Our trip to Ann Arbor

[WanderingSpectator]

Here's my write-up on our trip to Ann Arbor.

We walked all over campus, found a Law Library that looks like Hogwarts, pushed a giant cube, and waited 90 minutes for a Zingerman's sandwich. Worth it.

The game? Let's just say we're happy to knock it off the list.

Visiting The Big House: Penn State vs. Michigan in Ann Arbor

Planning a trip to The Big House? Here’s our Ann Arbor game day guide: where we stayed, what we saw on campus, where we ate, and how we scored cheap seats.

wanderingspectator.wordpress.com

 

[saturdaysarebetter]

Great write-up as always. Thanks for sharing that.

 

[JerseyLion]

Have you tried any of the delis in New York or New Jersey? They would make you change your opinion of Zingermans very quickly.

 

[WanderingSpectator]

Have you tried any of the delis in New York or New Jersey? They would make you change your opinion of Zingermans very quickly.

I have. I don’t disagree, but Zingerman’s was perfectly fine for a “quick lunch.” It’s an iconic restaurants on campus that I considered a must do. To me, it’s similar to the Corner Room or the Diner in its later years. Iconic, but certainly not the best food.

 

[Chumboshifko1]

Adam Richman loved the terd den.

 

[Tgar]

The only negative we encountered on our trip to the Big house a few years back was their bathroom situation in the Big House makes the troughs in Beaver downright wonderful. You wait in line a long time in the big house to take a leak.

Otherwise, yes, one of the better Big Ten destinations for a weekend.

 

[razpsu]

The only negative we encountered on our trip to the Big house a few years back was their bathroom situation in the Big House makes the troughs in Beaver downright wonderful. You wait in line a long time in the big house to take a leak.

Otherwise, yes, one of the better Big Ten destinations for a weekend.

In 94, 96 and 2007 they still had the porta potties outside the single tunnels at each entrance and you waited forever for a damn porta potty,

fast forward this year at the beav on the west side upstairs you wait a half hour for the porta potties after walking up 27 flights of stairs.

 

[Tgar]

In 94, 96 and 2007 they still had the porta potties outside the single tunnels at each entrance and you waited forever for a damn porta potty,

fast forward this year at the beav on the west side upstairs you wait a half hour for the porta potties after walking up 27 flights of stairs.

Oh yeah, porta potties everywhere. The Big House still has them as well. Sell more beer, require more urinals…….

 

[Chumboshifko1]

Glug... need more .

 

[JerseyLion]

I have. I don’t disagree, but Zingerman’s was perfectly fine for a “quick lunch.” It’s an iconic restaurants on campus that I considered a must do. To me, it’s similar to the Corner Room or the Diner in its later years. Iconic, but certainly not the best food.

My family had the same impression. We had to try it. It was strongly recommended by our good friends who are Michigan grads.

We saw the law library on the tour. That was pretty neat.

 

[retsio]

Interesting summary of a short weekend - Ann Arbor, UM campus, UM football and Big House.
Ann Arbor the town stretches far and wide since Michigan is 'flat land' with apartments galore and many, many residential areas to the east. There are better sandwich shops in AA than Zingerman's that the locals know, which is typical of any place. Zingerman's is also a catalogue place with orders to go online and shipments available.
The academic part of UM is on the North campus and the athletics on the South campus - with the football team wining, the students can be raucous to destroy the opponent, while in the past losing to Penn State can be disappointing and quiet. State Street has good activity like any college town for drinks and eats, and on any football weekend - every Michigander is a wannabee.
Should you ever need Medical care - the UM Hospital system and attendant specialty hospitals is better than excellent. Really top notch - my wife received excellent expert 24/7 care.
Michigan is a good school in the Big10 - they will tell you that as everyone knows the Block M is everywhere.
Since my wife is from that area - been there/done that too many times.

 

[kgilbert78]

One interesting/fun point about the UM Golf Course--it has a ton of buckeye trees. We have a buckeye tree in our backyard that we think came from one of the buckeyes I picked up there many years ago.

