How/when did your Michigan football fandom begin?
I'm sure this has been a topic before, but I couldn't find anything recently via the MGoSearch, so I figured this would be a good time to talk about the roots of our UM football obsession.
Mine started when I was 5 or 6, I imagine. My earliest memories of Michigan football were with my dad in the truck, listening to Frank Beckman call games on the radio. I remember intently listening to the calls and trying to visualize what was happening on the field and becoming overwhelmed with joy, anger, and sadness at a moments notice. I think the 1991 season was the first I really recall. Desmond (obviously), Ricky Powers, and Corwin Brown were some of my first favorites. Wheatley quickly became my player, and I'll always remember the joy of the 1995 Pigskin Classic, as well as the feelings I had when Kordell chucked that ball down the field in '94. I went into the yard, screamed at the top of my lungs, and eventually cried.
It's been quite a journey and I love (almost) every second of it. So what's your story? When and how did you get hooked?
August 13th, 2016 at 1:39 PM ^
August 13th, 2016 at 1:39 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
August 13th, 2016 at 1:39 PM ^
It was in the aftermath of the Michigan OSU game in 1973 AD vote and I was hanging out with my older brother and his older friends. They had taken me in as their mascot, I guess. So I hung on everyone of their words. They were upset at this travesty of a vote, putting OSU in the Rose Bowl. That is where the seed was planted and it took a dozen years and Jamie Morris, James Joseph Harbaugh and John Kolesar to cement the feeling that I am BLUE until the day I die.
August 13th, 2016 at 1:40 PM ^
August 13th, 2016 at 1:40 PM ^
Even though I lived in NJ there were a LOT of Notre Dame fans in my school. I watched them play Michigan and I wasn't trying to be different but I was just drawn to Michigan and couldn't join the crowd. Then Leroy Hoard broke out and that was it . i'm rooting for the tean that the baddest man on earth was playing for.
August 13th, 2016 at 1:41 PM ^
I was so fucking pissed... and only 11 years old.
It is my first michigan memory and probably the first time in my life that a loss, outside of the tigers (my first love), evoked such a memory to stick with me.
sadly it took two years for me to feel the elation of beating the Irish...
August 13th, 2016 at 1:43 PM ^
Mid 70's, helping my Dad rake leaves, listening to Bob Ufer describe the heroics of Rick Leach and Rob Lytle.
August 13th, 2016 at 1:48 PM ^
Born in UM hospital and raised in Ann Arbor. My birthday always falls within a week of the spring game so as soon as I was old enough to appreciate it, maybe 6/7, my dad started taking me to them as a birthday present. 2004 MSU was the night I became a die hard.
August 13th, 2016 at 5:52 PM ^
Mine started when I was seven watching football with my dad! I remember the announcer saying here come the Michigan Wolverines and I started to freak out, cuz at the time i was a huge Xmen fan and wolverine was my favorite character! I thought he was their mascot and I was instantly hooked and never missed a game since! It was a couple years later I realized that he wasnt the mascot and a wolverine was an acutal animal! By then I was hooked and never looked back!
August 13th, 2016 at 1:56 PM ^
August 13th, 2016 at 2:00 PM ^
The 1980s. My parents both have graduate degrees from Michigan. We didn't seem to be able to get the premier games back then, but at least once a year my parents would take me to the Big House so watch the Wolverines beat the hell out of teams like Purdue or Maryland. The smell of cigars, fall football, amazing. Hooked ever since.
August 13th, 2016 at 2:03 PM ^
Mine began when I was a 17 year old infantryman in the Roman army back in 277 AD. Thought they had cool helmets and thought they looked more comfortable than what I had to wear against the Normans.
Oh - I time travel
August 13th, 2016 at 2:17 PM ^
you know, with that time travel stuff. i might lay a little money on things if you can get back to me/us. soon.
thanks.
xm
August 13th, 2016 at 7:57 PM ^
we will have to talk privately and I can give you the details.
