A former Spartan called out Michigan Stadium this week
Michigan State football lost a big-time player to the NCAA transfer portal this past offseason when Derrick Harmon made the move to transfer to the Oregon Ducks.
Despite leaving the MSU program, Harmon had some fan favorite moments with the Spartans and its fans, and this week, ahead of the Ducks game against Michigan, Harmon called out Michigan Stadium.
Harmon noted that the “Big House” is actually a quiet place to play, from his perspective:
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If you’ve ever wondered how Michigan Stadium’s “Big House” nickname came to be, we’ve got you covered.
College football is famous for a very wide variety of things, including the massive crowds on campuses every Saturday. Several college football stadiums have capacities for more than 100,000 people, but no college stadium is bigger than Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor.
But maybe you’re wondering why exactly Michigan Stadium is nicknamed the Big House. The history there is a little unclear since Michigan didn’t hold a formal ceremony or anything for the official nickname, but we have some clues about how it came to be.
The nickname “Big House” was used for Michigan Stadium in a Sept. 13, 1985 Detroit Free Press story, in which Notre Dame running back Allen Pinkett was quoted, “ … I’m looking forward to playing against (Michigan) in the Big House …,” alluding to the then-101,701-seat Michigan Stadium.
It’s unclear whether that was the very first time the moniker was used, but its origins trace back to the 1980s.
Keith Jackson, the retired, legendary broadcaster for ABC Sports, is credited with coining the term “Big House,” but it’s unclear what year he did so. Without question, Jackson popularized the term.
There you go. Maybe it was the Detroit Free Press including a quote, maybe it was locally called the “Big House” and Jackson helped grow the nickname, maybe it’s a combination of those two things along with general college football culture.
During that press conference, among the key quotes Herman had, he spoke on the atmosphere at Spartan Stadium, throwing a small shot at Michigan in the process.
“I just remember, this is no offense to their brothers in Ann Arbor, but that stadium in Ann Arbor holds 40,000 more people, and I thought the one in East Lansing was significantly louder and more disruptive for an offense.”
A note from the Owls’ head coach that will surely bring a smile to Spartan fans faces.
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College football will be here before you know it, and that means anticipation of going to its hallowed stadiums. Among those excited for it are the ESPN writers who cover the sport. To reflect that, ESPN asked 14 of them to rank their top 20 stadiums in order. From there, the top 25 stadiums would be determined.
Notre Dame Stadium comes in at fourth on the list behind LSU’s Tiger Stadium, the Rose Bowl and Michigan Stadium. Adam Rittenberg was given the honor talking about the Irish’s home:
“Since opening in 1930, Notre Dame Stadium has hosted some of college football’s most significant teams, players, coaches and moments. But the venue is known as much for what lies just beyond its northern edge as for what’s inside.
Since fall 1964, the ‘Word of Life’ mural on the university library tower has welcomed ball carriers to the north end zone. Known as ‘Touchdown Jesus,’ the mural depicts Jesus Christ with his arms raised, similar to the touchdown signal. Located a little more than a football field away from the Knute Rockne Gate, where Notre Dame players enter for each game, Touchdown Jesus is visible from a portion of seats in the south part of the stadium and is frequently shown in camera shots of Notre Dame contests.”
All things considered, this was as good a ranking as Notre Dame Stadium could have hoped for. Do you agree, or should it have been higher? But that’s the point of these lists. We debate them until the cows come home, and this should be no exception.
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Fans going to the game are going to experience an unparalleled environment. #GoBlue
Fans who will either be in attendance at The Big House or watching the game on TV will be getting a show unlike they’ve ever seen at Michigan Stadium on Saturday night.
Michigan football will play in its first night game of the season for the Week 3 contest against Bowling Green, and it will do so in style — but not just in style of dress or play.
The Wolverines have a new feature, alongside the new stadium scoreboards, that were installed this offseason: brand new LED lights, which have the ability to change color along with other strobing effects. The effects of which indicate just how much the stadium has moved into modern times, with the likes of other programs such as Georgia and Alabama or even Nebraska and Rutgers.