 

[PSU Mike]

One interesting/fun point about the UM Golf Course--it has a ton of buckeye trees. We have a buckeye tree in our backyard that we think came from one of the buckeyes I picked up there many years ago.

So if I’m following, you swallowed the buckeye you picked up and later crapped it out in the back yard?

(Yes, I know buckeyes are poisonous)

 

[BobPSU92]

Have you tried any of the delis in New York or New Jersey? They would make you change your opinion of Zingermans very quickly.

I lived near ann arbor (is a w-hore) for 11 years. zingerman’s sucks.

 

[PSU-Dude]

The only negative we encountered on our trip to the Big house a few years back was their bathroom situation in the Big House makes the troughs in Beaver downright wonderful. You wait in line a long time in the big house to take a leak.

Otherwise, yes, one of the better Big Ten destinations for a weekend.

I experienced the same thing. Had to go so bad that I just went behind a column near the bathroom and took care of bidness!

 

[Big_O]

I’ve been to Ann Arbor once, a college visit trip for my daughter. She hated it as we did. This was about 20 years ago. Homeless people in some of the on campus buildings and lots of graffiti on buildings in town across from campus. Thousands of rusted bicycles chained to practically everything in town, and this was summer with very few students around. One of the worst campuses we ever visited. Definitely crossed off our list.

 

[JerseyLion]

I’ve been to Ann Arbor once, a college visit trip for my daughter. She hated it as we did. This was about 20 years ago. Homeless people in some of the on campus buildings and lots of graffiti on buildings in town across from campus. Thousands of rusted bicycles chained to practically everything in town, and this was summer with very few students around. One of the worst campuses we ever visited. Definitely crossed off our list.

A lot must have changed since then. I was there over a year ago and didn't see anything like that except for a few homeless people here and there.

 

[m.knox]

A lot must have changed since then. I was there over a year ago and didn't see anything like that except for a few homeless people here and there.

I've lived in A2 for 34 years and counting. Homelessness is bad now. One of my kids works downtown and has to deal with them all the time. Some are OK, others aren't.

Met a guy at PSU who did his undergrad work at Stevens Institute of Technology. We visited one weekend. Went to this little Italian deli for lunch. Damn good. Only been to Zingerman's a couple times.

 

[Chumboshifko1]

Irresponsible people are everywhere.

 

[KC-KS-Lion]

In 94, 96 and 2007 they still had the porta potties outside the single tunnels at each entrance and you waited forever for a damn porta potty,

fast forward this year at the beav on the west side upstairs you wait a half hour for the porta potties after walking up 27 flights of stairs.

I was at the 94 game.

Aside from the porta potties, I decided to venture out into the golf course where there seemed to be one or more males using the trees, and a constant flow of others walking from the tailgates.

Also ran into Matt Suhey as I was looking for a ticket.

I ended up with an unknown alumni grabbing my hand and leading me to someone who had an extra originally intended for his client. It was one row from the top aligned with the endzone (can't remember if it was the front or back), but was a surprisingly good angle to see all the plays. The stadium's angle is flatter than others which seems to let the noise out.

 

[razpsu]

I was at the 94 game.

Aside from the porta potties, I decided to venture out into the golf course where there seemed to be one or more males using the trees, and a constant flow of others walking from the tailgates.

Also ran into Matt Suhey as I was looking for a ticket.

I ended up with an unknown alumni grabbing my hand and leading me to someone who had an extra originally intended for his client. It was one row from the top aligned with the endzone (can't remember if it was the front or back), but was a surprisingly good angle to see all the plays. The stadium's angle is flatter than others which seems to let the noise out.

Yea in 1994 I sat In The end zone and was 150 yards away from plays next two times I sat on the 30 yard line. Played golf there on that course Friday then next day tailgated there.

 

[Erial_Lion]

Made the trip out there in 96, 98, 00, and 02. Great memories every time...just wish my final memory wasn't Michigan celebrating their win about 10 feet in front of me (I was front row in the endzone that they scored in to win it in OT). Need to get back out there again.