August 13th, 2016 at 8:38 PM ^
i was at yost arena starting in august of '80. show up there and look for a freshman, the youngest, smallest guy out there, then give him the details. you being from the future is going to freak him out some, but he'll get over it. and then he'll be rich.
August 13th, 2016 at 2:09 PM ^
August 13th, 2016 at 2:15 PM ^
Gray cool Saturdays. Coming in from playing outside. Parents turning off the volume on the TV and turning on the radio to listen to Bob Ufer do the play by play.
We had black in white TV so Michigan looked to me like they were wearing black striped helmets, black uniforms, black taped shoes. It was cool.
In those days you could hear the band and crowd chanting "Let's Go Blue!" on the radio.
I asked my mom why is the announcer crying like that (his voice was cracking)?
"Because he loves Michigan".
I've never been the same.
August 13th, 2016 at 2:17 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
August 13th, 2016 at 2:26 PM ^
Michigan Replay clip
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tAX9sv3R6Do
Growing up in the Bay Area (and Omaha, NE for HS), I can't say that I shared a real connection to Michigan football before being admitted to the University in 2002. Sure, I was aware of Michigan Athletics -- it certainly played a part in me deciding to go to school there -- but my knowledge was only scratching the surface. Heck, I didn't even visit the campus before freshman orientation, which was the week before the school year started. However, I do vividly remember the genuine excitement I had to soak everything in when my mother dropped me off at West Quad (007 Wenley). I didn't know a single person and was (am) a shy introvert, but that didn't matter to me.
Orientation was cool and I was thankful for being befriended at a Michigan Union party. I remember chopping it up on the steps of the Union with some of the freshmen on the basketball team like Lester Abram, Daniel Horton, and Chris Hunter. Daniel being from Texas was shocked that a white boy like me was so knowledgeable about guys like DJ Screw, Lil Flip, Paul Wall/Chamillionaire, etc. It was hilarious.
Anyhow, the main thing I was excited about that first week was not going to class (or even making friends) but seeing my first game at the Big House, and what a game it was! An action packed up and down game, with Philip Brabbs overcoming some early missed field goals to kick the game winner. The main thing I remember is that because he missed one with about two minutes to go half the student section it seemed had left the stadium.
Ever since that first game, I have been I love with Michigan football. I can't wait until my family and I move back in a couple of months so we can return to the Big House!
August 13th, 2016 at 2:31 PM ^
August 13th, 2016 at 2:31 PM ^
August 13th, 2016 at 2:35 PM ^
2003 when I was eight, watching Chris Perry run all over defenses for 1600 yards n 15+ TDs
August 13th, 2016 at 2:39 PM ^
I was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio roughly 50 miles west of columbus. From the time i was a little kid which was in the late 70's i always found myself rooting for Michigan. Needless to say it wasnt easy because i was surrounded by hardcore ohio state fans. I eventually had to find places to watch THE GAME by myself to so i could cheer for the Wolverines. I may not have had the honor to attend U of M like most of you but i have and always will be a wolverine fan.
August 13th, 2016 at 2:40 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
August 13th, 2016 at 2:55 PM ^
That's probably a lame reason to be a rabid Michigan fan, but it's my story.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
August 13th, 2016 at 3:44 PM ^
My dad always watched Michigan when I was real young. Started getting really interested in the 89 season when I was about six years old. Became fascinated with football and was able to watch Des, Alexander, Steve Everitt, etc on the 90 season. We bonded over football (dad was a quiet guy). He got season tickets in '92 and got sick with multiple myeloma and leukemia and passed away shortly after that. I still have the tickets in an envelope somewhere. I continued to watch ever since.
