John U. Bacon on Walmart Wolverines
Interesting read on Michigan fandom. Being that I am a "walmart" Wolverine because I went to NMU, I found the article echoed many sentiments on this blog, most folks on this site do not care where you went to school, which I appreciate. I feel like the only people I ever hear walverine from are folks from MSU.
From the article: The argument goes that only those who attended Michigan can call themselves Michigan fans. The rest? They’re mere “Walmart Wolverines”—fans who could have picked any school to cheer for, as well as any other, just like we pick the pro teams we want to follow, with no other connection than geography.
Link to article: http://johnubacon.com/2014/03/whos-a-real-michigan-fan-and-who-isnt/
Happy Friday and GO BLUE!
Sparty is just mad that their bandwagon fans are all That Guy from high school who talks a big game but can't muster the effort to pass community college.
I haven't heard the term "Walmart Wolverine" in ages. Side benefit of a virtually Sparty-proof industry.
let me guess... a white collar industry?
March 28th, 2014 at 10:22 AM ^
Space.
EDIT: Spaaaace
Have you no cafeteria staff (School of Hospitality Business) or security guards (School of Criminal Justice)?
March 28th, 2014 at 10:21 AM ^
But I'm on the east coast, not in Michigan. That cleans up the last of the stragglers. Sparty recruiting may span the galaxy, but their grads certainly do not.
not only pisses me off, but confuses the hell out of me.
First of all, when people who have no attachment to either msu or UM and choose to be fans of UM by choice simply pisses off sparty...which makes me happy. But then they turn around and criticize that person's fandom.
No, I didn't go to Michigan, but my dad and one of my brothers did and I had been going to UM football games since I was 5. That's where my fandom started...I loved the school since I can remember. Someone please tell me why this is viewed as some sort of bandwagon jumping?
Of course I would want to go to UM at such a young age as many young kids do, but it never worked out for me because I knew I wanted to swim in college. UM's swim team, even then, was very good. I instead got into the AF Academy and I don't think anyone can infer that if I can handle the academics at AFA that I couldn't handle them at UM. So hearing that "I couldn't get in there, but still a fan is wrong" argument pisses me off further.
So after a lot of thought, I've concluded that the term Walmart Wolverine is simply out of pure jealousy. Nothing less, and its because they can't handle that folks who didn't go to either school choose to support Michigan.
I am assuming you served our country not only in the academy but after graduation in the Air Force! My dad was in the Air Force and proudly served his country! Thank you for your dedication and sacrifice to our country!
Go Blue
And loved every minute of it.
Much appreciated, brother!
I went to GVSU, but I have been a Michigan fan all of my life. I would have loved to have had the opportunity to attend the University of Michigan. Unfortunately with my grades in high school I was unable to get in. It has always made me a little gun shy about wearing Michigan stuff because I get the inevitable "did you go there?" "well then why are you a fan?" question. It always makes me squirm, but to hear alumni embrace the other fans (which shouldn't have been a surprise) really makes me happy to be a Michigan fan. Classy people.
March 28th, 2014 at 10:03 AM ^
I, too, did not attend the University of Michigan and don't give a shit when MSU fans call me a Wal-Mart Wolverine. They fail to realize that their own fan base has fans who didn't attend MSU also. The OP is right, though, as they seem to be the only people in the world who think people cannot be fans of a team unless they went to school there, which is the most asinine thing I have ever heard in my life.
Actually I think the exact opposite is true. The reason the Spartans use the term as an insult is BECAUSE there are so few Spartan fans that didnt attend school there or have a direct connection to the school itself.
Michigan is a national brand and draws fans from EVERYWHERE (even down here in Ohio) and State does not. And that drives them insane.
An excellent point. I live in the Cleveland area as you do and there are TONS of M fans here.
March 28th, 2014 at 10:25 AM ^
I hate Walmart. Hate their business model. I refuse to shop there.
/hangs head in shame
"They care about one thing: Can you sing “The Victors”? If you know when to throw your fist in the air, you’re in."
Pretty much this. I did go to Michigan, but the "Michigan Family" in my mind basically starts with what Bacon says right there. Michigan Stadium is, as he says, the front porch of one of the world's greatest universities, but to me, if you're donning the maize and blue, you're welcome.
March 28th, 2014 at 10:48 AM ^
Because of these results of course larger percentages of the general public will side with Michigan before MSU. For their whole lives (essentially) Michigan had the reputation as an elite program while Sparty was so-so. If I had to guess, if one where to poll middle schoolers in another couple years, more of those students will tend to side with state because the success they have had during their lives.
The sad fact is that MSU has to resort to these tactics because their fan base can not be as large as Michigan's because they have played their rival for a century and have only been victorious every one out of three attempts. They have been doubled up.
Could it change? Yes, possibly. Overnight? Not in the next thirty years.
Winning makes a fan base grow.
Everyone's welcome. It's a big pool.
I'm a Michigan alum, married to a Michigan alum, and parent of Michigan alums. I love the school and its traditions.
But I'm also the son of parents who didn't attend Michigan but still loved the school, took me to games, and showed me the way.
If you work in the state of Michigan don't you pay taxes that go to help support the University of Michigan? If your money is going to support the school, shouldn't that give you a right to follow and cheer for that school?
(Just one more reason why the Walmart things is so stupid)
I'm more of a Trader Joe's Spartan.