 

[PSUFTG]

Nice write up, as always.

Been to AA many times since 1994 - probably my favorite road game venue - for many reasons.

The town is very nice - a bit more to offer than State College, but still keeps the feel of a college town. The campus is, of course, beautiful.

My favorite aspects, since I have always been there on a game day, is how convenient the game day stuff is - similar, in most ways, to what PSU was like 20 years ago. Especially the parking situation.
Parking, no problem, inexpensive, accessible, you don't need to go through a series of hurdles to get it, and "good" (level, lots of places with grass if you prefer, or hard top lots if that's your preference)
And both before and after the game - easy in, easy out. (I always wonder what visiting fans think when they have to spend 1-2 hours sitting in a Beaver Stadium parking lot in order to even see the traffic start to move)

Hotels (for those who need them)? Abundant and available even for a last minute trip - at maybe 1/10 the cost of anything within 40 miles of State College for those poor bastards who need a hotel for the weekend.

Bars / Restaurants? Plenty enough to avoid any long lines or overcrowding - and within easy walking distance, they start popping up within a few blocks of the stadium.

Want to have a few beers before the game - but don't want to set up a big tailgate? Pop into a convenience store for grub and take out beer, and hang out in any of the open areas around the stadium.

I actually prefer driving 6 hours each way to attend a game there, then to go five miles from home to Beaver Stadium for a PSU home game. It is so much less hassle.

 

[WanderingSpectator]

Nice write up, as always.

Been to AA many times since 1994 - probably my favorite road game venue - for many reasons.

The town is very nice - a bit more to offer than State College, but still keeps the feel of a college town. The campus is, of course, beautiful.

My favorite aspects, since I have always been there on a game day, is how convenient the game day stuff is - similar, in most ways, to what PSU was like 20 years ago. Especially the parking situation.
Parking, no problem, inexpensive, accessible, you don't need to go through a series of hurdles to get it, and "good" (level, lots of places with grass if you prefer, or hard top lots if that's your preference)
And both before and after the game - easy in, easy out. (I always wonder what visiting fans think when they have to spend 1-2 hours sitting in a Beaver Stadium parking lot in order to even see the traffic start to move)

Hotels (for those who need them)? Abundant and available even for a last minute trip - at maybe 1/10 the cost of anything within 40 miles of State College for those poor bastards who need a hotel for the weekend.

Bars / Restaurants? Plenty enough to avoid any long lines or overcrowding - and within easy walking distance, they start popping up within a few blocks of the stadium.

Want to have a few beers before the game - but don't want to set up a big tailgate? Pop into a convenience store for grub and take out beer, and hang out in any of the open areas around the stadium.

I actually prefer driving 6 hours each way to attend a game there, then to go five miles from home to Beaver Stadium for a PSU home game. It is so much less hassle.

Thanks.

As far as campuses go, we really liked Indiana. I’d rank that as one of the nicest. Their stadium, not so much. We prefer college towns as opposed to city campuses, so for downtown areas, we liked Iowa City.

For Ann Arbor, I wouldn’t necessarily call the hotel prices 1/10 of State College. Most properties this past weekend were $500-$800 per night for average (Hampton/Fairfield/Holiday Inn) hotels.

For this upcoming game against Indiana, prices are the same.

 

[m.knox]

I was at the 94 game.

Aside from the porta potties, I decided to venture out into the golf course where there seemed to be one or more males using the trees, and a constant flow of others walking from the tailgates.

Also ran into Matt Suhey as I was looking for a ticket.

I ended up with an unknown alumni grabbing my hand and leading me to someone who had an extra originally intended for his client. It was one row from the top aligned with the endzone (can't remember if it was the front or back), but was a surprisingly good angle to see all the plays. The stadium's angle is flatter than others which seems to let the noise out.

I was at that game too. A season ticket holder who I worked with sold me his tickets for face value. That was the thing back then. No gouging. For that, UM was pretty cool.