No I'm not an Alum, I screwed off too much in High School :(
August 13th, 2016 at 2:59 PM ^
I was born in Curtice, Ohio, and I followed the herd until 7th grade. Then, by the grace of God, my sister started dating a walk on defensive back at the University of Michigan. Back then, spring games were extremely fan-friendly. I'm sure many readers remember meeting players after the game down on the "concrete" turf. My greatest memory was meeting Bubba Paris, Anthony Carter, and Bo in the span of about 20 minutes. Bubba gave me his chinstrap, AC gave me a wristband, and Bo gave me his hand to shake. I was able to go into the locker room and weight room and was in awe of the entire Michigan football experience. Needless to say, I became a fan that day in 1980.
I reveled in the fact that it pissd my die-hard buckeye friends off. They couldn't understand how a person could just change course like that. The games were always close and titles were always on the line, which intensified my love for Michigan football. I can't imagine a fall Saturday without it.
Who's Got it Better Than Us? NOBODY!
August 13th, 2016 at 3:18 PM ^
Is it weird that I read this at first as, "Bubba gave me his jockstrap"?
Sorry, go on.
August 13th, 2016 at 3:02 PM ^
I was 7, and just moved back to Michigan towards the later half of the season. Between my dad's friends, family, my friends and the EA Sports NCAA football video games, my fanship cemented over the next few seasons.
But I remember the watch parties we had for Ohio St. and the Rose Bowl that year. And I remember it being special. And wanting to be apart of that.
August 13th, 2016 at 3:12 PM ^
I was 10 years old in Bo's first year. My dad was just a sports fan and watched both State and Michigan, but I was always a UofM fan. Remember listening to Bob Uffer on the Radio during those years and loved the horn blowing for touchdowns. Didn't attend a game until after high school, but began a tradition of taking my son to one game a year at the Big House. My youngest daughter knew she had to go to UofM and is an alum that graduated in 2005.
August 13th, 2016 at 3:18 PM ^
August 13th, 2016 at 3:20 PM ^
Since before I can remember... I've heard stories about my dad and his brothers arguing over UM-MSU games back in the 50's, so I never had a chance at any other school. Grew up watching games through Ufer while pheasant hunting in the Thumb area. My first game was the infamous 63-0 beat down of Illinois - overwhelming success is a great way to get an emergent fanbase rolling!
That 2004 MSU game... I watched it in a Thumb bar a few miles outside of Bad Ax with my brother and brothers-in-law. What an awesome time - half the place exploded when one team scored, the other half when the other team scored. What a great game!!
The last game Ufer went to, against Iowa, when he stuck his head out of the window. Gave me goose bumps and choked me up with the Standing O. Everyone knew, everyone...
August 13th, 2016 at 3:29 PM ^
This thread is fantastic. Gotta love the diverse nature and the memories associated with when/where the light switch flipped on to become a fan for life. Go Blue everyone! I think this year will be something special as many many more will forever be cemented in to become rabid fans. Can you all imagine what the incoming class of freshman are about to witness? Good Lord. Harbaughmania.
20 days and some hours til kickoff, can't wait!
August 14th, 2016 at 12:57 AM ^
I'm glad it went over well. I have read every single post in the thread and it makes me beam with pride.
August 14th, 2016 at 8:20 PM ^
I'm reading them and upvoting almost everyone. Such a great community to be a part of...not to mention being one of the moms. :-)
August 13th, 2016 at 3:36 PM ^
My dad's college buddies - all diehard OSU fans would throw huge parties for the game. This was during the era when Coopers Buckeyes couldn't beat UM regardless of the circumstances. We'd get ridiculed as UM fans the entire day but walk out with our team winning - and on multiple occasions winning the squares game too.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
August 13th, 2016 at 3:43 PM ^
The Michael Taylor, Demetrius Brown, Tony Boles, Leroy Hoard, McMurtry, days. Right before MSU went to the Rose Bowl, my brother, a diehard Michigan fan, moved to Texas. My Dad is an MSU grad so I went to the Michigan-Michigan St. game that yr and MSU won and went fuckin bananas like they do. Me, being from Lansing and being in 2nd grade or so, knew no better. And since I got to hang out with Andre Rison and Bobby McAllister all of the time, liked MSU that year.
