ANN ARBOR, Mich. | My job has given me the great privilege of covering eleven Super Bowls, NHL playoff games and other high-profile sporting events on site. However, nothing can match the dose of strong emotion and infectious madness of football’s greatest rivalry between Ohio State and Michigan in the largest stadium in America, overheated by 110,615 spectators. Story of an unforgettable day…
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You have to experience it to understand the total disproportionality that such an event represents. That’s why I’ve made it my personal mission to delve with you into the heart of this clash between two teams that live for this duel 365 days a year and came into Ann Arbor, Michigan with a flawless record of 11-0.
Michigan Wolverines fans stormed the field immediately after the win and celebrated on site, even though the home announcer begged them to leave. Stephane Cadorette
The dream of winning the national championship in January hovers in the background of this annual rivalry that dates back 125 years. Additional tensions are felt with signal theft allegations against the University of Michigan. The Ohio State Buckeyes, who accuse the enemy of gross fraud, and the Michigan Wolverines, who say they are being persecuted. All the ingredients were there for a thrilling duel that kept the excited stadium in suspense until the end.
But before we get to the grandiose conclusion, let’s start at the beginning so you understand the full extent of a day like this…
Madness at dawn
When the alarm sounds at 5:30 a.m., I tell myself that it’s definitely hard for me to do the hard work when the city is plunged into darkness to play a midday match.
I take charge and put on all the essential layers for a beautiful day in the great outdoors in Michigan, where the temperature is barely warmer than home.
Shortly after 6 a.m., Uber takes me to the legendary Michigan Stadium. A few hours later, this temple will bring together more than 100,000 people for the 315th consecutive game, a streak that has lasted more than 45 years.
A never-ending traffic jam forms far from the finish line. It’s hard to believe that this small town with 124,000 inhabitants takes on the flair of the world capital of football on this special day. Endless vehicles pile up motionless and I tell myself that after all I wasn’t so crazy about getting up at dawn.
It’s completely congested everywhere, I thank the driver and tell him that I’ll walk the rest of the thirty-minute journey. No time for fooling around, as someone else would say.
Tailgates out of sight
Wolverines fans have different outfits. Stephane Cadorette
As I walk, I suddenly see a small parking lot that smells of smoked bacon. Here we go, a first tailgate! Then another and another and another and another. The abundance of sausages, ribs and other briskets to delight the palate literally stretches as far as the eye can see.
The ultimate tailgate location near Michigan Stadium is right on the Ann Arbor Golf Course. Thousands of vehicles park directly on the lawn of this more than affordable golf club, which almost seems like a sideline. At $75 per tailgate pitch, the club will certainly be able to repair its greens in the spring…
Tailgate means beer cooler, but there’s more. A friendly character named Scott Moore prepares a more than complete bar with a selection of different alcohols. I approach him and he immediately warmly asks me to try a shot of maple bourbon, which he particularly likes.
“The alcohol content is 60% but it is so sweet. You could even put some on your pancakes,” he tells me.
That’s not the case with pancakes, but since I’m on a mission to immerse you in the heart of the adventure, I accept. I already feel more awake.
Early in the morning, Scott Moore prepared to uncork the champagne and offered us a BSB bourbon in his surprisingly well-stocked bar. Stephane Cadorette
Not just enemies
Songs are sung everywhere. The “Fuck Ohio!” songs are certainly the most resounding. that Michigan fans joyfully shout and parade to those of Ohio State, who are obviously much less somber.
Furthermore, despite the rivalry, many people manage to live well together. “We have the friends we have, nobody is perfect,” Markus Henne tells me with a laugh, next to a converted ambulance that he has renamed Mbulance, with the famous M from Michigan.
“For a few hours we tolerate each other with our differences and get on each other’s nerves, but sometimes it gets more serious,” he notes.
One of his like-minded friends approaches me, a little tipsy. “If you feel like pissing, you can go for him,” he says, pointing to his accomplice at the rival Ohio State camp.
This is probably a sign that it’s time to go to the stadium.
Because it’s necessary, some Ohio State and Michigan fanatics manage to live well together. Stephane Cadorette
Towards the stadium
At the same time, time passes and the call of football is noticeable. The sidewalks that cross the street are teeming with people like no other. Even the traffic police get in on the action and shout a few “Go Blue!”, which sparks cheers.
We sense that tempers are heating up. A fan dressed all in red insults a Wolverines supporter. He calls it names that refer to the part of the human anatomy where the sun does not shine. It promises!
It’s a striking flood of blue and yellow rushing toward the stands. More than 30 minutes before kick-off, everyone gets up and stays there until the end of the game. Nobody, but nobody, sits down for a moment during the 3.5 hours that the meeting lasts. It’s not about resting your legs, we don’t deviate from traditions.
Stephane Cadorette
A worthy duel
The atmosphere is unlike any other sport. The fanfare from both teams is deafening. The students and everyone else caught up in their delirium are loud, festive, and very much alive. The drums pound, the brass gets angry and the cymbals get louder as everyone raises their fists to follow the ear-ringing rhythm. The crowded audience becomes one and screams. This youthful energy is intoxicating.
On the field, the deadlock remains after a few unsuccessful possession attempts and Wolverines defender Will Johnson makes a splash by intercepting a pass in the opponent’s zone. Four plays later, there was euphoria when Blake Corum opened the scoring with a touchdown on fourth down.
The famous song “Hail to the Victors”, backed by fanfare, testifies to an orgasmic collective happiness pumped up to 1000 levels on steroids. Yes, it’s so crazy!
A euphoric end
As the game continues, the two rivals exchange pleasantries and the tension continues to rise. With 1:05 minutes left, the Buckeyes, who are playing the role of the bad guests here, are behind 30:24 and win the ball back for the decisive sequence.
The offense is moving quickly and everyone in the stadium is fearful of impressive receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who will be one of the most coveted NFL draft picks next season.
The nervousness is palpable and screams come from everywhere. Harrison appears to break away from his coverage and his quarterback targets him. At the last moment, defensive back Rod Moore dived to make an interception and secure the Wolverines’ victory.
Rod Moore has certainly become a hero who will go down in Wolverines legend for his great effort late in the game. Getty Images via AFP
Surreal scene
If Michigan Stadium had a roof, it definitely would have blown away. Fans hug, kiss, jump, celebrate like their lives depend on it. As soon as the final whistle sounded, fans jumped from their seats and stormed onto the pitch in their thousands in jubilant ecstasy.
It is a tradition in university football to end at the end of such a momentous duel, which has no common standard in other sports. Beyond the end zone, even with a good ticket, all you can see is the extent of the tsunami as it floods and creates wonderful chaos.
The Killers hit “Mr. “Brightside” blared from the speakers and fans sang the lyrics in unison in a deafening wave of emotion. If you don’t feel any chills, you should have your vital signs checked immediately.
This is the beauty of student sports at its best. By participating in events of this magnitude, these young people can’t help but become great, I tell myself as I leave the stadium. Hours later, at the hotel, my eardrums are still beating to the rhythm of the frenetic brass bands and Let’s Go Blue is ringing in my ears.
I can no longer count the moments of strong emotions that the world of sports has given me. This one is definitely at the top of the list. It’s nowhere near dense.
The emotional day at Michigan Stadium ended with memorable celebrations on the field. Getty Images via AFP