Thank you, non-alum "Friends of the University"

Submitted by JeepinBen on

After watching a December basketball game paint Brooklyn Maize, I was inspired to pass along a thank you. 

It’s well known that Michigan has the largest living alumni base of any university. There are many of us who are proud alums and who never have to “justify” our fanhood. Being a Michigan fan came easy to me. The son of two alums (and native Michiganders) I was almost pre-destined to head to Ann Arbor after I graduated high school, despite having grown up outside Chicago. I was lucky and worked hard and managed to go to Michigan and graduate in 2009. There are many who aren’t as lucky as I was. To those of you who are fans of Michigan despite not having a degree: Thank you. You may have been questioned, demeaned even for supporting College Football’s most winning program.

Some may call you “Walmart Wolverine” in a derogatory manner because you choose to support Michigan. But guess what – Michigan doesn’t succeed without the support of everyone: Students, Alumni, Faculty, and (as Fielding Yost called them) “Friends of the University”. It’s true. Michigan Stadium doesn’t get built without non-alumni fans.

From page 190 of Soderstrom’s The Big House* “No one: no student, no alumnus, and no friend of the university would be “giving" anything to the athletic department. Rather, the athletic department would sell a bond at a given amount of interest and pay back all the money over time… it had always been a Michigan athletic tradition that no attempt would be made to secure funds from the state, like the school in East Lansing had done for its new stadium.” Yost needed investors to build the Big House, and it turns out that the first bond letter had provided a “disappointing alumni response” (Page 318) 

After bonds were extended to anyone who wished to buy them, not just alumni, “by early 1927, the whole initial issue, 2000 bonds, was sold.” Yost actually angered some alumni (and students, who felt that their seats were terrible even then) by making sure that there were new seating blocks in Michigan Stadium that were specifically NOT for alumni. Yost’s appeal was as such: “’This is a State University – not a privately endowed institution. Ownership of this institution is vested not in our students, faculty, and alumni – but in the people whose taxes make it possible’ Yost would never tire of making this point” (Page 194). I’ll take Yost's point one step further – It’s not just the taxes or the tuition, but ANY support of Michigan makes you a “real” fan. Maybe you can’t afford tuition and thus aren’t an alum. Maybe you don’t live in Michigan and don’t pay Michigan state taxes. Maybe you can’t afford season tickets (which are no longer $2.50 per game like they were in the 1920s), maybe all you do is own some apparel and visit MGoBlog – both of which provide support to Michigan no matter how small. The next time someone asks you if you went to Michigan, just remember that it was fans like you (not just alums!) who gave us the greatest football stadium in the world. And remember that there can be a little inferiority complex around East Lansing, after all they needed money from the state to build their stadium.

 

*As an aside if you need a stocking stuffer or just a great read on Michigan’s history, I couldn’t recommend Soderstrom’s book more. Click through the MGoLink to Amazon and order it!  

Comments

jaysvw

December 23rd, 2013 at 7:52 PM ^

Every large athletic program be it Michigan, Texas, Alabama, Ohio, etc has large numbers of fans that are not related to the university in any way.  Without "Walmart Wolverines" buying tickets, buying merchandise and subscribing to the B1G network there is no way Michigan has the national visibility (or the budget) it enjoys now.  

User -not THAT user

December 24th, 2013 at 9:39 AM ^

As a "Walmart Wolverine" born and raised in ESS, EEE, SEE country who has bled Maize & Blue since Rick Leach was a freshman (and who is STILL my favorite Michigan Man of all time), it's nice to be acknowledged and even be a bit appreciated.  For me Michigan stands out like the Roman Empire in antiquity, a "point of light in the darkness".  It means a lot knowing that such a place still exists and can still be successful by doing things "the right way".  Principles and standards are important; it's a good lesson to teach children as they grow into adolescence, and adolescents as they grow into young adults.

SteelBrad

December 25th, 2013 at 5:19 AM ^

My fandom started as I rooted for UofM because they were Michigan and that is where I'm from. It felt natural to root for my state. I still get shit for not supporting the Lions (Steelers fan), but I've never had an affinity for Detroit, and never felt "from there".

Firch

December 26th, 2013 at 5:23 PM ^

I went to CMU myself, but I've been a lifelong Michigan fan thanks to my Dad. I hear it every year from almost everyone about how I'm a "Walmart Wolverine" and I all I say in response is "I'm a Steve n Barry's Wolverine!" (for those of you that remember that store) Thank you for the appreciation! It truly means a lot to me as I have to endure grief over my fandom each and every year.

FLwolvfan22

December 28th, 2013 at 9:10 AM ^

I highly resent the term "walmart wolverine". I'm a proud Meijer Wolverine and wouldn't buy my gear at WM. Actually I'm a Western Michigan alum, however my three older brothers graduated from Michigan and once you walk into the big house at about 7 or 8 years, you're pretty much locked in for life. I kind of forgot to study in high school so WMU it was. But still follow Michigan football and basketball fanatically. Looking forward to tonights game, let the Shane era begin, I expect mistakes and picks but he'll learn and next year I actually HOPE for a qb controversy.