Field Pass with Richard Retyi: Illinois
11/6/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
By Richard Retyi
The Return of the Evil Ohio Bobcat
The Michigan Marching Band put on a Wizard of Oz themed halftime show with a few notable additions. One of these was a reenactment of the infamous Ohio Bobcat tackle on Brutus the Buckeye earlier in the season. Playing the role of the Bobcat was Michigan sophomore euphonium player Kayla MacLennan.
"We got an open email asking for volunteers to play roles in the halftime show," MacLennan told me. "I would have been anything, but I was chosen to play the bobcat. My housemates helped me with tackle drills -- I didn't know I had to use my arms so much. It was so exciting! I didn't think I'd ever get the chance to play football in the Big House. Look at me now!"
Brutus was unavailable for comment. And by the way, euphonium is a brass instrument.
The Cold, the Cold, the Cold
Players on both sides of the ball are tougher than me and you and most of your friends, but what about the rest of us in Michigan Stadium who had to contend with November's chill in the first half? Temperatures lingered in the low 40s until the sun came out in the second half. Before the thaw, I asked a few people in the Big House how they're dealing with the first cold game of the year.
Melanie Maxwell (AnnArbor.com Photographer): "I wear a lot of layers -- five layers today, plus tights under my jeans. I also have some special socks I bought at T.J. Maxx. I only wear one pair of gloves, which can be a problem because my equipment gets really cold. Rain is a lot worse than cold. It's cold today, but it's a lot better than rain or it being 95 degrees."
Rachel Wehner and Betsy Donhue (Michigan Dance Team): "We wear a lot of layers (Rachel three, Betsy four) because our uniforms aren't too warm. We put hand warmers in our shoes too. We're moving a lot so we stay pretty warm except for our noses. Today isn't so bad. It might be a different story at the Big Chill at the Big House."
David Kazmierski (University of Michigan Junior, Economics): "I'm wearing two Under Armour shirts, leggings and shorts under my jeans. Today is nothing compared to the Northwestern game two years ago. Under Armour doesn't protect against rain."
Chris Less (Freshman on the Michigan Drum Line): "We're not allowed to wear gloves so our hands can get pretty cold, which makes drumming a little tougher. We've got hand warmers and today it isn't that cold, so we're in good shape."
The Heaters so Hot They Melt Pants
Today marked the debut of sideline heaters spewing warmth behind the team benches. Like fat jet engines, the bazooka-shaped heating elements rumbled continuously, glowing orange and belching flames. They each pumped out 175,000 BTUs. One BTU equals the heat generated from a single wooden match so imagine the heat from a pretty big box of matches. Last year, a Michigan manager got a little too close to the business end of the heater and his pant leg melted.
For Equipment Geeks Only
Spotted on the Michigan sideline: PRO-STIX shoulder pad tape. The cloth-based tape adheres jerseys to shoulder pads making it difficult for opponents to grab hold of Wolverine shoulders. The baby blue tape pads look like giant band-aids and come in 10 packs.
Seen and Overheard on the Field
• Almost to a man, the Michigan offensive line and tight ends went with bare arms for the game. They also decided to start growing mustaches. Most majestic -- Stephen Schilling. Most jarring -- John Ferrara. David Molk opted out of the pact. "I can't grow great facial hair," he said in the locker room after the game.
• Illinois players sat on blue plastic chairs rather than the standard team benches, presumably because the metal benches were colder. At times it looked like they were attended a weird outdoor seminar.
• Fighter pilots have the coolest patches. Lucky Devils. Fighting Falcons. Devil Cats. Swamp Fox. So much cooler than Brownies!
A Michigan flag bearer coming off the field after the pregame ceremony honoring the military: "How many times are they going to make me cry during pregame this season?"