Then came the in game experience. Not cool. First, some old fart starting grousing out loud about PSU fans in season ticket holder area. He wasn't holding back either. Second, a PSU fan stood up to cheer a TD, and a guy with his pre-teen son stood up and told her to shut the F up. This happened all game. My wife and I couldn't believe it.

The only saving grace was upon exit I feel a hand on my shoulder. I'm like WTF, here we go. I turn around and a young man apologizes for the behavior of the fan base. I politely acknowledged him and kept moving. I think I went back twice since then. More of the same. Will not go back even if I'm in the PSU section as you will get UM fans there too, and they are just as bad.

 

[Erial_Lion]

I was at that game too. A season ticket holder who I worked with sold me his tickets for face value. That was the thing back then. No gouging. For that, UM was pretty cool.

Then came the in game experience. Not cool. First, some old fart starting grousing out loud about PSU fans in season ticket holder area. He wasn't holding back either. Second, a PSU fan stood up to cheer a TD, and a guy with his pre-teen son stood up and told her to shut the F up. This happened all game. My wife and I couldn't believe it.

The only saving grace was upon exit I feel a hand on my shoulder. I'm like WTF, here we go. I turn around and a young man apologizes for the behavior of the fan base. I politely acknowledged him and kept moving. I think I went back twice since then. More of the same. Will not go back even if I'm in the PSU section as you will get UM fans there too, and they are just as bad.

Never had a single issue in my four trips.

 

[PSUFTG]

Thanks.

As far as campuses go, we really liked Indiana. I’d rank that as one of the nicest. Their stadium, not so much. We prefer college towns as opposed to city campuses, so for downtown areas, we liked Iowa City.

For Ann Arbor, I wouldn’t necessarily call the hotel prices 1/10 of State College. Most properties this past weekend were $500-$800 per night for average (Hampton/Fairfield/Holiday Inn) hotels.

For this upcoming game against Indiana, prices are the same.

I noted your comments about Bloomington - particularly since we will likely make that our road trip game for 2027 - depending on the time of year (TTBOMK we only know that PSU will play in Bloomington, but not yet the date)
But your comments vav Bloominton have helped to secure its place on the top of the list for next year (I think PSU also is scheduled to play in Madison, IIRC, and that is probably the other option)

FWIW: I am not "particularly particular" wrt hotels (clean, comfy place to sleep, close to where I want to be, is about all I care about - because thats about all I use them for), and ~10 miles east of AA I was able to get (just a few days before the game) a couple of "King Suite" rooms for $125 a piece (per night of course - and it was a lower end chain)
But that was not in AA proper.
Pretty much the same range every trip ive been to AA (or Columbus for that matter). But, again, that is not in Columbus proper, but usually just outside their "beltway"

 

[kgilbert78]

So if I’m following, you swallowed the buckeye you picked up and later crapped it out in the back yard?

(Yes, I know buckeyes are poisonous)

No, not exactly. Had them outside for a reason (might have been a watch party at my house and some kids were playing with them). Was a long time go. They are nice trees and have the advantage of being native plants.

 

[pendal1]

I was at that game too. A season ticket holder who I worked with sold me his tickets for face value. That was the thing back then. No gouging. For that, UM was pretty cool.

Then came the in game experience. Not cool. First, some old fart starting grousing out loud about PSU fans in season ticket holder area. He wasn't holding back either. Second, a PSU fan stood up to cheer a TD, and a guy with his pre-teen son stood up and told her to shut the F up. This happened all game. My wife and I couldn't believe it.

The only saving grace was upon exit I feel a hand on my shoulder. I'm like WTF, here we go. I turn around and a young man apologizes for the behavior of the fan base. I politely acknowledged him and kept moving. I think I went back twice since then. More of the same. Will not go back even if I'm in the PSU section as you will get UM fans there too, and they are just as bad.

The Walmart wolverine fans (and scum fans in general) were the worst group I ever had to deal with at Beaver Stadium over 40 years.

