Behind Enemy Lines
finally decided to sign up here after being a lurker for 2 years or so, so i figured i should tell my story.
i've been a michigan fan living in northeast ohio since the late 80's, when i was 8 or 9 years old. the story that my mother tells me is that we were at a garage sale, and i saw a michigan hat for .25, bought it, and wore it the rest of the day because i liked the colors. got home that afternoon, and my dad saw it, and said, 'son, we don't wear michigan hats in this house'...after finding out that my dad rooting for ohio state, i OBV didn't take the hat off the rest of the summer, and the rest is history.
i've lived through the 'mmmmmm...john cooper' years, and of course, the 2000's. i've seen the buckeye nation grow exponentially with each year, beginning of course in 2002.
most buckeye fans around me resemble my mom, i think. never owned an osu shirt/hoodie/hat until after that championship, then 5 days later, they own a wardrobe. there are some, mind you, that live it and breath it as i do, but mostly they are the worst bandwagon fans you can imagine.
some of my long-time friends who are 'huuuge buckeye fans' now, rooted for notre dame or miami or florida state when timmy b was putting up 320+ yards, or des howard was flexing in the endzone, but now, i can't get a word in.
i'm a teacher (at the school that gave you all Mario and Prescott, you're welcome!). for those that don't know, teenagers are the WORST fans in the entire world. the monday after the mich/osu game the last few years have been brutal. 95% of them cannot respond when i say 'name 3 players on your team not named Pryor', but that sure doesn't stop them from pulling down my UM flag or knocking my hat off my computer.
i don't know why i'm writing this, really. i guess to get posting privileges on the board. i will say that this site has really taken my michigan football obsession to another level. i'm so excited with RR and the young, fast kids we are bringing in, and mgoblog has definitely given me an outlet to read like-minded opinions as well as information on recruits.
hopefully i'll find the time to post if/when i get the privilege to do so.
thanks to the community for giving me a place to stay updated on my obsession. :)
--wiper
p.s. i recently got married (a month ago), and 'turned' my wife very early on. she grew up in an OSU household, but after seeing my passion (and feeling my pain), she yells louder than I some saturdays. i think it part of it is that she knows her saturday is ruined when we lose, and when we win, the weekend goes as planned. :) or, maybe it took me to show her the light!
i've been a michigan fan living in northeast ohio since the late 80's, when i was 8 or 9 years old. the story that my mother tells me is that we were at a garage sale, and i saw a michigan hat for .25, bought it, and wore it the rest of the day because i liked the colors. got home that afternoon, and my dad saw it, and said, 'son, we don't wear michigan hats in this house'...after finding out that my dad rooting for ohio state, i OBV didn't take the hat off the rest of the summer, and the rest is history.
i've lived through the 'mmmmmm...john cooper' years, and of course, the 2000's. i've seen the buckeye nation grow exponentially with each year, beginning of course in 2002.
most buckeye fans around me resemble my mom, i think. never owned an osu shirt/hoodie/hat until after that championship, then 5 days later, they own a wardrobe. there are some, mind you, that live it and breath it as i do, but mostly they are the worst bandwagon fans you can imagine.
some of my long-time friends who are 'huuuge buckeye fans' now, rooted for notre dame or miami or florida state when timmy b was putting up 320+ yards, or des howard was flexing in the endzone, but now, i can't get a word in.
i'm a teacher (at the school that gave you all Mario and Prescott, you're welcome!). for those that don't know, teenagers are the WORST fans in the entire world. the monday after the mich/osu game the last few years have been brutal. 95% of them cannot respond when i say 'name 3 players on your team not named Pryor', but that sure doesn't stop them from pulling down my UM flag or knocking my hat off my computer.
i don't know why i'm writing this, really. i guess to get posting privileges on the board. i will say that this site has really taken my michigan football obsession to another level. i'm so excited with RR and the young, fast kids we are bringing in, and mgoblog has definitely given me an outlet to read like-minded opinions as well as information on recruits.
hopefully i'll find the time to post if/when i get the privilege to do so.
thanks to the community for giving me a place to stay updated on my obsession. :)
--wiper
p.s. i recently got married (a month ago), and 'turned' my wife very early on. she grew up in an OSU household, but after seeing my passion (and feeling my pain), she yells louder than I some saturdays. i think it part of it is that she knows her saturday is ruined when we lose, and when we win, the weekend goes as planned. :) or, maybe it took me to show her the light!
