I love our Wal-Mart Wolverines
As you probably know, the spartys love to cite the fact that our fan base contains a lot of non-alumni. Somehow, they view this as a negative, and view "Wal-Mart Wolverines" as below them.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the Michigan fans out there that did not attend UM. Whether its the way you grew up, or your time at UM hospital, your support of and contribution to Michigan athletics is invaluable. The fact that you did not attend UM does not detract whatsoever from your knowledge of the game, loyalty, dedication, or passion. Our ability to function as a football power is based on your support.
Once again, thank you. And +1 for all non-alumni Wolverines.
October 6th, 2010 at 12:17 PM ^
since we're talking drop outs
October 6th, 2010 at 12:36 PM ^
if we're citing less-successful-yet infinitely cooler drop outs.
October 6th, 2010 at 12:36 PM ^
Since he was on the record regarding his appreciation of Michigan and his attendance at a school with Michigan-like aspirations.
October 6th, 2010 at 12:13 PM ^
Cheers! Been watching Michigan football since the day I was braught home from the hosptial. I am not even kidding, my mom and dad told the doc's they had to get home because M was playing! 30-20 road win over the gohpers! They said I was quiet and sleeping while the game was going on, but I was just listening intently. =) haha.
I hope I'll be able to get to Michigan(education wise) when I'm done my undergraduate degree here.
HAIL!
October 6th, 2010 at 12:30 PM ^
Well actually my youngest daughter's story. Wife had my third daughter on September 17 this year. I was able to take to oldest one to the UMass game the following day.
October 6th, 2010 at 1:10 PM ^
Congrats!
I always like seeing father - son/daughter combinations at the game. Takes be back to a time when I was little and my dad would do the same for me. Knowing a life long michigan bond is being built is pretty cool. I hope one day, if/when I have kids, I will be able to do the same thing for them. You NEVER forget your first live game, whether it's college football, Baseball, hockey, or whatever. Me and my dad still have some of our best times at sporting events, no matter what is going on in our personal lives.
October 6th, 2010 at 12:14 PM ^
I never understood it. What about the 17 or 18 years leading up to college? What are those Michigan fans called?
October 6th, 2010 at 12:17 PM ^
the correct term for a baby wolverine is a "kit"
October 6th, 2010 at 12:24 PM ^
Hahaha. Being in the fire service it is my dream to one day go on a call to a house fire and see an MSU flag flopping in the wind. I will help pull anyone out but after that I'll just let it burn. OSU on the other hand......
October 6th, 2010 at 12:26 PM ^
My dad was a Fire Chief, and always made those jokes.
October 6th, 2010 at 3:48 PM ^
I think they're called the future of America.
October 6th, 2010 at 4:00 PM ^
Michigan State students call them their future boss.
October 6th, 2010 at 12:14 PM ^
And your welcome. Yea, like im gonna chose to be a spartan fan! Sparty are just jelous, because they know that the fact is there are MSU alumni, Michigan alumni and everyone else are michigan fans. Not an MSU alum not an MSU fan. Not a Michigan alum still a michigan fan
October 6th, 2010 at 12:15 PM ^
October 6th, 2010 at 12:16 PM ^
I went to Miami (not that Miami) and I always hate when people say I am not a true fan because I didnt attend the school. I am on this site enough to consider read the content a full time job. GO BLUE!
October 6th, 2010 at 12:18 PM ^
My grandpa was a smart man (and a very proud alum), he instilled a love for all things Michigan from the day I was born. Money-wise and location-wise, GVSU was a better fit for me, but I'll always have this feeling in the back of my mind that I'll one day attend the greatest university in the world.
Actually another goal of mine is to one day work for UM (in their IT department).
October 6th, 2010 at 12:21 PM ^
I'll be the first to admit I never attended Uof M but I grew up a die hard Wolverine fan my entire life and when I had open heart surgery when I was 14 at the hospital, my love only grew even more. So I kind of feel like even though I didn't attend, I still have a personal connection and will always be grateful to the University and especially Dr. Bove.
October 6th, 2010 at 12:17 PM ^
I wrote a diary about this awhile back. How I became a fan because UM hospital pretty much made me able to walk again as a litle kid. I have been blue ever since. Never went to college, I joined the Army. But I still bleed Blue just like I did as a little kid.
October 6th, 2010 at 12:21 PM ^
I saw that. Tip of advice though:
Don't waste your time on RCMB.
I'm a grad student at UM and a couple of people in my program are Spartys. They both agree that RCMB is ridiculous and stupid. You can't argue with those people: it's like arguing with North Koreans.
October 6th, 2010 at 12:19 PM ^
I chose to go the Marine Corps route out of HS.
I may have not been smart enough to attend Michigan but I sure as hell wasn't dumb enough to cheer for ol' greenie.
Go Blue
October 6th, 2010 at 12:21 PM ^
but I have been a fan for 29 years, and served my country out of high school. So, I refuse to apologize to anyone for my not having attended the school I root for.
October 6th, 2010 at 12:21 PM ^
This whole issue is still surprisingly interesting to me given the level of which MSU fans take it.
I'd love to know if Florida State fans call Gator fans who didn't go to UF non-fans. Or if UCLA fans call out the non-alumni fans of USC. You don't seem to hear about this very much elsewhere. Just here in Michigan.
October 6th, 2010 at 3:30 PM ^
I am a grad student at Texas Tech, and Michigan alum. After spending some time here, I have noticed that TTU fans also like to present this argument directed towards UT because let's face it, UT owns this state. They fail to realize that once they compete with UT on a consistent basis, they will have non-alumni fans of their own.
