Big Blue is not acceptable.
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Big Blue: ? (or "Please Just Stop")
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I am approximately 30 years old and have been a dedicated and observant Michigan fan since I was 15 or so. I cheer on the Michigan Wolverines, the Maize and Blue (or the Yellow and Blue), and the Victors. I am Jonny and I Go Blue. At no point, in my 15 years of rooting for the Wolverines have I cheered for Big Blue. Why? Wikipedia never lies: Big Blue is NOT a nickname for the Michigan Wolverines.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Blue_%28disambiguation%29
However, I have lately been witnessing its use increase at an alarming rate, most recently today in MGoUser CaliWolverine78’s signature: http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/time-rock-and-roh#comment-498539
This got me to thinking, when did this infiltration of Big Blue begin? The first time I recall having heard it was on ESPN College Gameday out of the mouth of Lee Corso. I let it slide that day thinking “Oh well, it’s just Lee Corso, he’s generally accepted as a nincompoop. Moving on…”. However, after what I had hoped was a simple brain fart on Corso’s part, I soon heard other folks on ESPN using the term and of course thereafter on ABC as well. I die a little on the inside every time I hear someone say it. It hurts my ears just like nails on a chalkboard.
In an attempt to prove myself wrong and find that the “Big Blue” nickname had indeed been used by Michigan and I just hadn’t noticed it, I went to everyone’s favorite research site: Google. Looking through the results for Big Blue Michigan and Big Blue Wolverines, there is very, very, very little use in reference to our Maize and Blue. Here’s a small sample of the few results I found:
(2010) A gotickets.com advertisement http://www.umhoops.com/
(2009) A Michigan “fan” in his comments on an annarbor.com article http://www.annarbor.com/sports/michigan-could-benefit-from-muddy-big-ten...
(2007) Some CNBC business guy talking about the switch from Nike to Adidas http://www.cnbc.com/id/19710056/Michigan_Goes_Adidas_As_Nike_Runs_Out_On...
(2006 or later) A Michigan related Twitter site http://www.bigbluetweets.com/
(?) A “website” calling for Michigan fans to save Lloyd Carr http://www.nd.edu/~dcieslak/savellloydcarr.html
(1999) A 32 page children’s book (they’re poisoning our children!) http://www.amazon.com/Go-Big-Blue-Michigan-Wolverines/dp/0886829798
Three things worth noting: 1) lack of volume 2) no official use of the term 3) with the exception of the 1999 children’s book (whose author I now blame for this more than Corso as it is probably safe to assume it's one of his favorite books) no uses of the term prior to 2006-ish, which is about when I remember hearing Corso say it for the first time.
I followed this up with searches for Big Blue Kentucky, Big Blue Giants, and Big Blue IBM. The sheer volume of relevant results, both official and otherwise, was enough to tell me that the lack of results for Michigan WAS significant. It is not a widely accepted nickname for the Wolverines.
Now the question remains, can it be an accepted nickname? Are we okay with calling ourselves Big Blue? If it were up to just me, I’d ship everyone who says “yes” to a far away country (like maybe Kentucky). Of course it’s perfectly acceptable to give someone or something a nickname of your own. For instance, I call my younger brother “Pencilneck”. However, when you begin expecting others to use that same nickname I think you’re asking for trouble.
Just think of the troubles the acceptance this particular nickname would cause. The football cheerleaders would need a 3rd sign for the “Go Big Blue” chants across the stadium. Mgoblue.com would go missing only to be replaced with Mgobigblue.com. Worst of all, my head would explode. Please don’t allow this to happen.
Take a stand with me and put an end to “Crazy Michigan Fan’s” use of Big Blue.
May 29th, 2010 at 8:24 PM
#2
Big Blue is not acceptable.
May 29th, 2010 at 10:38 PM
#3
Big Blue is the New York Giants
The NY media use it all the time, especially the tabloids. I think the Giants themselves use it on occasion.
May 29th, 2010 at 8:38 PM
#4
Also, CaliWolverine78 is a
Also, CaliWolverine78 is a moron.
May 29th, 2010 at 8:40 PM
#5
This is true. I think he just
Big Blue himself.
May 29th, 2010 at 8:38 PM
#6
CaliW...
doesn't seem to be a troll, just painfully stupid. There's no danger of "Big Blue" taking hold. You can get down from that ledge now.
