My Media Credentialed Day At the Big House

By Sean · Wednesday, September 13, 2006 · 12:03 AM |  Share | Leave a Comment 

As I have earlier stated, for this past weekend’s game against Central Michigan, I was lucky enough to have obtained a press pass. With that pass, I got access to the press box, field, and the post game press conference afterwards. It would be a great opportunity and something that is a once in a lifetime experience at this point. I’ve been to Michigan Stadium many times in the past, probably somewhere over fifty separate trips, but never have had one like this. I’ve only watched a game in-person away from my normal seats once, and that was still relatively on the same side. This would be the first time ever I had a different vantage point altogether.

My day started off by making my way to the press will call where I picked up my credential. It was a brick building on the north side of the stadium by gate nine. After picking up my pass, I got to enter a specific “press only” entrance which was very nice. All I had to do was show them my pass and I was in. Now it’s off to the press box.

Walking into the doors of the press box, you make a left to the elevator that will take you to the press level of the structure. Upon arriving, you are greeted by a wall of different plaques that is a type of Michigan media hall of fame. The people on the wall are mostly past writers that covered Michigan. It was a very interesting thing to see with all of the people on there.

My seat assignment for the day was B20, which is the second row from the window. The seat was very good for watching a football game. You could see everything: the crowd, the field, the players, and the scoreboard; all were in great view from my position. While waiting for the game to start, I was able to watch College Gameday and some other games on the TV monitors scattered throughout the vicinity. It was a very nice way to make the time go by before kickoff arrived.

Once the game started, the first quarter was moving right along, and then the weather delay came. For an hour exactly, play was stopped due to lightning in the area of Michigan Stadium. I sure picked the right game to be in the press box. I just was able to sit back and relax until play restarted. And for the time being, I got to witness Illinois just get absolutely pounded by Rutgers.

Moving on, after every quarter, stats and play-by-play sheets were passed out to everyone giving you all of the information you could ever ask for. It was really something to see how fast things were updated. Basically every stat imaginable was on there, and then every single play that had happened thusfar was also present.

As the game winded down, and the last couple of minutes ticked away, a press pass got you down on the field in order to get you transferred over to the press conference. In the meantime, it was a great experience to be on the field. It was a much different angle to view a game from field-level. Everything looked and appeared so much different. Usually, I’m almost 50 rows up when watching a game, and now I was standing on the field. After the final whistle sounded, and the players walked up the famed Michigan tunnel, I accompanied them. I’ll tell you, I can’t even imagine what goes through their minds when running down in front of over 100,000 screaming fans to touch the banner. My adrenaline was flowing just from walking up it after the game had already ended.

The final phase that your press pass treats you to is going to the post game press conference. I wasn’t exactly sure where it was held, and had actually wondered that way before Saturday. To my surprise, it was just down the Crisler Arena tunnel and to the left. After passing by a few of the locker rooms, there is a door on the left side that you go into. It’s titled as “Michigan Communications,” or something close to that, so I figured that was where I needed to be. When you enter the room, there are stairs you go up and then another door on the right. That was the door to the studio where not only the press conference is held, but also where Michigan Replay is taped. The backdrop you see when watching the show was on the side of the room, just over from the podium.

When walking into the room, Mike Hart was already taking questions and giving his answers. It’s so cool to see these players in-person from a few feet away. Things are so much different looking. After Mike Hart spoke for a few minutes, Dave Harris, Jake Long, LaMarr Woodley, and Chad Henne all took the stage for some questions. Jake Long is freakishly huge. I’ve never seen someone so big.

Concluding the press conference was Lloyd Carr. I’ve met Lloyd before in the past at a pep rally for the Outback Bowl a few years ago, so it wasn’t my first time meeting him. What I like about Coach Carr is that he has a sense of humor, and doesn’t try to act like he’s on a higher level than anyone else. It was different listening to him talk live and in-person. Usually I hear the press conference on WTKA on my way home from the games.

Once Lloyd Carr was done answering questions, Jim Brandstatter came into the room and jokingly said, “Let’s go, I have a show to tape.” He was obviously referring to Michigan Replay. I imagine they went in there and fixed up the set as soon as everyone left and got right down to business in taping the show. I can’t begin to think about how hard it would be to do that when Michigan plays a road game. They must do it during the night. Plus, Jim is a commentator on the radio for Detroit Lions games, so he has to travel to wherever they are playing as well. Talk about a tough schedule.

All in all, I had a great day and a wonderful experience. Nothing can compare to the things I got to do. How many times can you sit in the press box, go down on the field, and then meet players and coaches, especially as a teenager? I just want to say thanks to the Michigan athletic department for giving me a chance to do this, and Go Blue!