 

[saturdaysarebetter]

I've been to the Big House six times.

In 1996, Penn State won 29-17. I was dressed in Penn State garb, my son in Michigan clothes. He was probably the only two-year old in Pennsylvania who knew the Michigan helmet via watching I believe it was Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego and they had a Pac-man game and the little goblin was a Michigan helmet instead of a ghost which I regrettably told him about and that started his fascination with the Wolverines.

In 1996, he was nine and I remember walking around town and young males were drinking around 7 a.m. on their frat house porch and offered him a beer. I said, "He's nine years old and it's seven o'clock!" They were good natured about it.

No doubt, seeing my son dressed in Michigan attire, stadium security let us in the gates early and we got to go down through the tunnel the players run out on to the field and then on to field which was really cool. No doubt an early recruiting tactic by them.

I saw Tom Brady get some playing time against Baylor in 1997. I remember ordering my tickets via mail from Baylor. I saw Penn State lose in 1998 and 2000. In 2001, I saw Jim Tressel's first game against the Wolverines and Ohio State pulled off the upset in the only time I've experienced The Game thus far.

In 2011, I saw Michigan defeat Nebraska as they honored Lloyd Carr and they had cards on the seats so that fans could create this which was pretty cool.

 

[Chumboshifko1]

I've been to the Big House six times.

In 1996, Penn State won 29-17. I was dressed in Penn State garb, my son in Michigan clothes. He was probably the only two-year old in Pennsylvania who knew the Michigan helmet via watching I believe it was Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego and they had a Pac-man game and the little goblin was a Michigan helmet instead of a ghost which I regrettably told him about and that started his fascination with the Wolverines.

In 1996, he was nine and I remember walking around town and young males were drinking around 7 a.m. on their frat house porch and offered him a beer. I said, "He's nine years old and it's seven o'clock!" They were good natured about it.

No doubt, seeing my son dressed in Michigan attire, stadium security let us in the gates early and we got to go down through the tunnel the players run out on to the field and then on to field which was really cool. No doubt an early recruiting tactic by them.

I saw Tom Brady get some playing time against Baylor in 1997. I remember ordering my tickets via mail from Baylor. I saw Penn State lose in 1998 and 2000. In 2001, I saw Jim Tressel's first game against the Wolverines and Ohio State pulled off the upset in the only time I've experienced The Game thus far.

In 2011, I saw Michigan defeat Nebraska as they honored Lloyd Carr and they had cards on the seats so that fans could create this which was pretty cool.
View attachment 1497846

Eminence Front

 

[Big_O]

Thanks.

As far as campuses go, we really liked Indiana. I’d rank that as one of the nicest. Their stadium, not so much. We prefer college towns as opposed to city campuses, so for downtown areas, we liked Iowa City.

For Ann Arbor, I wouldn’t necessarily call the hotel prices 1/10 of State College. Most properties this past weekend were $500-$800 per night for average (Hampton/Fairfield/Holiday Inn) hotels.

For this upcoming game against Indiana, prices are the same.

Indiana has one of the nicest campuses I’ve been to. Michigan and O$U not so much. Northwestern and Purdue have pretty decent campuses. Haven’t been to any other B10 campuses, just passing through or by some of the B10 cities such as Lincoln, Madison, Iowa City and Champagne Urbana.

 

[SkiSkiSki]

Made the trip out there in 96, 98, 00, and 02. Great memories every time...just wish my final memory wasn't Michigan celebrating their win about 10 feet in front of me (I was front row in the endzone that they scored in to win it in OT). Need to get back out there again.

I was somewhere in that endzone near you in 2002. I was the guy standing on my seat waving money and screaming at the ref in the corner of the end zone. Dillinger would have been proud of that robbery. Stevie Wonder could have seen Tony Johnson was inbounds. The only positive was it helped get us the replay system that somehow UM manages to get favorable calls from to this day. Funny in that now I wonder why I got so worked up. Really didn't seem to matter all that much after what transpired in 2011. I still enjoy following it, but with a whole lot less passion.