August 10th, 2009 at 11:42 PM ^
i have one good friend who is also a michigan fan. i've seen him throw up late in a game over nerves. i remember the timmy b 300 yard game so well because right afterwards, he and i played our first game of strip poker with 2 girls.
he had on 3 pairs of socks, and just as we were about to 'win' (yeah, you know what i mean), the one girl's aunt came home.
the one girl's aunt just happened to be a city cop.
we left.
i can remember hanging a pair of michigan boxer shorts on my neighbor's osu flag after a big win.
i can remember driving around playing 'hail to the victors' on my trumpet (slight band nerd) out of the window of his car all around the neighborhood after another win.
i broke my couch during the crazy PSU game a couple years ago. my now-wife came downstairs to see me jumping on my couch. 20 seconds later, the armrest broke. (i'm not a little guy, i guess)
the notre dame game where prescott returned the int to the house, and mario had 2 td's..was watching with a couple friends, one of which is an ND fan. i remember saying 'warren harding (their alma mater) 21, ND 0' over and over until he paid me $10 to STFU.
during the 2002 national championship game, while i wanted maurice to do alright (another hs alum), i desperately wanted miami to win (wtffff pass interference?). i was at a friend's house, and her dad told me he'd give me $20 to say 'go buckeyes' just one time. i passed.
anyhow, yeah, good to be finally posting here. hopefully i get to know some of you all soon.
--wiper
p.s. eastern/del st/osu i think is what i'm leaning on the 3-game package this year. i'm a little terrified to go to an osu/mich game (too stressed, don't like being around people for that game), but i gotta go sometime, right? :)
August 10th, 2009 at 11:56 PM ^
only game i've ever been to was several years ago, against one of the michigan teams (eastern/western/central...hooorible memory).
the basketball coach at our HS went to UM, and sends recruits there, so he has the recruiter tickets. when i saw '1st row' on the ticket, i thought 'that must be wrong, or maybe the 1st row of the area we are in'..
nope.
first row, right behind the UM bench.
of course, and this will probably help some of you help me remember who played, THE ONLY GAME I'VE EVER BEEN TO WAS ALSO THE ONLY GAME IN THE HISTORY OF MICHIGAN STADIUM TO BE DELAYED BY WEATHER.
lol.
it was pouring with lightning, we turned around to see if we could get out, but of course, we're at the bottom of the bowl with 100,000 people above us.
i will say that i did cry (just 1 tear for the record) when we walked in. unreal.
i'm sure i made a ridiculously long blog-post on the whole experience, i'll have to find it.
--wiper
August 11th, 2009 at 9:13 AM ^
was CMU. coached by Brian Kelly at the time. Not a bad team, at all. Only losses were to UM, BC, and Kentucky. Won the MAC and the MC Bowl
August 11th, 2009 at 11:38 AM ^
FIRE UP CHIPS! We actually almost beat BC in that game. I remember watching the first half from the student section. At halftime, me and my roommates went back so we could watch on TV and eat food. When CMU closed the gap on that game, we all sprinted from the dorms back to the stadium (about a 5 minute run). Boy was that a letdown when Kelly decided to run a trick play wherein the offensive line was literally on a different part of the field as the rest of the team...
August 11th, 2009 at 12:00 AM ^
I know what you mean about having to watch games alone. I always debate whether I should go to a Michigan bar and meet new people, or stay at home and watch games alone. I find it easier to focus and look beyond the results of a play, and actually figure out what caused the play to develop.
That being said, there's something special about being at the big house- especially for THE game.
August 11th, 2009 at 12:05 AM ^
was Appy State.
at an OSU bar.
and they switched all 20 TV's to Mich/Ap St because the osu game had ended a couple minutes earlier.
my only other michigan buddy and i were the only ones in michigan jerseys, hell, we were the only ones out of 200 or so that didn't have scarlet and grey on.
GOD that was rough. wasn't as bad for me as it was for him, because the 3rd person that put their finger in my face i grabbed and headbutted. :)
never again.
--wiper
August 11th, 2009 at 1:48 AM ^
The only game I really remember watching at a bar was the 2006 OSU game - and it was a really awesome experience. I was doing a semester in Rome at the time, and found a english pub to watch the game in. When we got there it was completely packed for the game, and probably 3 times as many OSU fans as UM fans, along with just a lot of american football fans. The atmostphere was pretty crazy and we all talked a lot of shit, but what I remember is everyone singing the national anthem, and then everyone clapping after the moment of silence for Bo. I've always been pretty respectful to other teams fanbases, but I gained a lot of respect for the Buckeye's that day. Sorta like being American was more important than being for UM or OSU...until the game started :)
I also met some kid on the streets heading to the bar in a UM jersey, and managed to find out that I had played football against him in high school when he was at Saline, which was pretty cool for being halfway around the world.
