On the Ground: Notre Dame at Michigan

It's 9 a.m., Saturday morning. Your alarm is screaming at you to get up. You had a rough night out but you know you've got to get up. You get to work. People have been partying since 7 o'clock.

You're late.

Everybody's outside -- drinking, screaming, heckling, chanting, eating -- music is blasting from frat house porches. Students are high-fiving senior citizens. Everyone is on the same page. The 114,000-person, typically-quaint city is bustling. This can only mean one thing.

It's Football Saturday in Ann Arbor.

The Scene

There is absolutely nothing like a College Football Saturday. Under no other circumstances would you see 70 year-olds partying with college kids, simultaneously heckling opposing fans. But the tradition of Michigan football brings out the college kid in everyone.

Once noon starts creeping up on you (or 3:30 some weeks), it's time to head down to the Big House. The largest stadium in the U.S., the Big House can squeeze over 110,000 people on game day. You head past the frat bros and sorority girls trying to hang on to the last bits of their parties before the game starts.

After making it through State Street, you hit the corner of Hoover, and see good ol' Rol Jersevic's tailgate. You check his flat-screen HD TV to listen to some college football talk.

All while this is going on, people are chanting “Go Blue” at the top of their lungs, as someone in the crowd rings a cowbell to the perfect tune of the chant. In the midst of the couple hundred thousand people — some of whom won't even go in the stadium — you don't have a ton of room to breathe.

The bongo player, whom you all love, calls out a few people with witty rap lines as they walk by. He makes a few bucks. Finally, after the long walk, you hit the gates of the Big House. You see a few thousand people in front of you, most dressed in maize. You're almost there.

You greet the friendly usher, walk inside and stand on the bleachers. The team comes out to the deafening cheers of the Big House, leaping and tapping the "Go Blue" banner. It's game time in Ann Arbor.

Time to Eat

But wait. You've been dancing, drinking and chanting for hours. You're hungry. Where to eat?

You can stop by Mr. Spots for some wings, or maybe Bell's for some Pizza. It's all on the way to the game, so no need to take time away from the fun. And if you don't get a chance to eat on State Street, you can just wait until you turn the corner onto Hoover. There are stands with burgers, sausages, one-dollar waters and basically anything that can be put on a grill. All delicious, all cheap.

If you were smarter you would've made time for Zingerman's, the best deli in the world, or maybe some Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger. The corned beef and pastrami at Zingerman's is to die for and you can't beat Blimpy Burger's deep-fried onion rings. But they're out of the way. It's game day and you don't want to be late.

Hit the Lights

Night games aren't new to college football. Not even close. But the winningest program in college football history, the team with the biggest stadium in the country, has never hosted a night game.

Go figure.

So when Notre Dame visits Michigan on September 10 for a 7 p.m. start, history will be made. But don't think people will delay their tailgate start times. People will still be out partying at 7 a.m. to prepare for the Irish.

It'll be on all day event.

The Rivalry

Notre Dame is one of Michigan's three big rivals, the other two being Big Ten conference foes Ohio State and Michigan State.

The Wolverines can boast of the most wins to date in college football, but the Fighting Irish are third on that list. Question: What team is second? More on that later.

In a series that began in 1887 with a Michigan blowout victory (it was Notre Dame's first football game) Michigan has the advantage in head-to-head competition, 22-15-1. The Wolverines have also won the last two meetings.

"Notre Dame isn't the biggest game of the year, but that's only because Ohio State-Michigan is the biggest rivalry in all of sports," said Eric Shapiro, a Michigan junior and cowbell ringer. "Notre Dame-Michigan is absolutely insane, no matter how good either team is."

The Matchup

The Fighting Irish are coming off a disappointing 8-5 season, but enter the 2011 season ranked No. 16.

Michigan hopes to emerge from the disappointing Rich Rodriguez era and a buzz surrounds new coach Brady Hoke

"Everyone on campus is excited about Brady Hoke," said Michigan junior Amin Haririnia. "Nobody really liked Rich Rod, but it's different with Hoke. He understands Michigan tradition and even if we aren't great, you know we'll be tough. People could have called us soft under Rich Rod, but they won't under Hoke."

Notre Dame is led by senior quarterback Dayne Crist -- who started nine games in 2010 before a knee ended his year. The Wolverines counter with led by junior quarterback Denard Robinson, a possible Heisman Trophy candidate.

On defense, the Fighting Irish return nine starters. They struggled last season, but they're led by one of the country's top defensive players -- junior linebacker Manti Te'o.

Michigan's defense struggled in 2010 but new defensive coordinator Greg Mattison, who was on the Baltimore Ravens staff last year, will have the services of redshirt senior Troy Woolfolk and redshirt junior J.T. Floyd in the secondary.

And that's a good thing because they will have to contend with Notre Dame senior wideout Michael Floyd -- one of the top receivers in the nation.

Stand Up for Kickoff

Either way, the annual Notre Dame-Michigan matchup is one of the most-hyped games of the year, and rightfully so.

Two of the greatest programs in college football, a town running rampant with maize-clad, partying fans, the first night game in Big House history and a battle with potential bowl-game implications.

"And this year, when both teams should be undefeated, with the game under the lights. It's gonna be nuts," Shapiro said. "I can't wait. Bring 'em on."

Simply awesome.

Trivia answer: Texas