People often say I’m lucky because for the past 15 years I’ve been on the sidelines at Michigan Stadium photographing Wolverine football games.
It’s true, I am lucky, but don’t think for a moment it’s all glamour and fun. Humping camera gear up and down the sidelines while fighting for field position with other photographers, both television and still, can be frustrating to say the least.
Still, the vision from field level is a unique experience. One shared by coaches and players, officials and media members (and at the University of Michigan, just about anyone with a connection) but no one else.
So to give you an idea of what it’s like to be on the sidelines during football Saturday’s, I’d like to share some of my unique sideline perspective from the first three games.
Western Michigan, September 5th
• Ah man, I hate these early season games when it’s sunny and warm. Even though it’s only in the 70’s, the artificial turf makes it feel much warmer on the field. In fact, days like this make it impossible to shoot downfield very far because of the heat waves coming off the turf. Anything past 25-yards and it looks more like a Salvador Dali painting than a picture of Darryl Stonum making a diving catch.
Can you feel the heat waves?
• Tate Forcier may be Michigan’s main man at quarterback, but ask any photographer on the field and they’ll take Denard Robinson any day – at least from a photographic standpoint. He’s way more animated, always seems to get into open space, has his braids flying out of his helmet, and has an uncanny knack for making big plays when the light is in his face.
Off to the races!
• I don’t know why everyone was whining about this new addition to the Big House (by the way, where I come from the Big House means prison - the slammer - the joint; certainly not a venue to play football) I can’t say for sure if it makes the place any louder, but it sure does make it look a heck-of-a lot more like a stadium -especially from the field. Nothing against tradition, but come on people, the place looked like a big can of tuna before the addition.
Notre Dame, September 12th
• Another warm day with heat waves coming off the field - not that Notre Dame’s honor guard guys mind. For the record, at field level they don’t leave much to the imagination when they spin around in formation, kilts-a-flying, butt cheeks-a-showing!
• Up close, Jimmy Clauson and Charlie Weiss both look like they’re about 12 - kind of like River Phoenix and the chubby kid from Stand By Me, all grown up.
Blueberry pie anyone?
• Late-afternoon starts mean plenty of drunks in the stands … and on the field. One drunk, in particular, decided to dance around on the field after Greg Matthews scored the game-winning touchdown, thereby blocking my view of most of the play. No big deal really, unless you’re a photographer getting paid to document the game!
Portrait of a drunk (or at least his elbow).
• Am I the only one who wondered what the heck they were going to do if Michigan had kicked a field goal instead of scoring the game-winning touchdown? I mean it was getting dark on that field. Realistically, they had maybe 15 more minutes of daylight left and UM, or TV, or whoever, decided not to bring in lights for the game. So what would have happened if the game had gone into overtime?
"Shhh, don't tell anyone we don't have lights!"
(One possible solution, they could have announced over the PA “The first 4,000 fans to get to Pioneer High School’s football field can watch the end of the game.” Or better yet, they could just bring lights to 3:30 games).
• I don’t dislike Notre Dame as much as most of you, but if you need another reason to hate the Irish, let me offer up the student Leprechaun dude who prances up and down the sidelines. Looking as if he’s just been peeled off a box of Lucky Charms, he reminds me of yippy, little dog – you know, one of those annoying ankle biters that’s always under your feet and never shuts up.
Stay away Lucky!
Eastern Michigan, September 19th
• It’s always a weird site to see more Eastern fans attend a game at UM than at their own stadium. My guess is they probably come to UM games rather than their own on most Saturday’s anyhow. It just so happens their team was playing at UM that particular day.
• I knew Andy Schmitt was done for the season (and so did he) long before they ever put him in an MRI tube. To see him go down untouched, dropping the ball and grabbing his knee, was not a good omen for Schmitt. To see him on the bench being consoled by the trainer was even worse.
Tough luck for Andy.
• Trust me when I say, while screaming at his players, EMU head coach Ron English uses words you’ll never find in an English dictionary.
• It was another warm day, but it got plenty cold when English and Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez “kind of” shook hands at midfield following the game – Brrrrr!!!
Rich Rodriguez and Ron English exchange pleasantries (sort of).
• Speaking of Rodriguez, I like the guy, he’s very media friendly (at least to this point) but Rich, can’t you wear a different colored wristband? That bright red one you wear just doesn’t jive too well among all the maize and blue. I know you use it for signaling from the sidelines, but couldn’t you take it off once the game ends? Every time I take a picture of you singing “Hail to the Victors” in front of the student section, it looks as if a Buckeye fan somehow snuck into the frame and thrust his fist in the air.
Change the wristband, please!
• One last thing, why do the fans who line the tunnel beg for players gloves, wristbands, bandages, etc., when they're walking through the tunnel back to the locker room. People, this is extremely gross. Think about the amount of body fluids (perspiration and otherwise) that have been absorbed by the garb you're begging to have tossed your way.
That’s it for the first three games. I won’t be on the sidelines for this Saturday’s Homecoming game against Indiana (which may be a good thing since it’s supposed to rain - nothing worse than a field full of rain-soaked cheerleaders who've been roaming the sidelines at every Homecoming since 1922). But I’ll be back in action for the first two road games of the season, MSU and Iowa, to happily give you my perspective from the road where the Wolverines are far from loved.
