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Posted on Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 11:25 a.m.

#GOBLUE to be painted on Michigan Stadium turf for spring game

By Nick Baumgardner

Michigan football coach Brady Hoke doesn't email, he doesn't use Facebook and he certainly isn't a fan of Twitter.

But on Saturday, like it or not, he'll be very involved in social media.

Michigan announced Wednesday that it intends to paint the social media hashtag "#GOBLUE" on the turf at Michigan Stadium for the team's annual spring game at noon Saturday.

"Our goal is to challenge the status quo and to create innovative ideas that speak to our fans," Michigan director of digital marketing Jordan Maleh said in a statement. "This initiative will help our athletic department use technology as a competitive advantage to engage and connect to fans, build brand loyalty, grow the digital audience and monitor and listen to what is being said through the digital engagement cycle."

According to Michigan's release, Saturday will mark the second time a college football program has painted a hashtag on its playing surface. Mississippi State painted "#HAILSTATE" in an end zone last fall for a game against rival Mississippi.

The school says painting the hashtag will give it an opportunity to gain exposure inside the stadium and inside the world of social media during the game, which will air live on the Big Ten Network.

Additionally, Michigan will host a "#GOBLUE contest" beginning Wednesday. To enter, fans must follow the football program's official Twitter account (twitter.com/umichfootball) and send a tweet reply to the @umichfootball account featuring the hashtag "#GOBLUE."

Winners of the contest, which runs through Friday, have a chance to win one of 10 VIP seats to the 2012 spring game, one of four scoreboard messages during the game, two tickets to the Michigan-Michigan State game on Oct. 20 at Michigan Stadium or one of two $50 M Den gift cards.

For more information, visit MGoBlue.com.

Nick Baumgardner covers Michigan sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2514, by email at nickbaumgardner@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @nickbaumgardner.

Comments

boo

Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 2:42 a.m.

all the complainers on here will still come to the games and buy what ever MICHIGAN sells! Stop whining. We are all sheep.

Matt Patercsak

Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 7:53 p.m.

It's a good idea, and you're ignorant if you think it isn't. This is why Michigan goes to the BCS over a better MSU team. Marketing and creativity=$$$.

ThoseWhoStayUofM

Thu, Apr 12, 2012 : 4:41 a.m.

Matt has a point. Building a large online community is very important to giving the appearance that there is a huge fanbase willing to buy tickets across the country. Whether there truly is, which I believe there is, or isn't is irrelevant. All that matters is if Bowl Selection Committees believe there is. Advancing and expanding our online community is a huge part of that.

Craig Lounsbury

Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 11:51 p.m.

If I can edit ..an alumni with a history of buying tickets to bowl games. If they stop winning and the alumni stops traveling all the hash tag mumbo jumbo in the world won't matter.

Craig Lounsbury

Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 11:49 p.m.

Michigan goes to a better bowl because they have a huge alumni who remember a rich history of success on the football field unlike MSU who's recent success is far from the norm over the past 50-60 years. Its about winning football games. And your ignorant if you think it isn't.

Stupid Hick

Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 5:42 p.m.

I hate this idea. Before reading the article, I thought maybe Jordan Miller was behind it, but who knew there is also a Jordan Maleh with a marketing/communications role at the University? Weird.

Scott Laux

Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 4:58 p.m.

Yuck. Worse than the silly mascots. How can twitter add revenue to Michigan? Will attract the worst in kids. Goggle 'football players banned offensive twitter" and you'll have about 1000 hit. They'll be lots of problems with racists, sexist, violent things players say on twitter in the coming years. Urban Meyers banned it. Michigan embraces it!!!!!

ThoseWhoStayUofM

Thu, Apr 12, 2012 : 4:38 a.m.

The notion that Urban Meyer banned twitter is either a complete myth that has no basis in truth or the Buckeye football players are publicly defying Urban Meyer on a daily basis. I can visit several Buckeye players' twitter feeds right now and see thousands of their tweets over the past week. It's not hard to fact check this stuff.

EyeHeartA2

Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 4:57 p.m.

"Michigan football coach Brady Hoke doesn't email" Oh really? Than why is there an email FROM him in my inbox, right now? The subject just happens to be: "Renew Your 2012 Football Season Tickets Online Today".

Morris Thorpe

Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 8:09 p.m.

I reply a personal note beginning with, "Hey Coach," and then I give him game tips or tell him I can't make it to the game this weekend. I'm very simple and amuse myself like this.

amazingblue

Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 4:56 p.m.

It's an all right idea, but the implementation won't happen as long as there's no cell service at Michigan Stadium. Sending a tweet from inside the stadium during a game is laughable at this point.

smokeblwr

Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 4:27 p.m.

Lame.

a2miguy

Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 4:26 p.m.

Good grief. How long will it be before people start naming their kids with a # or @ in their name?

evdoc

Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 4:24 p.m.

@UMICHTIX is already painted on the floor at Crisler Center in front of the Michigan bench, but while it shows their using "technology as a competitive advantage," it is focused on selling tickets, not just generating buzz like #GOBLUE. I think this is a good idea. It increases the popularity of the hashtag, which can give other Michigan groups more exposure when they use it. Now we just need Al Borges to start tweeting on the level of @bacari34

heartbreakM

Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 4:21 p.m.

#give #me #a #BIG #break. It's not bad enough that the U texts us a bunch of times all year, in response to entering our name in a free ticket contest, now they are pushing their twitter feed? This is Michigan. We don't have to club people over the head for them to get it.

7718

Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 4:49 p.m.

It's all about the brand

nuseph

Thu, Apr 12, 2012 : 2:12 a.m.

#goblue isn't UM's Twitter feed. That's not how Twitter works.

nuseph

Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 4:21 p.m.

I like this idea. But the marketing director did him(?)self no favors by using a bunch of marketing jargon. "We want to make #goblue a way for Michigan fans across the world to connect with each other." Done.

MRunner73

Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 4:18 p.m.

Like it or not, this is the 21st century...I like it.

rekot

Thu, Apr 12, 2012 : 1:27 p.m.

I realize what century it is and i dont like it

rekot

Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 4:10 p.m.

How long untill there is advertisements everywhere . What happened to maintaining Tradition

smokeblwr

Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 4:28 p.m.

Feels like an Arby's night....

nuseph

Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 4:18 p.m.

There's a logo in the end zone-- is that too much advertising for you?

Bob Gross

Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 3:41 p.m.

#greatidea

Kyle Meinke

Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 10:19 p.m.

I "like" this.