May 29th, 2010 at 8:43 PM
#7
Big Blue = NY Football Giants
Big Blue = NY Football Giants
May 29th, 2010 at 9:13 PM
#8
this post is not acceptable
this post is not acceptable
May 29th, 2010 at 10:40 PM
#9
Well, you're close
But, everyone knows that the words "not acceptable" or "totally unacceptable", etc., are supposed to be in ALL CAPS when on a fan site. That's just how it works, apparently. Otherwise, slow people might not think you're really trying to make an emphatic point.
May 29th, 2010 at 9:37 PM
#10
Lame, but it happens
Michigan is not Big Blue and it gets annoying to hear people use the nickname who don't know any better. Still, it isn't uncommon for these kinds of pet peeves to exist between fans/students/alums and outside observers. I know that every single USC press release says, "Don't call us Southern Cal!" and gives a long list of names/nicknames the athletic department deems acceptable, yet Southern Cal is still way more prevalent than Big Blue.
June 2nd, 2010 at 2:24 AM
#11
Sparty
My MSU alum friends despise being called "Sparty" during coverage. I thought it was kind fo fun, but they find it demeaning and want to be called "Michigan State."
I guess it happens to everyone?
May 29th, 2010 at 9:51 PM
#12
My vote is to park 'Big
My vote is to park 'Big Blue' on the couch next to 'Umich' and torch the hell out of that thing!
May 29th, 2010 at 10:10 PM
#13
interesting..
and i thought couch burning was only an MSU thing....
May 30th, 2010 at 1:21 PM
#14
My vote is to park 'Big
My vote is to park 'Big Blue' on the couch next to 'Umich' and torch the hell out of that thing!
I'm guessing you didn't go to Michigan? Umich is used all the time. Student and staff email addresses are @umich.edu. The official site is umich.edu. Umich is more of an academic nickname, I admit, but I find nothing wrong with it.
Big Blue, however, I hate.
May 30th, 2010 at 8:27 PM
#15
reply
I did go to Michigan, pre-internet era. The first time I heard "umich" was when I was living in Boston post-graduation. There were a number of people I worked with who attended the University of Massachusetts (aka UMass). I was in an adult beverage setting with one of them when someone joined us at a table. My coworker introduced me as a person who went to "umich". Ever since, I've associated UMich with UMass and frankly, I don't like associating Michigan with Umass in any way other than a slapdown this coming fall.
I understand the email tag and all, and can and do accept it as typed...but do people really say it..."Hey, let's go watch the Umich football game Saturday!" or "Umich better outrebound emich Tuesday night in a key nonconference game!"?
I really hope the answer is no...
May 29th, 2010 at 9:57 PM
#16
'big blue', 'wolverine
'big blue', 'wolverine nation', and 'UM' all need to go. We're the Wolverines, the maize and blue, and our school is UofM.
May 29th, 2010 at 10:30 PM
#17
seriously
Big Blue = Giants
UM = Miami (yes that Miami)
Wolverine Nation = just sounds fucking stupid
May 30th, 2010 at 1:22 AM
#18
click this link and look for yourself
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Michigan
UM = University of Michigan Established in 1817
University of Miami Established in 1925
so tell me, who is the original UM?
May 30th, 2010 at 1:19 PM
#19
We are U OF M. The emphasis
We are U OF M. The emphasis is bolded.
May 30th, 2010 at 1:35 PM
#20
UM can be Miami, Minnesota,
UM can be Miami, Minnesota, or whoever, but Michigan is U of M or U-M.
June 2nd, 2010 at 2:21 AM
#21
It's all relative...
...and regional. If you're out of Michigan, then UofM can mean any number of schools - Minnesota, Memphis, etc. The UM vs. UofM did get me thinking, and per the ever-scientific google searches:
UM:
1. Miami, 2. Michigan
U of M:
1. Michigan, 2. Minnesota
When I'm away from Ann Arbor, and especially away from the midwest, I revert to UMich or something like that, to ensure I'm not mistaken for a gopher.
May 29th, 2010 at 10:04 PM
#22
Big Blue isn't going to go
Big Blue isn't going to go away anytime soon but it is kind of annoying to hear it or see it.
May 29th, 2010 at 10:38 PM
#23
Cali78
= Em0. Look at all his posts and tell me they don't look freakishly similar (wierd capping of words, replying to almost every post in a thread.)
Take it to the bank!
May 29th, 2010 at 10:48 PM
#24
We won't know for sure until the meltdown.
