The Definition of Wal-Mart Wolverine
January 24th, 2015 at 12:35 AM ^
January 23rd, 2015 at 11:36 PM ^
It is a Sparty construct born of nothing more than petty bitterness. By their line of thinking, ND, USC, da U, Duke hoops and any other national program should have tiny fan bases.
January 23rd, 2015 at 11:36 PM ^
January 23rd, 2015 at 11:52 PM ^
I've lived in Texas all my life, started loving UM around 92'-93'.
I work at Texas A&M and despise the aggies. They call longhorn fans who didn't go to UT, "T-Shirt" fans. I think it's dumb but cheer for who you want. I've never been to the Ann Arbor but have been to UM games before...
05' Rose Bowl
12' UM-Bama
13' UM-Kansas bball
Call me any fan name you want but I will always cheer for Michigan.
January 24th, 2015 at 12:01 AM ^
The creation of the phrase is just another sign that a sizable faction of the Spartan fanbase is obsessed with the University of Michigan and find it necessary to demean Michigan in some way in order to boost their self esteem.
January 24th, 2015 at 12:11 AM ^
The only people I look down on as a Michigan alum are the people who actually perpetuate the term "Walmart Wolverine". For the most part, that means I'm looking down on lots of Sam's Club Spartans and Big Lots Buckeyes who have nothing better to do in life than troll Michigan fan websites, blogs, and other social media pages. I don't even know how it started, but I remember a "Not So Pure Michigan" video by John Kerfoot that used the term freely (and then he made one about MSU going on about the beauty of their women and I figured he wasn't a friend to Ann Arbor).
Anyone who thinks Michigan is the only school with fans who didn't go to school there is a moron. It would make for some pretty pathetic CFB TV ratings across the country and a lot of unsold gear in stores like the MDen. I'm guessing a high percentage of the people shelling out bucks to go to games in East Lansing and Columbus haven't seen the hallowed halls of those schools either.
So, never think of yourself as a Walmart Wolverine. You have the good taste to love the Wolverines and the courage to be an free-thinking individual in a sea of scarlet-clad sheep who worship nuts.
Go Blue.
January 24th, 2015 at 3:00 AM ^
This has got to be the funniest line I've read today, "...the courage to be an free-thinking individual in a sea of scarlet-clad sheep who worship nuts."
January 24th, 2015 at 7:48 AM ^
January 24th, 2015 at 7:46 AM ^
January 24th, 2015 at 7:57 AM ^
January 24th, 2015 at 8:59 AM ^
January 24th, 2015 at 10:11 AM ^
I totally relate to a lot of this. Thank you for posting!
I too have an obsession with the school I never attended and a connection to a town I've been to only a handful of times. I rarely post because I feel those "more connected" should be doing that.
It's hard to explain to people how going to the Big House at the age of 5 will shape a kid's fandom. It's also hard to explain that despite going to Arizona State, I've been to more Michigan games than Sun Devil games. So I wear Michigan gear, win or lose, but hate the enivitable quesion, "Did you go to Michigan?" Thanks again for posting. Go Blue!
January 24th, 2015 at 7:45 PM ^
I'm 52 years old, a 1985 graduate of a teeny private college in Illinois, and I've only become a Michigan fan in the past five or six years - - as I gradually realized that I love, not the University of Michigan, but the school's fanbase.
The Michigan fans I've had the privilege to meet (and the ones I meet vicariously on this blog) are passionate, articulate, funny, pragmatic, and amazingly steadfast. How can I not want to share (however peripherally) in this fraternity?
I live in Kansas, and this year I put a large donation in a Salvation Army kettle because the bell ringer was wearing a Michigan jacket. Go blue!
January 25th, 2015 at 2:02 AM ^
I was 6 or 7 in Winnipeg when I saw UM on TV playing Minnesota in a Big 10 game. Got hooked, those helmets, the Wolverine / X-Men thing.
Could never have afforded to go as a non-US citizen, remained a dream through HS.
Met many UM fans and grads over the years, in the many different places I've lived - Vancouver, Tokyo, Montreal, wherever. Not one of them showed the slightest bit of condescension or superiority because they were a grad, or from AA, etc. Not once.
I sport my Bo-style cap every (non freezing) day and my daughter knew the words to The Victors at 5. Maybe one day if she & her sister are so inclined and have the grades they'll go to UM (only 8 & 3, lots of time for classwork and working jump shots), but for now we are fans, having fun with it.
It's been one of the most amazing groups I have ever been associated with, very welcoming and encouraging. So always take the high road, touch the cap to those who hurl insults, smile, act right, read 'Bo's Lasting Lessons', stick with the blog, look forward to game day. Take an online course (actually looking at that as well). Never waver. It's always worth it.
January 25th, 2015 at 9:18 AM ^
This is a great post. Grew up watching Bo in the 70's. Graduated from CMU, but UM sports come 1st. I believe the "Walmart Wolverine" is jealous spartan fans. UM has grown a very large fan base and has one of the largest alumni associations in the country. This fan base is very dedicated to UM. Even these past 7 years of struggles the stadium is full & merchandise is selling. Because of that strong fan base UM has the highest Uniform deal in college sports. The MSU fan support is only up when they are successful. When the wins start to go down the the fan base wil react according, the stadium will not be full and less merchandise will be sold.
January 27th, 2015 at 4:40 PM ^
I went to Michigan but would have been a Michigan fan no matter where I went, as I grew up in SE Michigan and always loved Michigan football and hockey. I do and always will defend those referred to as "Walmart Wolverines" because it is ridiculous. EVERY strong football school in the nation has fans who didn't attend -- look at ohio state ("10,000 students and 90,000 truck drivers"). I am still waiting for the day I see an msu grad publicly denounce a fellow spartan fan who didn't attend michigan state. That will never happen because this whole term is about jealousy (proven by such hypocrisy). This is one of the primary reasons I hate msu just that little bit more than osu.
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