August 11th, 2009 at 7:38 AM ^
I was at a bar in DC for the Appalachian State game. It was tough walking around that city that entire night in my michigan t-shirt.
The 2006 game, I was also in DC, watching the game with a kid from Cal and another from Penn State. They both gave me shit. Later we went to a bar to watch the Cal/USC game (I believe that was the game.) I go to the bathroom, come back out and the entire bar is chanting "over-rated!" and pointing to me.
I then realized my friends were playing a hoax on me, but I was still pissed.
The other thing, I would go to Mich bars in DC, Atlanta and NYC. The interesting bit is that, obviously, the Atlanta Alumni bar was the easiest to meet people. I went to DC and did not recognize anyone, and I didn't feel like I could reach out to anyone. Everyone was in a group of some sort. I'm back in NYC now, where I do have Michigan friends, so I'll likely hit up professor Thoms (primarily for games not televised on the East Coast.)
August 11th, 2009 at 11:12 AM ^
My brother - a MSU grad - has attended exactly one UM game in his life - against Appy St. Needless to say, he left some rather taunting messages on my phone during that game, including one about how it might help UM if they figured out how to stop the one play that Appy St. ran - namely, give it to the QB and let him run around. Boy did that suck.
I feel your pain.
August 11th, 2009 at 12:27 AM ^
"i recently got married (a month ago), and 'turned' my wife very early on."
This is too funny to even comment on.
August 11th, 2009 at 12:32 AM ^
i see what you did there.
hell with sex, i couldn't live with an osu fan, so sex would quickly be out of the question.
:)
August 11th, 2009 at 1:21 AM ^
Some games I just get really tense and focused and prefer to be on my couch watching it then around a whole bunch of people.
August 11th, 2009 at 6:25 AM ^
I simply can NOT watch a game involving Michigan with other people. I even go to bars by myself to get away from anyone (such as wives and daughters) who might ask me questions or want me to communicate with them on any level--even if that means I have to ask one of them to get me a beer.
It's not that I go crazy and swear a lot or jump up and down in my Michigan jammies if they gain more than 3 yards on a first down or actually stop the opponenet on 3rd down, it's just that I'm all into it and am still trying to figure out how I can play linebacker for Michigan even though I'm only about 5'3 and weigh 100 lbs and am 46 and smoke a pack of Camels every day. I mean, WTF--I think it wouldn't be asking too much to have a smoke break during a game now and then. Plus, I love chocolate milk (except for the high fructose corn syrup).
Really, though, I do all kinds of weird contortions on plays and use body english to help Michigan and I don't think I need to be around other people when that is happening. What I would love would be a little 8X10 room with a television, a toilet, and a beer fridge to watch games from. And no doors or windows, and I could smoke five packs of Camels during a game. And if Michigan wins, then go back out into the world and talk to people, and if they don't, stay there until Tuesday.
August 11th, 2009 at 9:12 AM ^
You might want at least a vent window if you're gonna have a toilet in there.
August 11th, 2009 at 1:40 AM ^
Great stories, Wiper, thanks for sharing.
It's nice to know we have so many Maize and Blue faithful down there!
August 11th, 2009 at 12:01 PM ^
I have lived in Cleveland my whole life and my whole family is Buckeye fans on my Mom's side of the family. My Dad however who makes all of his money by selling Ohio State merchandise is a die hard Michigan fan. I grew up the first 8 years of my life confused and leaned towards OSU. Until my Dad told me I'm taking you to a Michigan game and I promise you will never root for Ohio State again. When I walked into the Big House for the first time even at 8 years old I knew that I would be a Michigan fan forever. Even with the recent lack of success to OSU. I will never waiver from my Wolverines. After my family and friends Michigan Football is the most important thing to me in my life.
I attend every home game with my Dad and I hate Ohio State with a firey passion. I cant wait till that day that the cream finally rises to the top and we take back this rivalry against those hillbilly assholes. I don't even want to rub it in I just want to be able to walk around in Michigan gear with a swagger around Ohio and Buckeye fans not be able to say anything because we're the leaders and the best.
