If you have never experienced game day at Michie it's fantastic. Try to be there. But for those planning to attend for the first time I thought I'd pass along some of my impressions as a first timer there last year, minus the actual game analysis.
First, finding your way to Michie from CT is not so straightforward, at least for me. I got a little lost even with GPS assistance. After finding my way, though, and navigating the various side roads approaching the USMA, we came to the armed security guards. All wore BDUs and were obviously armed and ready to go. My son, (a Marine who I visited at Camp Pendleton several times) still found that a bit eye opening. So, my tip to anyone going to the game this weekend is not to do anything that might cause them to pull you over. ;-)
From there, our very short, pre-game tailgate was relatively uneventful, basically eating pre-made subs and drinking a quick beverage. Not ideal. Without parking reservations made for a better lot (another tip), my son and I had to park in the lower lot (maybe the lowest) near the Hudson River and some railroad tracks. All good though, as there were lots of Husky fans there.
However, I noted we had to be several hundred feet of elevation below where I assumed the stadium was. which is not so great when you're trying to unwind from a 2 hr drive from CT and an earlier flight from TX. Luckily, there were shuttle buses nearby to take fans like us to and from the stadium.
Once finally situated in our seats the pre-game activities were awesome with the Corps of Cadets filing into the stadium, the fly overs by the Sikorsky Blackhawks, and the Golden Knights parachute team circling and jumping into the stadium.
Skipping over the actual game, which was horrible, is a final tip. Beware of the big roundabout several miles after you leave the USMA if you're heading south to CT. I literally circled it 4 times, no joke, trying to decide which exit to take. It's 3-4 lanes deep and I somehow got in the innermost lane, so beware. My son was in stitches and couldn't talk after the 3rd time around. I'm sure I short circuited my GPS because she failed to speak again after the 3rd time around.
I hope these tips help and the final score of this week's game is way different this year in favor of the Huskies. Wish I could be there.