The Michigan X account, formerly Twitter, released a video showcasing some of the new effects on the eve of the game. Certainly, for the first outing, the Wolverines will be looking to make a strong first impression using the new stadium feature.
If the video matches the game atmosphere, it will be something to behold. It can be used during the entrance, timeouts, after touchdowns, and assuredly other not-as-commonly thought of moments throughout the game. It should not only enhance the gameday atmosphere for fans but make Michigan Stadium that much more of a daunting environment for road teams.
Much ado has been made about Michigan football adding newer, bigger scoreboards for the 2023 season. But another new component hasn’t gotten nearly as much attention.
The new lights.
The Big House didn’t just receiver a scoreboard upgrade, but it also got an upgrade to the LED lights that were installed in 2011. These new lights have a lot more capability than simply illuminating the stadium for night games or late-season games that kick at 3:30 p.m. These ones will be able to dim, change color, be synced with music, and do much more.
And the official Michigan football X account shared a video highlighting some of the new capabilities.
Concurrent with the video release was a press release sharing the functionality of the new LED lights. You can read the full release below:
Michigan Athletics is set to unveil a state-of-the-art LED lighting system at Michigan Stadium, which has been custom designed to improve on-field lighting and visibility, reduce energy consumption, and enhance the overall experience for players and fans.
The LED lighting upgrade replaces the previous HID lights at the Big House, which were installed in 2010 after the addition of new towers on the East and West sides of the stadium. Prior to 2010, Michigan utilized temporary lighting set up in the stadium’s concourse.
”Replacing the original lighting system, which had been in place for well over a decade, with the latest LED technology is an important upgrade to Michigan Stadium,” said Paul Dunlop, Associate Athletic Director for Facility Operations at the University of Michigan. “The new lighting system will use less energy and provide outstanding light coverage for fans in the stadium and those watching at home on TV.”
The new system was custom designed by Musco Lighting and features the company’s TLC for LED® technology, with patented light control capabilities that achieve exceptional uniformity across the field and lower bowl, without creating glare that could negatively impact players and spectators.
In addition to a better playing and viewing experience for those in the stadium, the whiter and cleaner LED lighting also will enhance the broadcast quality for millions of fans watching around the world, creating a greater stage-like television atmosphere and allowing colors to pop throughout the venue.
The new LED system also features Musco’s Show-Light Pro Venue® special effects technology. This will allow for the creation of customized light shows at the Big House, with color-changing fixtures and light-to-music synchronization for a world-class audio/visual entertainment experience.
“Adding the new Musco lighting system provides us with an additional tool to enhance the gameday atmosphere at Michigan Stadium,” said Jake Stocker, Director of Game Presentation & Fan Experience at the University of Michigan. “The ability to use special effects lighting in conjunction with video board content, key game moments, and special performances will create a unique and memorable experience for Michigan football fans of all ages.”
While light levels on the field will increase with the new system in place, one thing that will decrease at Michigan Stadium is energy consumption. In fact, project leaders expect the new LED lighting system to reduce energy consumption by 31 percent compared to the stadium’s previous HID lights.
Michigan Stadium joins other iconic collegiate venues that feature custom LED systems from Musco, including Notre Dame Stadium, USC’s Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium, among others.
“The Big House is a setting unlike any other in the world of college football,” said Jeff Rogers, President of Musco. “Michigan is a long-time partner of Musco’s, dating back to the early 1980s when we first started providing temporary lighting at Michigan Stadium. They have a great team that’s always been excellent to work with, and we couldn’t be more proud to have teamed with them again on this LED upgrade. We’re confident that the players and fans are going to love it.”
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About Musco
Musco has been the world leader in sports lighting since 1976, with innovations in glare reduction and light control responsible to the needs of facility owners, players, fans, neighbors, and the night sky. Musco’s TLC for LED® system technology delivers a level of light control and uniformity that can’t be matched, and is the solution of choice everywhere from neighborhood fields, to major stadiums and arenas, to international superspeedways, to the Olympic Games. Musco backs its LED solutions with a long-term warranty covering parts and labor, eliminating maintenance concerns and costs for customers.
