How To Do the Wave at Michigan Stadium

I used to have a personal blog which occasionally served as a dumping ground for my Michigan sports thoughts. Shortly before I started HSR, I posted this. It seems we may need a reminder.

So you've come to Michigan Stadium to watch a game and you want to do The Wave, do you? You've seen this craze hit other sporting venues and you want to be a part of it? Well, this guide will prepare you for how The Wave is performed by the largest crowd watching a football game anywhere in America.

Required Conditions
The Wave may only be initiated by licensed professionals from the student section using the following criteria:

1. The game must be well into the third quarter.
2. Michigan must have a two-score lead.
3. Michigan should be on defense, although this might not be strictly adhered to in a blowout.

Execution
The total Wave sequence lasts six circuits around the Big House, as follows:

1. The Original Wave (2 circuits)
2. The Fast Wave (1 circuit)
3. The Slow Wave (1 circuit)
4. The Reflected Wave (1 circuit)
5. The Split Wave (1 circuit)

• The Original Wave is performed at a moderate pace and travels counter-clockwise around the stadium twice.
• After this is completed, the student section forces the wave through at a much faster pace. The alumni in the adjoining seats usually slow the pace a bit, but it still moves at a faster clip around the stadium.
• When it reaches the student section again, it immediately slows to maybe a third of its original pace and stays that way for another lap.
• After reaching the student section again, it stops and is reflected back in a clockwise direction at the original pace.
• When the clockwise wave returns to student section, they maintain it while simultaneously starting another wave in the counter-clockwise direction. When done correctly, the two waves meet and pass through each other in the opposite corner of the stadium.

Viva La Vida: July 2nd, 2008

Welcome to Viva La Vida for July 2, 2008.

This will be an occasionally recurring feature where I post roughly quick hit points that I have not been able to get to that I did want to discuss.

1). Life in Technicolor

I am reserving judgment on the new uniform issue, because I am not sure that anything out there is official. I have maintained for a long time that as long as they do not touch the home uniform, I really am OK with any wackiness they may want to try on the away uniform, within reason. I also trust that adidas' contract with Michigan is as much about Michigan enhancing their brand as it is adidas enhancing the Michigan brand. But hey, clearance sale at the M-Den for the current jerseys. Plenty of Harts, Hennes, and Manninghams left.

2). Cemeteries of London

It was announced yesterday that Michigan Replay is no more. This saddens me as a traditionalist but by the same token, I don't know that Coach Rod was going to have the same level of hilariously awkward banter with Jim Brandstatter that Lloyd Carr did, but still, I think what I will miss most is the third quarter snippet of the theme from the 1972 film Across 110th Street, which also served as the theme to Michigan Replay for lo these many years.

3). Lost!

If you have not already picked up your Phil Steele preview guide, you'll want to do so as soon as possible, lest ye be lost for the upcoming season. His preview on Michigan is alternately dour and hopeful, in that, yes, he does not expect Michigan to match last season's nine wins (but who among us actually does?) but he also thinks that "the streaks" will remain alive, which is well, kind of important.

4). 42

The only Michigan player to win All-America honors while wearing #42 is Billy Taylor. He's among Bo's first players at Michigan and has a pretty amazing life story which you can read about here.

5). Lovers in Japan/Reign of Love

Little known fact: Logan, better known as Wolverine, is a follower of the Shinto faith, as seen here.

(Yes, it was a stretch and yes, I do apologize, but it was the first thing that made sense when I typed "Wolverine Japan" into GIS.)

6). Yes

If you're going to propose to your Michigan fan girlfriend, I highly recommend doing it in Ann Arbor. It works out quite well from my experience.

7). Viva La Vida

We here at the Hoover Street Rag would like to wish a happy 71st birthday to one of our favorite people in the world, 2008 College Football Hall of Fame electee John Cooper. Coach, we miss you. A lot. Even if we're Facebook friends with you.

8). Violet Hill

If you have not seen Varsity Blue's photos of the Michigan Stadium construction, you should, it's pretty awesome (I was over there on Monday and was going to mention how impressive it was, but the slide show is worth several thousand words.)

9). Strawberry Swing

If you have not had a shake from Pizza Bob's recently, you really should do so. Go get a BTB and then walk down a couple of doors and hook yourself with a shake.

10). Death and All His Friends

I'm thinking about adopting the line from the song as my Michigan mantra for the forthcoming season: "So come over, just be patient, and don't worry." I don't see it working, but you know, it's July, I can maintain a level head right now.

Thanks for reading. Have a great week!

Craig