My Game Day at Michigan Stadium
10/1/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Paul Lynch - Michigan Stadium
I've worked at Michigan Stadium for 22 years. I get to the stadium at 8 a.m., whether the game is early or late. There are 41 people on the field staff handling parking and helping before, during and after the game. We have meetings to discuss what we liked from last week and what we need to improve. We make sure everything is in place. We have another meeting to make sure our people are ready for the Victors Walk and we get the team safely to the stadium. When the teams arrive, we go down to the field and make sure we're all in position and try to keep people that don't have proper passes off the field, which is mostly for safety. Safety is basically what we're here for.
Our biggest challenge is keeping the tunnel area clear and making sure it stays clear so the teams can come out. We also look out for the band, and when the band comes through the tunnel, we usually close off the gate at the top. We ensure people's safety because someone's likely to get run over if he's out here, and everybody likes to be here to see up close.
Our job is usually done about two hours after the game ends. We get everybody off the field and cleared out of the top of tunnel.
I feel good about the changes to the stadium. Everything that's happening is positive. Some people get upset with change, but we needed it. The stadium's an old one that needs renovation. Everything's going to be good and we're excited about the changes.
The biggest event I've seen at the stadium was Anthony Carter's catch in the Indiana game in 1979. It was just unbelievable.
I like all the players, and I'm really excited about Rich Rodriguez. I think he's going to be a fantastic coach; I just hope people give him time. I see a lot of players down here and I see a difference in their attitudes. I don't mean to say anything negative about the past, but it's just really good to see how the players are today.
Collin McCarty - Michigan Sports Television
I arrive at the stadium about four hours before kickoff and allow myself an hour to get ready before my crew shows up and the commotion begins. I have five cameramen in the stadium each game day -- a game camera, a camera in the end zone and three on the field. One of the field cameras is actually wireless, allowing us to roam and giving us multiple angles.
Before the game, I try to get all the cameras ready and color balanced. I make sure everyone has everything they need. During the game, I run around and shoot various things and make sure everything's going well. This year my responsibilities during the game are a little different. I'm out there shooting things myself for little features we're doing for the Inside Michigan Football or MGoBlue.com.
We hold the postgame press conference about 10 or 15 minutes after each game. We also shoot postgame footage in the locker room, coach's interview for the radio, interviews with players and the postgame speech.
My day ends at various times. For the first game this season vs. Utah, I went home about five or six hours after the end of the game. As soon as we're done getting everything together for MGoBlue.com, we go home.
We've had more access this year than we've had before. Being in the locker room for the pregame speech before Utah was a cool experience. I've never been able to observe a pregame speech. I could just feel the emotion and energy in the locker room. That experience was definitely something I won't forget.
My Game Day:Monday | Tuesday
