I am more than sympathetic to your position, and given the choice I’d make it like it used to be. But the “fun party” atmosphere converted my tween daughter into a fan over our six years of attending games.

Posted on September 7, 2026 at 05:11:54 PM by weebay (edited September 7, 2026 at 05:12:12 PM)

I’m a 2009 grad, so I’m in the very last tranche who experienced both “church” Michigan Stadium and “party Big House” with sentient, semi-adult perspective. And again, I do agree with you, but - just being honest - I’m not sure I could have cultivated my daughter’s attachment to the game at Church Michigan Stadium. Or if I did, I’d have had to start way, way older than I did.

I’m a single dad and I’ve taken her every year since she was four. She’s hooked and hasn’t started middle school yet, and she feels a strong attachment to the university. It’s a motivation point with grades and such.

I’m not saying I couldn’t have done this in 1994, but it would have been much harder. All this to say I cherished the old way, and I am a reluctant convert to the new way. But I do see what they’re doing.

Back to the board

Thread:

Following up on Rich's post about the whole game day in AA experience - By Paul September 7, 2026 at 04:57:22 PM
- nm* - By mjhollen September 7, 2026 at 06:12:37 PM
- I'm one of those guys who incessantly bitches about the timeouts (although, ironically I didn't at the WMU game). I think the in-game experience is seriously degraded due to those timeouts.* - By kccambo September 7, 2026 at 05:29:42 PM
  - it’s the timeouts. Everything else is typical modernization the youngs enjoy more than us olds. * - By plug September 7, 2026 at 06:19:09 PM
- I am more than sympathetic to your position, and given the choice I’d make it like it used to be. But the “fun party” atmosphere converted my tween daughter into a fan over our six years of attending games. - By weebay September 7, 2026 at 05:11:54 PM
  - This is a great post. Lot of things I can relate to with the experience I had with my kids* - By MFlyer September 7, 2026 at 07:24:21 PM
  - Interesting perspective.* - By jjwalker September 7, 2026 at 06:48:30 PM
  - My daughters became fans in the very late 90s through the 00s and attended school in the 10s. They got hooked on the old and love the new… - By Rich September 7, 2026 at 05:23:42 PM
    - I'll keep going as long as my daughter and 10 y/o granddaughter want to accompany me. They are both rabid fans and our moments together at the Big house are precious. Granddaughter and her mom rushed the field after the game, GREAT STUFF!!* - By IMFERBLU September 7, 2026 at 05:36:20 PM
    - I agree; there’s no way to cope with the fact the TV time is brutal.* - By weebay September 7, 2026 at 05:26:32 PM

The Victors

I am more than sympathetic to your position, and given the choice I’d make it like it used to be. But the “fun party” atmosphere converted my tween daughter into a fan over our six years of attending games.