Where do the stadiums of the four new Big Ten teams on the West Coast fit into the Big Ten with stadium capacity? #B1G
The Big Ten has some of the largest, most iconic stadiums not only in college football, but also in the country. From the famed Horseshoe at Ohio State, to Beaver Stadium in Happy Valley at Penn State, to Michigan’s “Big House,” the scenes inside stadiums in the Midwest don’t take a backseat to any other conference. Now, with the addition of four more stadiums with the expansion of Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington, there are other venues to add into the mix.
The conference actually boasts three of the top four largest stadiums in college football — all exceed 100,000 seating capacity, with Ohio Stadium being right there.
The “Ole Horseshoe” on the banks of the Olentangy in Columbus, as the late, famed broadcaster Keith Jackson would say, is a staple of college football. Many used it as a template for their own designs. It was completed in 1922 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service on March 22, 1974.
But there are also those that aren’t massive and venerable and feel more like a large high school atmosphere. Some are more like a bandbox with opposing fans traveling to gobble up what little space there is. Also, what about those stadiums on the West Coast? How do those fit into the equation and atmosphere?
Here is a listing of all 18 Big Ten stadiums after expansion, and their seating capacities for you to impress your friends with should the topic ever arise (and if not, find a way to slide it into the conversation).
Don’t worry, Wolverines fans, your capacity record will remain intact.
After becoming the source of enhanced scrutiny following several incidents during the 2022 season, Michigan is set to begin alterations to its football stadium to widen the field access tunnel. The move is the result of a “thorough safety review” that began after the season, according to MLive.
The tunnel setup at Michigan Stadium — which features one entrance to the field which both teams pass through — placed the school in the national spotlight following a physical altercation between UM and Michigan State players after the Wolverines’ win on Oct. 29. Unsurprisingly, a source told MLive the decision to widen the tunnel came as a direct result of that incident.
In order to widen the tunnel space, Michigan plans to remove 45 seats from the stadium. Those seats will be offset by added standing-room-only areas to maintain the 107,601-person capacity, which is the highest of any stadium in the Western Hemisphere.
Only time will tell if giving coaches and players more space will limit these altercations in the future, but it’s clear the university had to implement some changes to prevent them. And they don’t even have to reduce the capacity of the Big House to do it!
Michigan Stadium has been under scrutiny this season after a couple of incidents.
The Wolverines and Penn State Nittany Lions players were caught jawing in the tunnel during halftime of the game. Worse took place weeks later when Michigan State players were caught fighting a couple of Michigan players in the tunnel following the football game.
According to Aaron McMann of MLive, the University of Michigan plans to remove 45 seats in Section 1 to widen the tunnel access.
By removing 45 seats it will give coaches and players added room to access the tunnel. The hope is with the additional room, it will eliminate further incidents in the tunnel.
A source told MLive this decision stems from a fan, who is now banned from the stadium, touching Michigan State coach Mel Tucker’s head.
We’re told by a source that the decision directly stems from an incident that occurred during Michigan’s Oct. 29 win over in-state rival Michigan State, when a spectator on the north side of the tunnel reached down and came in physical contact with MSU coach Mel Tucker, touching his head. The fan has since been identified and banned from all future games, but the incident is a reminder of potential security flaws inside the stadium at 1201 S. Main Street.
Even though Michigan plans on eliminating 45 seats, the stadium capacity will remain unchanged. The plan is to add standing room only seats to keep the capacity the same.
We will continue to update you with more information when it comes available.
If you’re a fan of college football or early 20th century architecture, come along for a nostalgic visit to these 32 legendary, on-campus stadiums across America. From the Big House in Ann Arbor to an intimate venue like Peden Field in Athens, Ohio, …
If you’re a fan of college football or early 20th century architecture, come along for a nostalgic visit to these 32 legendary, on-campus stadiums across America. From the Big House in Ann Arbor to an intimate venue like Peden Field in Athens, Ohio, these stadiums hark back to the Golden Age of American sports.