October 6th, 2010 at 12:22 PM ^
I never understood this concept. So you can't cheer for any college team until you reach college age? I was rooting for Michigan long before I went to college.
October 6th, 2010 at 12:32 PM ^
According to Spartan logic, yes. Basically, if you go to a game at the big house, look around and be sure to kick anyone under the age of 18 out of the stadium. They're not UM students or former students. That means they aren't fans.
October 6th, 2010 at 12:22 PM ^
I have to say this is a sore subject for me. I grew up a die hard, can't live without em fan. I was born in UM hospital, parents born and raised in Plymouth, but we moved when I was a kid out of state. My parents are poor so I went to a small school in Illinois where my parents live. I now go to ND law bc they gave me the most money.
People at ND constantly tell me I'm not a real UM fan bc I didn't go there. I apologize that I paid my own way through college and couldn't afford out of state tuition, and that my parents moved me out of state through no fault of my own. I love UM sports, but wasn't fortunate enough to have going to school there an option for me. I'm not sure why those have to be related.
October 6th, 2010 at 12:25 PM ^
If ND didn't depend on non-alumni catholics in Chicago, Boston, NY, and LA, they'd be another MAC school.
Based on their recent performance, maybe that's where they belong.
October 6th, 2010 at 12:28 PM ^
No worries man, the way I see it is this; If you bleed maize and blue, it doesnt matter where you are, what you are doing, or where you live. You ARE a wolverine!
October 6th, 2010 at 1:56 PM ^
You should tell those ND students, that being a ND student yourself, you are qualified to be a ND fan, but that you are intelligent enough to choose a school that is actually good. Also, ND is a fairly small school in comparison to UofM and there is no way all of their fans could have possibly gone to ND.
October 6th, 2010 at 12:25 PM ^
for Sparty mockery, I appreciate your appreciation.
October 6th, 2010 at 12:28 PM ^
That's one of the posters on here. I can't recall his alias, though.
October 6th, 2010 at 12:39 PM ^
I think it's Lieutenant Carcajou
October 6th, 2010 at 12:40 PM ^
with a helmet.
Haven't seen him post in ages.
October 6th, 2010 at 12:42 PM ^
who wants a guy like that cluttering up a great site like MGoBlog?!
October 6th, 2010 at 12:44 PM ^
I think you got the joke. The poster above you didn't.
October 6th, 2010 at 12:30 PM ^
did you go to Michigan for school? That whole article was stupid, but I thought it odd to assume you didn't attend U of M b/c you dress up for games.
October 6th, 2010 at 12:40 PM ^
and I've always wondered how every obnoxious internet MSU fan seems to know that. I do briefly mention it in my blog post following Bo's death, but I'd be surprised if they've read that.
October 6th, 2010 at 12:45 PM ^
I think you're forgetting the intensity of the obsession.
October 6th, 2010 at 12:48 PM ^
you're probably right.
October 6th, 2010 at 12:25 PM ^
Love the stories guys, keep them coming. I was technically a Walmart Wolverine until grad school, but I never really saw it that way I guess.
If you have to mock someone for being a fan of a school they didn't attend, you probably have to reevaluate your priorities. Who the hell cares why someone's a fan? I like pizza, but I've never been to italy, is that a problem?
October 6th, 2010 at 12:25 PM ^
i prefer the term Costco Wolverine. Everyone loves Costco.
October 6th, 2010 at 12:38 PM ^
Or Target Wolverine.
October 6th, 2010 at 12:48 PM ^
Sign me up as a Target Wolverine as well. Walmart makes me depressed every time I step inside.
October 6th, 2010 at 1:14 PM ^
I'm a Steve and Barry's Wolverine. I got my first Michigan hoodie there for $5 and never looked back:
October 6th, 2010 at 12:27 PM ^
I don't care about being called a Wal-Mart Wolverine. The important thing is that you called me a Wolverine. Bitches.
October 6th, 2010 at 12:27 PM ^
in SE Jackson County called Napoleon, not far from AA. The town leans UM just due to proximity, I suppose. My grades were good enough, but we lacked the cash for UM. Got my degree from Walsh College, a fine business school in Troy.
If I'm a Wal-Mart Wolverine, then so be it...I'm true-blue regardless. I wonder how many thousands of dollars I've spent on apparel (holy shit!), tickets, and supporting Ann Arbor businesses? Oh, and I'm raising my only daughter properly as well. Thanks much for the OP.
October 6th, 2010 at 12:28 PM ^
I was born in Michigan but was an Air Force kid so I moved a lot. I ended up in enemy territory around Dayton Ohio. My dad and pretty much my whole family were OSU fans but I saw the light at a young age. I don't know if it was out of rebellion or if I was just naturally smarter than my family but I have been a Michigan fan for as long as I can remember. I ended up in Florida and graduated from The University of South Florida but nothing has ever come between me and my Beloved Blue (see man cave pics) I will be there on Saturday sporting the Maize & Blue Bibbed Overalls.
Go Blue!!
October 6th, 2010 at 12:28 PM ^
October 6th, 2010 at 12:34 PM ^
I come from Muskegon and went to a relatively small high school. Whenever I am at home and go out to the bars on the weekends I'll always see a few old friends that I don't really keep in great contact with anymore. A couple of them have bartended since we all graduated from high school, a couple of them are in the Pipefitters Union and I don't even know what some of the others do. I'll be damned, however, if their passion for Michigan football isn't as great if not greater than most of the students I came across in my four years. It's a beautiful thing.
October 6th, 2010 at 12:44 PM ^
Hey, what high school did you go to? I am from Muskegon as well. Went to Reeths-Puffer.