How many Xavier fans attended Michigan? Did you hear us on TV?

[Snipe]

I was impressed at the showing. Muskie Nation was in full force.

I thought that Crisler Arena was top notch, and even our rafter seats were excellent. It was a great Arena to watch a game, and my kids loved it too. I liked that thing they did with everyone's cell phones during the introduction. I think it would be fun to try that at the Cintas. Cool effect and it gets the crowd involved. To those that were not there, they turned down the lights and they had all their fans turn on the light on their cell phones and wave them around. It is the equivalent of the old school effect of people lighting their lighters at a concert, but it was much cooler. I haven't been at an event where this is done, so the first time seeing it was inspiring.

To the people that watched on TV or listened on the radio, did you hear the Xavier crowd? Did the announcers ever address or talk about the Muskie Nation in attendance? Sitting in the seats with them it felt like we were loud as hell.

To the people that scalped prime seats down low at the game, how loud were the masses in the rafters? Were we loud and clear and as loud as we thought we were?

To the people who were at the game, how many Xavier fans do you think were in attendance? I won't try to lead anyone else with my ideas, I would like your honest opinion.

We had fans throughout the whole arena, but large clusters were in the rafters behind one of the baskets. It was a loud and vocal group of fans.

It really hit me during half time, because the concourse behind the baseline where the Xavier fans were clustered was flooded with Xavier fans, and they seemed to outnumber the Michigan fans in the concourse behind the basket. It was hard to believe the numbers and I was proud to be a Xavier fan.

Regrettably I was unable to make the pregame meet up at the Sheraton. I would imagine that went very well and was well attended. I had a friend who got in around 4 and went into town to pregame and said the bar he was at was packed with Xavier fans.

Hats off to Muskie nation.

Tell me what you think gentlemen. How many fans did we put in Crisler Arena?

[xu82]

I really didn't notice the X contingent while watching the game live. I was too wrapped up in watching the floor and the score. I re-watched much of the game this morning after reading some comments here, and it was very clear that the crowd noise rose with the big shots made in crucial situations. The crowd roared for both teams. Not quite a neutral site feeling, but a very good showing for Xavier Nation.

[Backyard Champ]

I was very impressed watching live. Had a similar feel to an NCAA game, hearing loud cheering for both teams.

[XMuskieFTW]

I was down right next to the court(opposite side of where all the X fans up top were) and I heard let's go X chants probably about 20 times. They were very audible. I'd say half the time they were louder than the student section cheering at the same time and they were much much closer to me. The last ten minutes were awesome. At that point it was more a home game than an away game in terms of cheering and you could see the X student section bouncing and really into it. The overall attendance of the game was about 12k and I'd probably guesstimate that we had 800-1000 there. I saw the AD said we had about 600, but I feel like that didn't take into account a lot of the X fans who bought tickets on their own/didn't attend the pregame. Overall I think X fans had a really great showing for an away game and we made our presence known.

[OTRMUSKIE]

Their Arena is top notch!!! I hope X does some of things they did. Love the hand dryers and bathrooms were very nice. X doesn't have Michigan money but I hope X does some very nice upgrades. Love the light on phone thing. X needs to copy that. I thought X had 300 fans so hearing that there were 600 there is great. Had a blast although I thought the bar scene on Main Street was avg. Went to the Arena and it was okay. Overall great trip.

[WCWIII]

Was sitting right behind Michigan students in the center section ... I almost wished I didn't buy these seats at a premium because the Xavier fans were very loud and were into the game. "Let's go Xavier" multiple times started from multiple locations. I watched the replay and you could definitely hear the chants on the broadcast as well. It looked like Xavier nation owned the upper section behind the basket and then about the last 3-4 rows of all the sections up top. Good smattering of Xavier fans in the lower sections as well. 600+ is probably a good estimate, but they sounded like a 1000+. Walking through the concourse, it felt like the Big East tournament with a chance to exchange a "Go X!" or flash an "X" sign with fans everywhere.