That's a cool store.
March 28th, 2014 at 10:09 AM ^
to hear your input on this whole thing...
March 28th, 2014 at 10:28 AM ^
I think it's dumb and a huge non-issue. Fans can root for whoever they want...why should it bother anybody?
What I do have a problem with is when academics are brought up by the so-called "Walmart Wolverines" like if Oakland University grad, Michigan fan guy goes "If you can't get into college, go to state....dur dur dur hurrrr".....of course no offense meant to my Golden Grizzly friends.
March 28th, 2014 at 10:31 AM ^
As the brother of two sisters who went to State, and are quite intelligent, I'm always curious to hear from another non UM alum's perspective. Fact is, when you take a look at how all B1G schools rate nationally, criticizing academics across the board is a big waste of time. The conference is pretty strong top to bottom academically.
March 28th, 2014 at 10:46 AM ^
You're right. 12 B1G schools are ranked top-100 reputation in the world. Think about that for a second. Our little conference has 12 of the top-100 universities in the WORLD.
March 28th, 2014 at 12:01 PM ^
I live in state with public schools that aren't particularly good. If you dropped any of the Big Ten schools here, it would immediately be the flagship, elite public university in the state. So when we pick on each other inside of the Big Ten I chuckle, but if an SEC fans says anything about the Big Ten I just say "Shut it. All of our schools are better than yours ya moran"
March 28th, 2014 at 10:38 AM ^
Stranger things have happened, I guess.
I agree wholeheartedly. I'm a Michigan grad who's gotten razzed by Notre Dame fans on the academic front despite these fans being nothing more than Indiana residents. Compounding stupidity, I call it.
I generally use the academic jabs as easy button-pushers rather than "serious" trash talk. The Big Ten is academic sex (behind only the Ivy League) and the gap down to the next conference is rather hefty.
March 28th, 2014 at 11:53 AM ^
GoBlogSparty is good people
March 28th, 2014 at 12:10 PM ^
I am confounded they point to one ranking (which we are not separated by some chasm) and hoist themselves into Ivy League like self-adoration in comparison to us. Nonces.
March 28th, 2014 at 10:43 AM ^
March 28th, 2014 at 10:49 AM ^
LOL your signature.......so timely.
March 28th, 2014 at 10:51 AM ^
The neighborhood.
Seriously, though, Trader Joe's is awesome.
March 28th, 2014 at 10:01 AM ^
Because that makes perfect sense.
March 28th, 2014 at 12:33 PM ^
Sorry. You can tell them so when you're paying them for your lawn care servce.
March 28th, 2014 at 10:03 AM ^
Does Salvation Army Spartan sound good. Not for the people who didn't go there, who are probably better off. But the majority who did.
March 28th, 2014 at 10:04 AM ^
Look, non-alum fans exist at all schools but Michigan haters (not lovers) are the only ones who use the term "walmart wolverine". I might snicker at someone from rural Michigan, wearing a jacked up gas station "BIG HOUSE" t-shirt, but that's because I'm a snob. I don't mind at all that they're fans. They might not have good taste in all things, but they do have good taste in their choice of fandom and that should be praised.
Cool story time....I had an employee who was a rabid anti-Michigan goofball who constantly complained about "walmart wolverines". He cheered for MSU as if his family built the campus with their own hands, claimed ND as his absolute favorite and was an alum of...wait for it...Western Michigan. I asked if he saw the irony in complaining about walmart wolverines while being the exact same type of fan (for both MSU and ND). He did not, but that's likely because he wasn't smart enough to go to Michigan. [Oh snap. Michigan difference. So arrogant but I love it.]
March 28th, 2014 at 10:50 AM ^
Arrogance is not a becoming trait. Oh, and no one gives a shit if you graduated from Michigan, Go Broncos! Lots of people got accepted by UofM and chose to go elsewhere...and when I was visiting campus recently the level of arrogance and douchery has not dimished at all since you have been there, you can rest assured....
March 28th, 2014 at 11:07 AM ^
If you take the MSMooers at face value, 90% of the MSU student body applied to Michigan, was accepted, and choose to go to State. Again, that's taking them at face value...your choice.
March 28th, 2014 at 12:17 PM ^
Arrogance is fine (though I'm mostly just goofing). That said, I can't imagine how a campus visit would reveal a high level of "arrogance and douchery". No one cares if you went to Western, Harvard or Texas Tech. It's a lot more likely that some personal insecurties left you with an impression that others looked down on you.
I'm sure lots of folks get accepted to UofM and choose to go elsewhere, but let's be honest, the majority of such people probably went to somewhere like Stanford/UNC/UVA more so than a school with a lesser academic reputation.
p.s. Plenty of folks care about where people graduated. They're generally called employers.
p.p.s. I wasn't making fun of Western; I was simply pointing out the irony that a guy complaining about "walmart wolverines" was a guy who vocally cheered for MSU & ND even though we went to Western.
March 28th, 2014 at 10:06 AM ^
March 28th, 2014 at 10:11 AM ^
in the opening bars. You'd think that MSU fans would be sad that the general public IDs more with Michigan than with them. You'd also think that a school that mocks Michigan and Ann Arbor elitism would be the last to make fun of working people (the WalMart part) who, despite that, still choose to root for Michigan over Sparty. All these contradictions add up to. . . pretty weak stuff, as Bacon says.