The Definition of Wal-Mart Wolverine

Submitted by Winchester Wolverine on
In my first public posting, I chose a diary in order to avoid a public execution on the message board. I've lurked on this blog for years and yet I still have a burning question that can only be answered by the likes of this board. When I was young and growing up in southwest Ohio, I was surrounded by sameness. Red shirts promoting the block "O" clouded my peripheral vision wherever I went. It still does. Yet, occasionally, those ever-so-sweet maize and blue colors would pop up in the hallways at school. I liked that. Even before I understood what football, or any other sport for that matter, meant to the general population. So, in an effort to distinguish myself from the crowd, I unknowingly picked up the most proverbial, unholy of things to break from the school of fish swimming in one linear direction of fandom. I picked up my first hat with the honorary block "M". It was the first of many. Winged helmet shirts and the "Suckeye" comments shortly ensued. It wasn't some stroke of generic, story-like love that led me to dream of being on campus in Ann Arbor. It was a love that built over time. I enjoyed the arguments at school about who'd win The Game. About who had better players, colors, and stadiums. I enjoyed watching every game I could. Win or lose, my increasing love for the team became unwavering and eventually spread to my passion playing the game myself. I could waste more of your time explaining my fondest memories while witnessing countless telivised games. But eventually it was those memories that built a foundation I could justify my passion on. My dream was to play football or even basketball for the Wolverines. High school came and went, proving I was too small and un-athletic to do so. So I dreamed of the next best thing: Life in the student section. Studying in the acadimic prowess that is the University. However, a troubled childhood and otherwise poor circumstances made my second best dream a very improbable one to come true. I'm not usually prone to excuses but a big dose of life has stymied my attempt to fulfill my passion. And yet, my empty passion still holds true. I love the University of Michigan. It's an almost strange obsession, having never gone to school there. I have no alumni in my family. In fact, no one in my family has ever furthered their education. I am another factory working descendent in the long list of blue color Americans with the same last name. If you're still reading, you now know a little about me. Though I still wish to attend school in my favorite city in the world, right now is not exactly realistic. I'm not sure it ever will be. So my question is: Is "my kind" heavily looked down upon by the alumni? Am I the infamous "Wal-Mart Wolverine"? I must admit, I expect I know what the answer is. But it is a question worth asking. Whatever the reaction I get from this will not deter my fandom. Nothing ever will. I never felt I was worthy of posting on this blog because of these questions of mine (hence the lurking for a few years). But I am truly intrigued by the responses I may or may not get. Thank you for taking the time to read my first diary post. This long entry may not be written well either, but shit, no post-high school education may do that to you.
Football

Comments

Roy G. Biv

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.

Joined: 09/03/2010

MGoPoints: 6956

Zach Morris

January 23rd, 2015 at 11:52 PM ^

I feel you
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.

Joined: 04/19/2012

MGoPoints: 234

UMgradMSUdad

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.

Joined: 07/02/2011

MGoPoints: 13179

M-GoGirl

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.

 

Joined: 10/28/2014

MGoPoints: 738

Badkitty

January 24th, 2015 at 3:00 AM ^

I find it hilarious that Sparty fans would choose to denigrate any Wolverine fans who didn't attend U of M as "Walmart Wolverines'.  What do they call their own fans who didn't go to MSU?  Dollar Store Sparties?  
Any fan of the Wolverines is a Wolverine in my eyes.

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."

 

Joined: 01/07/2011

MGoPoints: 4939

A2D2

January 24th, 2015 at 7:57 AM ^

I wondered why the Detroit sport talk announcers were mostly state slappys. After a while I came to realize the obvious- MSU grads work at radio stations, but UM grads OWN radio stations!

Joined: 11/09/2009

MGoPoints: 198

gobluefromutah

January 24th, 2015 at 8:59 AM ^

I've always thought the whole thing was pretty stupid. I went to college at a school with no football team, so by Sparty logic, I guess I wouldn't be allowed to be a fan of any team at all. I'm in agreement with the idea that they are in fact just jealous of the more expansive Michigan fanbase, which seems silly to me because there are plenty of logical reasons as to why it is bigger. Sparty fans need to just suck it up and get over it.

Joined: 06/04/2012

MGoPoints: 130

oc michigan fan

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! 

Joined: 12/06/2008

MGoPoints: 295

ruthmahner

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!

Joined: 03/04/2014

MGoPoints: 7918

mtlcarcajou

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.

Joined: 02/19/2011

MGoPoints: 1024

White-Pants

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.

 

Joined: 01/11/2015

MGoPoints: 352

truferblue22

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. 

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 13323