Now, on the road, to hear the Xavier crowd chant "Defense X, defense" from the rafters was telling about how loud and how into the game everyone was. Then the "Hey hey ... goodbye" as the Michigan fans started to leave early to beat the traffic. Well done Xavier nation! Made the 6.5 hour snow-ridden drive back to Chicago worth it.

Speaking of Chicago ... put Jan 30 at DePaul on your calendars ... Xavier nation could actually make it a home game!

[X-Fan]

I was impressed at the showing. Muskie Nation was in full force.

I thought that Crisler Arena was top notch, and even our rafter seats were excellent. It was a great Arena to watch a game, and my kids loved it too. I liked that thing they did with everyone's cell phones during the introduction. I think it would be fun to try that at the Cintas. Cool effect and it gets the crowd involved. To those that were not there, they turned down the lights and they had all their fans turn on the light on their cell phones and wave them around. It is the equivalent of the old school effect of people lighting their lighters at a concert, but it was much cooler. I haven't been at an event where this is done, so the first time seeing it was inspiring.

To the people that watched on TV or listened on the radio, did you hear the Xavier crowd? Did the announcers ever address or talk about the Muskie Nation in attendance? Sitting in the seats with them it felt like we were loud as hell.

To the people that scalped prime seats down low at the game, how loud were the masses in the rafters? Were we loud and clear and as loud as we thought we were?

To the people who were at the game, how many Xavier fans do you think were in attendance? I won't try to lead anyone else with my ideas, I would like your honest opinion.

We had fans throughout the whole arena, but large clusters were in the rafters behind one of the baskets. It was a loud and vocal group of fans.

It really hit me during half time, because the concourse behind the baseline where the Xavier fans were clustered was flooded with Xavier fans, and they seemed to outnumber the Michigan fans in the concourse behind the basket. It was hard to believe the numbers and I was proud to be a Xavier fan.

Regrettably I was unable to make the pregame meet up at the Sheraton. I would imagine that went very well and was well attended. I had a friend who got in around 4 and went into town to pregame and said the bar he was at was packed with Xavier fans.

Hats off to Muskie nation.

Tell me what you think gentlemen. How many fans did we put in Crisler Arena?

I was in row 17 behind the basket where Jalen "flexed" and you could definitely hear the Xavier fans. The Lets Go X chants were noticed by the Michigan contingent around me, and the X fan eruption after the last dagger 3 was LOUD!

I attended with my good buddy who is a lifelong Michigan fan, but also a Xavier fan because of our friendship. So my celebration was pretty tame. I just let the guys do the talking.

Crisler is really nice. They did a MAJOR renovation a few years ago that was BADLY needed. The entire team shop, digital center, and escalators were added. The concourse was just concrete and beams. It was bad.

I agree with others, looked like X had at least 600 fans there. I think that really took Michigan fans by surprise.

[XU 87]

I guesstimated we had 1000 fans there, but that's a total guess. Under the circumstances, there were a lot of XU fans at the game.

And very loud XU fans. It was great at the end when the UM fans were leaving before the game was over and the XU fans, very loudly, started chanting the "Hey, Hey, Good-bye" song. This was followed by a very loud "Let's go X" cheer in the arena lobby after the game. XU 2022 commented to me, "I've never seen anything like this at Cintas from the other fans."

This was then followed by XU 2022 and I closing the Brown Jug bar, with numerous other XU fans. (Don't tell XU 2022's mother about that.) But I think there more XU people out than UM people at that fine establishment.

Well done XU fans.

[Porkopolis]

I watched on tv and thought you were very loud from the outset. Very nice showing by our travelling fans.

[XUGRAD80]

I watched the TV, and listened to the radio. Could hear the fans on the radio, and saw many in the stands on the TV......who's the guy with the X wrestling mask that was sitting in the Michigan student section? Priceless!........especially at the end of the game, you could really hear the "Let's Go X!" chant. I was empressed by the Michigan student section, as well. I love the way they are not just down in one of the end zone areas, but are all along the court. I know that X would never do that, but I still like that setup better.