If you can goad him into one this evening I encourage you to do so.
May 29th, 2010 at 10:49 PM
#25
BB
I'm personally not a fan. 'Blue Nation' is better if you must use an adjective.
May 29th, 2010 at 10:58 PM
#26
'Noun' is better
If you must use 'Blue Nation'.
About which: please don't.
May 30th, 2010 at 12:11 AM
#27
done
To appease the mass i changed that in my signature..have a nice night
May 30th, 2010 at 10:10 AM
#28
Sorry dude, I wasn't trying
Sorry dude, I wasn't trying to single you out. You're definitely not the first person to use it on this site and almost certainly will not be the last. :)
May 30th, 2010 at 1:05 AM
#29
damn
the offseason sucks.
May 30th, 2010 at 8:27 AM
#30
I think Big Blue was originally a term for IBM
Back when they were actually a big player in the computing world.
May 30th, 2010 at 11:45 AM
#31
Uhh
Still are. Annual revenues of $96 B (was over the $100 B mark, but declined during the recession) stock trading at about $125 per share, and net income of $13.4 B. More than respectable.
May 30th, 2010 at 11:15 AM
#32
Another reason to avoid it
Doesn't Kentucky use "Big Blue?"
May 30th, 2010 at 2:50 PM
#33
Yes,
Also 'Big Blue Nation.' Stupid.
May 30th, 2010 at 1:12 PM
#34
Desmond Needs to Tell Corso & Co.
If Desmond makes a point of it next time Corso gets it wrong, that would go a long way to snuffing it out.
Being fifteen years older than you, I was infuriated for a time that the closed-fist chop during "Temptation" was being converted to a FSU-style tomahawk chop (or some Zoolander-style "claw"). It's supposed to be a fist, dammit! But things change. We've got to do what we can to protect core traditions (like winning).
But I'll help you snuff out "Big Blue" if you stop those people doing the tomahawk chop during Temptation.
May 30th, 2010 at 2:09 PM
#35
If you don't like it, don't
If you don't like it, don't use it.
Doesn't that take care of the problem?
Mountains and molehills, people.
May 30th, 2010 at 3:50 PM
#36
Lee Corso
No matter what we say we'll have to listen to him call us "Big Blue" every gameday in the fall.
May 30th, 2010 at 4:24 PM
#37
It is the end of the World!
It is the end of the World! Chill out and go outside for a while. Step away from the computer and do something else. Big Blue won't go away because of the reference to it in NCAA Football. Because of that it has become a staple and fans of others teams know us as that because of said game. Stop being a pussy and spend some time with your wife or partner.
May 30th, 2010 at 5:09 PM
#38
Wow. You seem to be pretty
Wow. You seem to be pretty upset. I think you need to step away from your computer and do something else after double checking the tone of my post.
Also, I haven't played EA's NCAA Football since '05. When and how did they refer to us as Big Blue?
May 31st, 2010 at 7:41 AM
#39
Don't be so passive
If it is used in the EA game, then it is easy to fix in future editions if enough people object to it. Maybe we could even prod someone from the University to contact them about it and get it changed. For better or worse, this blog and a few other places like it are the internet guardians of Michigan traditions. Referring to Michigan Football as "Big Blue" is just wrong, and a pretty bad mistake by EA.
I do agree, however, that this should have been a board post -- it hardly merits a diary.
May 31st, 2010 at 6:05 PM
#40
Does it really bother you
Does it really bother you that much?
June 5th, 2010 at 12:53 PM
#41
UM vs U of M regionality (and "the U")
Down in the southern tip of Florida, I was much dismayed that when I was asked about my undergrad experience I would reply "U of M" and would get in reply, "Oh, I went to Miami, too." In my area of employment, we colloquially refer to U of M (specifically the hospital) as "the U," which is also (distastefully) how Hurricane alums declare their affiliation, especially the ex-cons who have moved on to the NFL. And I've always equated Mr. Corso and other ESPN wonks referral to us as "Big Blue" as a feeble-minded attempt to equate the Wolverines to either the NY Giants or IBM as a ubiquitous, evil empire-type entity.
OH, that reminds me... "the Wolves"!!!! I've seen and heard this nickname used several times in media. WE ARE NOT THE WOLVES!!! The similarity between wolverines and wolves ends at being quadripedal fur-bearing carnivorous mammals. Not to mention, THE WOLVES are U of M DEARBORN. [/rant]