I also agree with your input about Buckeye fans they did not really exist until after 2002 in the Northeast Ohio area. Most people I knew either rooted for Notre Dame or believe it or not Michigan or were indifferent to College Football. After 2002 my friends had a whole wardrobe of Buckeye garbage. Which isn't bad for me because my family actually profits from it.
Anyways I'm jumping out of my skin waiting for the season to start. GO BLUE! from the worst state ever.
August 11th, 2009 at 3:25 PM ^
"When I walked into the Big House for the first time even at 8 years old I knew that I would be a Michigan fan forever. Even with the recent lack of success to OSU. I will never waiver from my Wolverines"
of course you won't!
osu's recent success only makes me hate them and everything about them more.
i've always said that i'd usually rather watch osu lose than michigan beat a mac team, i get more joy out of watching them choke a big game than i do seeing us beat minnesota.. :)
August 11th, 2009 at 4:57 PM ^
You get more enjoyment watching a secondary rival like OSU lose than watching our Mighty Wolverines beat our greatest, most-hated rival? Our fanbase surprises me more and more each day.
Fuckin' Geauxfurs.
August 11th, 2009 at 1:17 PM ^
I grew up in MI for the first 23 years of my life, moved to Oklahoma for college, spent 5 yrs in Louisiana and have lived the last 11 years 45 minutes away from the "Shoe." I've had the opportunity to experience the rivalvry from four different states. I have to say that, though growing up a Michigan fan, I never passionately rooted for them until I moved to Ohio. I've also never been treated poorly because of where I grew up until residing here. The Cooper years were great and OSU fans were bearable but the Tressel era has been a nightmare. I have many good friends in Ohio and, minus the "OSU thing" really like living here. I've never experienced such a passionate, cultic, and completely subjective fan base such as this.
I was one who wanted to see Lloyd go, not because he was a bad person, but because I could see we would never be compettive with OSU or other national programs without that change. Then I got what I wished for and never dreamed being a MI fan could be so brutal.
I visit the site frequently - primarily to nurse hope along and get an idea of how long I will be waiting for our great program to become relevant. I wish I didn't care as much as I do but the same fire that burned in the belly of a 7 yr old boy, watching his team usually lose in the Rose Bowl, burns within this grown man who enjoys very few vices beyond high fiving my daughter and laying my head back in my recliner, feeling that balance has been restored to the universe with a victory over OSU.
August 11th, 2009 at 2:25 PM ^
My wife gave birth to quadruplets a year ago so I am not entirely sure I wll get that opportunity again anytime soon though.
When I watch a game I am really superstitious. If I am sitting in a certian spot or position and UM is doing well I won't change that position or spot until something not so good happens, than I have to find another one. Anyone in the room has to do the same under threat of death.
I also have to wear my Woodson #2 signed jersey. My friends keep blabbering about how it would be worth something if I took care of it but screw that, I need it on every saturday.
I also tend to rant and rave when the game is in progress. I am always jumping around until I realize what I am doing, then quickly sit back down in the position I was just in. I yell, scream and hollar through the entire game and if anyone asks me a question while the game is on (whether during a play or simply commentary) they get lambasted in quick fashion.
Finall, I make all maner of promises and deals with god as to what I will/won't do if he will just let UM pull out the victory. I have bargained tirelessly with the almighty during games and promised t do such thinigs as: quit smoking, drinking, cursing. Start going to church, love my neighbors, never watch porn again. I even barter with my other favorite teams outcomes...."please, I don't care if Montreal doesn't win another game all season, just let UM pull this out." I am constantly throwing my other teams under the bus for UM......
Oh well, that is why I prefer to watch alone.....Bring on the season, I can't wait!
August 11th, 2009 at 3:22 PM ^
i know them well.
my buddy and i are horrrible.
during the wisky game last year, we were down, and getting drunker by the play. we started to discuss (argue about) politics. it seemed like every time my one friend mentioned either john mccain, george bush or sarah palin, we'd make a positive play.
when we noticed this, we started to try to manipulate it a little to michigan's favor.
by the end of the game, we were all screaming 'OMG SARAH PALIN!! PALINPALINPALIN' on every single play.
it worked, so the next week i showed up at his house wearing a jersey, but underneath it, i had a white t-shirt that i had taken a sharpie and wrote 'OMG SARAH PALIN' in big block letters.
i waited to bust it out until we needed it.
my buddy fell over with laughter when he saw it.
it didn't work. :(
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