X was represented well....Kudos to the fans thst attended!

[vee4xu]

My brother (who wasn't at the game) told me that someone who was there told him that the Meecchhigan fans were complaining that the X fans were cheering too loudly. Really? Tell your team to play better. That'll quiet the visiting team's fans. Glad the Muskie nation showed up and cheered LOUDLY!!!

[D-West & PO-Z]

I was in 134, X fans were really loud. Loved it, I guess 1,000 fans.

The Crisler Arena is awesome, top notch. Michigan has more money than they know what to do with. Plush cushion seats throughout arena, tons of food options, xbox kinect TVs for kids to play games, nicest ushers I've ever met. Their fans were great too. Awesome experience.

[D-West & PO-Z]

My brother (who wasn't at the game) told me that someone who was there told him that the Meecchhigan fans were complaining that the X fans were cheering too loudly. Really? Tell your team to play better. That'll quiet the visiting team's fans. Glad the Muskie nation showed up and cheered LOUDLY!!!

I had nothing but nice exchanges with all of their fans.

[vee4xu]

I had nothing but nice exchanges with all of their fans.

That's good. Happy to hear it. Evidently, not everyone had a similar experience. The guy I'm talking about who had the experience is someone who works for X and that I personally know very well. So, I have no reason to doubt him. But, again, glad you had a great experience.

[D-West & PO-Z]

That's good. Happy to hear it. Evidently, not everyone had a similar experience. The guy I'm talking about who had the experience is someone who works for X and that I personally know very well. So, I have no reason to doubt him. But, again, glad you had a great experience.

Yeah I am not saying he didnt. Just sharing my experience. I interacted with quite a few fans and they were all great. There is always some though who are going to be rude, or asses, or just not friendly.

[OH.X.MI]

I did get into a verbal altercation with some Michigan fans. I was being pretty loud, but I thought respectful. Didn't curse or anything like that. A woman in front of me did not appreciate the noise and kind of went nuts on me. Then my friend, a Michigan alum, ended up getting into an argument with other Michigan fans around us about the incident. We had to talk with the usher for a bit. Ended up voluntarily moving from our seats to the very top of the stadium.

It was unfortunate, but it happens.

[paulxu]

With the one exception noted above, this thread seems full of great experiences....from opposing fans, to fellow X fans, to arena experience, even to great ushers (?!!).

Contrast this with what you've ever read about making just the short drive 50 miles north on I-75, and that arena experience.

Incredible.

[xu82]

With the one exception noted above, this thread seems full of great experiences....from opposing fans, to fellow X fans, to arena experience, even to great ushers (?!!).

Contrast this with what you've ever read about making just the short drive 50 miles north on I-75, and that arena experience.

Incredible.



Well, we only thrashed Michigan once. They might get sick of it too, given enough time. :)

[George1294]

We went to the game, We had dinner at the Brown Jug. I think there were 1000 Xavier fans at the bar in the Brown Jug.

[muskienick]

I thought that AD Christopher said in a post-game interview that there were 800 XU fans at the game. Perhaps that's how many tickets he was aware went to XU fans, but there might have been more than that sitting in areas where UM fans sold their tickets to XU folks as well. (That always happens in away venues.

[Emp]

I was at the 81 NIT game at crisler (Antoine Joubert & Co.). Much better showing on and off the court this time. In this instance bussing students seems to be a very good idea. Students were leading the cheering, and even us geezers were making some noise. It's an amazing tribal experience to be cheering en masse for your team in an away venue.

Snipe and I agree (again!) about the cell phone visuals. Lots of potential for a lit up X in the student section during player intros at Cintas.

No one addressing the absence of beer sales. Ohio state has just gone to wider beer sales at the schottenstein center ( previously only at club level), so it isn't a B1G rule. I would have enjoyed a cold one at the half.

