Crazy finish is the finishing touch to a special game atmosphere at Michigan Stadium
Lights illuminate the field at Michigan Stadium for its first-ever night game.
Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com
Smith smiled and laughed before answering how Molk had suggested.
“It’s dark,” Smith said before making a serious go at the question. “It was an exciting crowd out there. It was different."
Despite the extra pageantry of the nighttime setting and playing in front of a record crowd of 114,804, Michigan Stadium lived up to its reputation as a subdued venue while Michigan struggled through most of the first three quarters.
But by the time Michigan began engineering its 35-31 comeback win, the volume heightened to the level night games have a reputation for producing. The dark backdrop illuminated the maize-covered stadium as fans waved pom-pons in unison.
"Michigan Stadium was rocking, it was an unbelievable scene," said safety Jordan Kovacs. "I've never seen the stadium like that and I've been coming here for quite a long time."
It's standard for coaches and players to say how important removing themselves from the spectacle of the event is. Senior defensive lineman Mike Martin suggested the opposite to an extent.
"It's something that great teams really need to feed off of," Martin said. "The guys really did a good job of not getting caught up in the other stuff and really focusing on the game, but the guys did a good job of feeding off the energy."
Whether it was the three touchdowns and lead changes in the final 72 seconds or the fact the game ran until nearly midnight, the energy of the stadium was palpable. It remained that way as the band played on the field after the win to a nearly-full stadium.
Michigan coach Brady Hoke has made it clear that he’d rather play early games, and he suggested that’s still the case as he glanced at his watch after the game and Saturday had already turned to Sunday.
Still, Hoke admitted the setting and pageantry of the night-time spectacle made the game all the more exciting.
"It was fun," he said.
Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2561, by email at petercunningham@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @petcunningham.
Comments
heartbreakM
Sun, Sep 11, 2011 : 9:44 p.m.
I was one who was vocal and negative about the night game over worries of drunkenness, bad behavior, tiredness on the road, etc. (I still prefer day games overall). I was at the game and I take back my comments. The fans were really well behaved and while I'm sure some there may have been drunk, I did not see any loutish behavior or fights or anything. If anything, the fans were better behaved than normal, and that is even with Michigan getting killed for 3/4 of the game. The atmosphere was somewhat subdued during that portion of the game due to not being ahead, but once Michigan made noise, the crowd lit up and the place was outstanding atmosphere. My congrats to the AD and the entire Michigan staff for making a special night. (I also was critical of the jersey, but they really grew on me so much that I bought one with only a tad of buyers remorse. I still think they look like PJs to a degree but they looked great on the players). Go blue.
tegel
Sun, Sep 11, 2011 : 5:58 p.m.
My ears were ringing after the game (and I was nowhere near the student section). I loved post-game celebration. We stay for about 20 minutes and the place was still packed. A great night indeed! Outside I was talking with one of the police officers and he joked that they had a few 911 calls from Notre Dame fans saying they got robbed. Classic.
burton163
Sun, Sep 11, 2011 : 3:40 p.m.
Dave Brandon deserves credit for enhancing an already Big Game atmosphere. The Maize pompoms? Genius. The stadium looked great under the lights and the crowd was into it like never before. it was as good an advertisement for everything that is GREAT about UM football as you could ask for. Desmond Howard, Charles Woodson, Denard Robinson. An amazing, exciting and improbable comeback victory against the second most legendary programs in the country. It all added up to great entertainment on the biggest stage in the game. I'll bet every uncommitted four and five star recruit in the country moved UM to the top of their list. Great stuff!
Thomas Esper
Sun, Sep 11, 2011 : 2:13 p.m.
The program is moving in the right direction again. Finally.
DonAZ
Sun, Sep 11, 2011 : 1:03 p.m.
Even my SEC buddy had to admit that Michigan Stadium lit up and pulsing with 114,000 fans was a sight to behold. Brandon must be smiling ear to ear ... not just that Michigan won but that there's a new "buzz" out there about the whole package ... team, coach, stadium, lights, scoreboards. Nobody is foolish enough to think Michigan is a top-tier football team yet. But all the pieces are in place to attract the talent to get there.
Hebner
Sun, Sep 11, 2011 : 2:03 p.m.
It was great! You're right the pieces are not in place yet, but all those visiting high school players who haven't committed- may have committed in their own minds last night. Talent level will increase in the future, and the group we now may not be the most talented but they are motivated and experienced. There is allot of football left, our guys know this too well...big ten football coming up! lets go blue!
Bob W
Sun, Sep 11, 2011 : 11:36 a.m.
It started as, "Oh, oh, this could end badly." Instead, what a game!! Go blue!