Michigan State vs. Penn State 2007
November 16 - 17, 2007
So, some good friends decided to meet up with other friends and family uniting Pennsylvania, Michigan, Sault Ste. Marie, Burlington & Toronto.
First we hooked up at the Marriot Courtyard, in Lansing, Michigan and headed out for some beers at a local sports bar.
This was the first time in a long time that a bunch of friends and family had seen each other ...
Yes, he's passed out on the table ... I promised I wouldn't take his picture and post it on my website. He was drunk enough to believe me.
Next day we avoided a call to start tailgating (a big thing there) at 7:30am. But had a nice leisurely morning.
Last time I hung out with this guy was in Torino.
We did make it to a mall, with a Starbucks and a Dicks Sporting Goods. At this massive sporting goods store ... you could buy Michigan State apparel ...
Holiday Themed Michigan State apparel ...
Pink Hats ...
The biggest Fishing lure I've ever seen ...
Air Rifles ...
Real Riffles ...
And buck urine ...
They also had a section where Fuzzball tables could be tested .... this ended up being a heated game.
Really we were there to insure everyone had adequate under garments ... these were as pink as that hat I had on ....
So ... this tailgating thing ... they take it pretty seriously ...
This is a bean bag game, which also got heated when it switched to teams representing USA & Canada. (we won)
This Green Bay tuque dated back to 1973 ... the Bart Starr days ...
Our parking lot neighbours (yes there's a 'u' in that word) had a heated tent, with the Ohio St - U Michigan game on a tv. There were a few tv's in the parking lot with that game on ...
The tailgating wraps up with about 30 min to kick off ... then you walk to the Stadium (YOUTUBE VIDEO)
Spartan Stadium has a capacity of 75 000 people ... I'd guess there was at least 60 000 there for this game.
We were 56 rows back ... basically pulling for Penn State.
There's the warm up ....
The marching band ... before the game ... very impressive ...
Then there's the game ...
Set ....
FUMBLE ...
recovery ...
then at half time ... more marching band ... still impressive, but since there's no alcohol permitted in the stadium ... you're more sober (depending on your tailgate-edness) ...
Second half ... it's now dark and cold ... and we're sober ...
the game ended with a Michigan State come-from-behind victory over Penn State ... but since Italy beat Scotland earlier (even though I wanted a tie) and the Leafs won 3-0 over the Sens (Sheila texted me the score ... we had to turn down tickets to that game as I'd already committed this game) ... I wasn't too bummed ... it was a very good game and an interesting experience ...
And the crew there was awesome .... One last team meal after the game and it was lights out for me about 5 min after I got back to the hotel room ...
Great times ...