Trying to remember a more satisfying true road win I've attended (tourney and neutral site games excepted.) Some fun wins at Hinkle come to mind, but Friday night was special, being a native Michigander.

[muskiefan82]

I was at the 81 NIT game at crisler (Antoine Joubert & Co.). Much better showing on and off the court this time. In this instance bussing students seems to be a very good idea. Students were leading the cheering, and even us geezers were making some noise. It's an amazing tribal experience to be cheering en masse for your team in an away venue.

Snipe and I agree (again!) about the cell phone visuals. Lots of potential for a lit up X in the student section during player intros at Cintas.

No one addressing the absence of beer sales. Ohio state has just gone to wider beer sales at the schottenstein center ( previously only at club level), so it isn't a B1G rule. I would have enjoyed a cold one at the half.

Trying to remember a more satisfying true road win I've attended (tourney and neutral site games excepted.) Some fun wins at Hinkle come to mind, but Friday night was special, being a native Michigander.

Do you mean the 1984 NIT game when we got homered and lost be one? Friday night was so deserved for X fans who remember that game.

[OH.X.MI]

[QUOTE=Emp;519683]
No one addressing the absence of beer sales. Ohio state has just gone to wider beer sales at the schottenstein center ( previously only at club level), so it isn't a B1G rule. I would have enjoyed a cold one at the half. [QUOTE]

I think that's due to Michigan law. Went to see U2 at MSU's football stadium a few years ago was shocked they didn't serve beer. But also went to the Winter Classic at the Big House and they did sell beer. I believe public universities get a limited number of licenses to sell on campus per year and they cannot be used for university sporting events, but that's what I've heard second hand.

[ammtd34]

The away contingent sounded great on television, especially after the last media timeout when Michigan fans started leaving.

[bleedXblue]

So a douche bag Michigan fan yells at me as he's leaving his seat and headed out with 2:00 minutes to go , "good luck with Villanova". I responded back with, "good luck with Rutgers"!!! I actually got a few laughs out of a few Michigan fans.

[Emp]

Do you mean the 1984 NIT game when we got homered and lost be one? Friday night was so deserved for X fans who remember that game.

Ha! Remembered the game, not the date.

I grow old, I grow old,
I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled.

[X-band '01]

Had to be 1984 - Xavier had beaten Ohio State that year in the NIT but fell short up at Michigan. I do get a kick out of Emp mentioning Antoine Joubert (no Roy Tarpley shoutout?) - I wouldn't have recognized the name had I never read A Season On The Brink.

[Masterofreality]

So a douche bag Michigan fan yells at me as he's leaving his seat and headed out with 2:00 minutes to go , "good luck with Villanova". I responded back with, "good luck with Rutgers"!!! I actually got a few laughs out of a few Michigan fans.

Classic!! Nice job out of you, Bleed!!

[Emp]

Had to be 1984 - Xavier had beaten Ohio State that year in the NIT but fell short up at Michigan. I do get a kick out of Emp mentioning Antoine Joubert (no Roy Tarpley shoutout?) - I wouldn't have recognized the name had I never read A Season On The Brink.

Joubert was supposed to be the second coming of Cazzie Russell. Huge disappointment. Since memory fails me often, I seemed to recall that Crisler was not even close to sold out for that game. That win vs Ohio State at the Gardens was a huge boost for Xavier fandom. I was behind the basket, ecstatic with the win.

[muskiefan82]

Who knew then that our NIT schedule of Nebraska, Ohio State, and Michigan would be an all Big Ten schedule 30 years later.

[Snipe]

For the record I originally thought the number of Xavier fans was well over a thousand. Perhaps the Xavier AD gave the number that Xavier sold to fans. I couldn't get tickets through X because they told me there was a two ticket limit because demand was so high. I think a lot of people bought them through Michigan. I wonder how many people on this board that went actually bought their tickets through Xavier.