Put these oldest college stadiums on your bucket list, load up the SUV and catch a college game in one of these iconic venues.
32. Sanford Stadium, University of Georgia (1929)
Sanford Stadium — Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Dedicated on October 12, 1929, when Georgia hosted Yale, Sanford Stadium is known for its numerous architecturally pleasing expansions that have been carefully planned to fit with its existing “look”. 92,746 watch games played “Between the Hedges”, the privet hedges surrounding the field. The sacred hedges were removed in 1996 to accommodate the Olympic soccer competition.
31. Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium, Duke University (1929)
Dedicated October 5, 1929, Wallace Wade seats 40,000. Originally named Duke Stadium, it was renamed in 1967 for football coach Wallace Wade. A just completed major renovation greatly modernized the stadium. The stadium was the site of the 1942 Rose Bowl, weeks after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
30. Kinnick Stadium, University of Iowa (1929)
Formerly known as Iowa Stadium, Kinnick Stadium opened October 5, 1929. It currently holds 69,250 people. The stadium was renamed in 1972 for Nile Kinnick, the 1939 Heisman Trophy winner, who died in service to his country in World War II.
29. Peden Stadium, Ohio University (1929)
Situated on the banks of the scenic Hocking River in Athens, Peden Stadium has been the home of the Bobcats since October 2, 1929. Today, it has a capacity of 24,000 and is the oldest football venue in the Mid-American Conference.
28. Kenan Stadium, University of North Carolina (1927)
Kenan Stadium opened on November 12, 1927. Built at a cost of $303,000 with a seating capacity of 24,000, the stadium today holds 51,000. Set among the pine trees of south campus, it is one of the most scenic stadiums in the South.
27. Kyle Field, Texas A&M University (1927)
Kyle Field has been home to the Aggies in rudimentary form since 1904, and as a complete stadium since October 24, 1927. “Home of the 12th Man,” it seats 102,733, largest in the SEC. In 2014, Kyle Field’s hosted the largest attended SEC and state of Texas football game, when 110,631 witnessed Texas A&M’s loss to Ole Miss.
26. Michigan Stadium, University of Michigan (1927)
Known as “The Big House”, Michigan Stadium was dedicated in October 1, 1927. It is the largest stadium in the United States and third largest in the world. Its official capacity is 107,601, but it has hosted crowds in excess of 115,000.
25. Ryan Field, Northwestern University (1926)
Home of the Wildcats since October 2, 1926, Ryan Field holds 47,130 people. Prior to 1997, the stadium was named Dyche Stadium, for William Dyche, Class of 1882. It was renamed in honor of the family of Patrick G. Ryan, in recognition of the family’s contributions to Northwestern.
24. Faurot Field At Memorial Stadium, University of Missouri (1926)
71,168 capacity Memorial Stadium opened October 2, 1926 as a 25,000-seat, single level, horseshoe stadium. The original horseshoe is completed by a grass berm, famous for the giant block “M” made of painted white stones behind the endzone. In 1972, the playing surface was named Faurot Field in honor of longtime coach Don Faurot.
23. Nippert Stadium, University of Cincinnati (1924)
Home to the Bearcats in rudimentary form since 1901, and as a complete stadium since September 27, 1924, Nippert Stadium seats 40,000 fans.
22. Michie Stadium, US Military Academy (1924)
Michie Stadium, the home of the Army Black Knights, opened in 1924 and seats 38,000. Because of the view offered by its location overlooking the Hudson River and the medieval-style campus below, it is one of the nation’s most scenic sport venues.
21. Darrell K. Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium, University of Texas (1924)
Memorial Stadium has been home to the Longhorns since November 27, 1924. The current capacity of 100,119 makes the stadium the second largest in the state of Texas, the largest in the Big 12, eighth largest stadium in the United States, and the 11th largest in the world.