There is even an incriminating (full color) picture of me on the front of the Freep greeting my 2nd cousin James Moore on Sparty's return trip/party from California. Sidenote:my Mom showed my kids the pic one day fml. Anyway after Andre got drafted, my brother moved back from Texas and promptly brought me back from the dark side. I went on to be the loudest, most obnoxious, Michigan fan in life. Once I went back to school and graduated from there, shits gotten worse. LOL. Fuck em!!
August 13th, 2016 at 3:48 PM ^
1968
August 13th, 2016 at 3:52 PM ^
August 13th, 2016 at 3:54 PM ^
August 13th, 2016 at 4:12 PM ^
And I'm from Canton, Ohio and my family is all Buckeyes. It was a very challenging allegiance that caused me to stop and question it at least twice, but I'm in this for the long-haul
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
August 13th, 2016 at 3:55 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
August 13th, 2016 at 4:02 PM ^
My Mom graduated from WMU, My Dad from "the school of hard knocks" as he liked to put it. Our neighbor used to give my Dad and I WMU tickets so they began as my team.
Then one Saturday in 1962 I was riding in the car with my Dad and The UM-MSU game was on the radio and my Dad said: "son, these are the top 2 schools in the state." For some reason I decided to pull for Michigan and I have never looked back. I can't even say it was the helmets- the game was on the radio!.
We got pounded by MSU 28-0 on our way to a 2-7 season, but I was steadfast. You can't call me a fairweather fan. Just 2 years later I was rewarded with a glorious 9-1 season capped off by pounding Oregon State in the Rose Bowl. 7 years later Bo came to Ann Arbor and the year after that I joined him (as a student). It has been a roller coaster of emotions over the years, but it has been glorious.
August 13th, 2016 at 4:07 PM ^
I was interested because of the high ranking of the university and the strength of the econ department. I wanted to go to a big school for the breadth of campus life options. I grew up on the golden side of the ND rivalry, but it all changed with my campus tour. It felt like my future home in the first 100 steps on campus and I've bled maize and blue ever since.
Great thread. Go Blue!
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
August 13th, 2016 at 4:08 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
August 13th, 2016 at 4:12 PM ^
Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. Came to birth as Riverside hospital, which people from here know is all of about a 3 minute drive to that toilet bowl of a stadium. I'm an early 30's guy, so like most my age I grew up when video games were evolving. I didn't watch a lot of sports, and when I did it was mostly pro sports. First athlete I fell in love with was LT and then MJ. That was around 1990 when I started really watching sports. What then got me was the Fab 5. Young black inner city kids like me with swag... I loved it. Webber was an animal, and I know he isn't loved around here much anymore, but he is still far and away my favorite athlete of all time.
After that it was just a natural graduation to the football team. I loved the LB play of the 90s and all the way into the 00s, followed all those guys. Played MLB is HS football. Just absolutely love everything about UM and UM football. Ohio fans reinforce every day that I could NEVER be one of them. Obnoxious, trash spewing gutter rats most of them. Everything is revisionist history with an Ohio fan.. well remember from this date to this date we were the best. Look they have owned us in recent years, but we all know who holds the tradition and all be damned a degree from Ohio will never hold the jock of one from the greatest university on Earth.
August 13th, 2016 at 4:10 PM ^
1976 - just moved from Ohio and went to kindergarten at Big Beaver Elementary in Troy. We had to sing songs on the school bus to keep us from acting up. How can you not be hooked singing HTTV every morning then A.C. came along and I was pulling my tube socks up in gym class.
August 13th, 2016 at 5:42 PM ^
August 13th, 2016 at 5:46 PM ^
I grew up in Peoria, IL. I'd root for Illinois to beat Michigan. Never happened. I moved to Michigan during High School. I only became a Michigan fan my freshman year at UM.
I was there for Desmond Howard...the Fab Five...1990-1995
Forever Blue!!