It is tough to judge though. I was in 210. We were loud but not even close to the biggest Xavier section. But the last 5 rows were packed with Xavier fans. When they all get up and yell it seems like a heard, but they have 15 seats in a row and even if they were all X fans that is only 75 fans in 210. As the fans got louder I wondered if our numbers were approaching closer to 2k than 1k, but in sober reflection that may be wishful thinking.

But honestly, if Christopher sold hundreds from X I could see us doubling the number that the University was alloted. There were Xavier fans in large pockets all over the rafters, and in smaller pockets all throughout the arena.

I have to say, I love sitting with loud Xavier fans. On the road you represent! That was a blast. We almost went with some better tickets down low that somebody was dumping in the 6th row right at game time. We were scalping our tickets out front when they flashed open on my phone and almost went for them. We ended up getting 4 tickets for $75 in the rafters, and we were part of a large block of Xavier fans. Being with fans made those seats so much better, I couldn't have imagined being anywhere else. The last 5 rows of a section can completely take over a section.

Have to agree with Emp about what a great road game experience that was outside of NCAA play it may be tops for me too. Great atmosphere and a fantastic win with an incredible showing from Xavier Nation. I knew if I wanted to see X play in Ann Arbor this would be my only chance ever. Their coach knows what it is like to play at Xavier. I can't see them ever signing a home and home with them. No doubt I would be all for it, and Cincinnati would be a fun road trip for Michigan fans as well, and they have plenty of Alums in town.

I hope this Big East vs Big Ten series is considered a success and that we do this for years. I would love to host some of the big names of the Big Ten that would never agree to play us home and homes, and I would like to see a few more arenas. It is cool when my kids see a Michigan game on TV now they will think that they were at Crisler Arena.

[Masterofreality]

For the record I originally thought the number of Xavier fans was well over a thousand. Perhaps the Xavier AD gave the number that Xavier sold to fans. I couldn't get tickets through X because they told me there was a two ticket limit because demand was so high. I think a lot of people bought them through Michigan. I wonder how many people on this board that went actually bought their tickets through Xavier.

It is tough to judge though. I was in 210. We were loud but not even close to the biggest Xavier section. But the last 5 rows were packed with Xavier fans. When they all get up and yell it seems like a heard, but they have 15 seats in a row and even if they were all X fans that is only 75 fans in 210. As the fans got louder I wondered if our numbers were approaching closer to 2k than 1k, but in sober reflection that may be wishful thinking.

But honestly, if Christopher sold hundreds from X I could see us doubling the number that the University was alloted. There were Xavier fans in large pockets all over the rafters, and in smaller pockets all throughout the arena.

I have to say, I love sitting with loud Xavier fans. On the road you represent! That was a blast. We almost went with some better tickets down low that somebody was dumping in the 6th row right at game time. We were scalping our tickets out front when they flashed open on my phone and almost went for them. We ended up getting 4 tickets for $75 in the rafters, and we were part of a large block of Xavier fans. Being with fans made those seats so much better, I couldn't have imagined being anywhere else. The last 5 rows of a section can completely take over a section.

Have to agree with Emp about what a great road game experience that was outside of NCAA play it may be tops for me too. Great atmosphere and a fantastic win with an incredible showing from Xavier Nation. I knew if I wanted to see X play in Ann Arbor this would be my only chance ever. Their coach knows what it is like to play at Xavier. I can't see them ever signing a home and home with them. No doubt I would be all for it, and Cincinnati would be a fun road trip for Michigan fans as well, and they have plenty of Alums in town.

I hope this Big East vs Big Ten series is considered a success and that we do this for years. I would love to host some of the big names of the Big Ten that would never agree to play us home and homes, and I would like to see a few more arenas. It is cool when my kids see a Michigan game on TV now they will think that they were at Crisler Arena.

Atta boy Snipe. Nice that you dragged Freddy Garvin along too. I'm sure he needed something to do. :laugh: