the game itself, it was a battle of two pretty shitty offenses. Michigan grabbed an early 7-0 lead thanks to an Anthony Morelli fumble, and kept the lead throughout the game. Morelli played poorly by the way, he missed receivers, (including one wide open in the endzone), and was just 15/31 for 169 yards and 0 TDs. It was a 14-9 final with Penn St. again on the losing end. 9 straight losses now to the Wolverines, even though the last 4 have been within 1 score.
There were a few bad calls, but I don't think you can blame it on that this time unlike the 2002 game (which actually was the genesis for starting Instant Replay in college football) and 2005, where Michigan got :02 added to the clock, which was just enough for one final play; the winning touchdown. In this game Michigan had a 3rd and goal early in the 4th quarter, Mallet threw a pass, both players went for the ball and pass interference was called on PSU, giving Michigan a new set of downs. Apparently there was a push by the defender, but if so I don't think it was enough to warrant a pass interference call in a tight game. The refs were not calling that many penalties anyway, there was only 1 holding call the entire game (which was on PSU of course, Michigan never gets called for holding). So that gave Michigan another first and goal, and on 2nd down Mike Hart tried to sneak it in but was stopped short. Refs called a TD anyway, and it was 14-6 at that point. PSU could only manage one more field goal, and that was the final score.
Still a good time anyway. Michigan fans didn't rub it in after the game and we got out of there relatively easy. I'd be surprised to see either of these teams win the Big Ten. Gotta think OSU and Wisconsin are the front runners now. Michigan State might even have a shot.
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