How did YOU become a Wolverine?
Alrighty, first period and bored. I want to know how all you have became Wolverines and why you stuck with it, i became a Wolverine because my dad loved them and was never able to attend the University so i'll try to be the first. Discuss & Go Blue!
January 9th, 2012 at 10:09 AM ^
The first game I can remember watching was the 91 Notre Dame game, and while I didn't understand the risk of throwing to the endzone on 4th and 1, I still thought Desmond's catch was the coolest thing I had ever seen. Most of my dad's side of the family went to/live in Minnesota, and are huge gopher fans, and I when I was six I apparently asked why they all 'root for that team who always loses to Michigan'. My dad said I should spare myself a life of grief and just root for Michigan instead. Haven't stopped since.
January 9th, 2012 at 10:11 AM ^
Funny enough, I did not follow football prior to attending Michigan (not even professional football). I was a big baseball fan growing up (even though my team never did anything) and never really followed any other sport, except for soccer during the WC and hockey during the olympics. Needless to say, after four years at Michigan....What's baseball again? =)
January 9th, 2012 at 10:12 AM ^
My stepfather is an alumni and we watched every bball and football game since I was 5. We live in NC and stood by them during Mens bball championship game loses to Duke and UNC in the face of everyone I knew at the time. I never attended school there nor have I ever been to a game, but I have been a die hard fan for 25 years now. .
January 9th, 2012 at 10:14 AM ^
My dad went to Michigan State and I grew up a Spartan. I couldn't stand Michigan and the "arrogant" fans. I hated the Fab Five. But when it came time to apply to different colleges, Michigan was the only in-state school I considered. Even as a Spartan I couldn't deny the superiority of Michigan's engineering school. Still, I considered it my "safety school" and only decided to go there after considering the costs of going out-of-state and realizing I couldn't find a better place for the money. Even after moving into the dorms I still planned on rooting for Michigan State. I went to the first football game with the intention of being a casual observer, and that didn't change as I walked through campus toward the stadium. I even remember being unimpressed by the size of the stadium as I showed my ticket and went through the gates.
The moment I walked into the stadium, everything changed. I think the band was playing - I'm not sure. I don't really have words to describe the awe I felt as that tiny-looking stadium was opened up to me and I saw 100,000 fans. I thought to myself, "Oh, shit, this 'staying a Spartan' thing isn't going to work..." That was it. I've been a die-hard Wolverine ever since.
January 9th, 2012 at 10:18 AM ^
Father UM law '66. Step father LSA'58. I'd go to games with both. Although I live between UNC and Duke, my son, like me will not have a choice for his undergrad and he's ok with that.
January 9th, 2012 at 10:19 AM ^
I became a Michigan fan when they offered me a research fellowship.
January 9th, 2012 at 10:30 AM ^
I remember listening to the OSU Game in 1974 while visiting someone in Ohio. That pushed me to Michigan, and I aimed toward attending, coming as a Freshman 3 years later.
January 9th, 2012 at 10:30 AM ^
From Grand Blanc, first Rick Leach goes to Michigan and thrives and then Steve Smith goes and has modest success.
January 9th, 2012 at 10:31 AM ^
Leach from Flint Southwestern but close enough
January 9th, 2012 at 10:35 AM ^
Raised in A2, watched the games every saturday, loved the uni's, also appreciated the tradition at an early age.
Snuck into the stadium during my trip home from AZ this past summer, and got goosebumps being back inside (also ran out on the field which was a highlight of my life).
January 9th, 2012 at 10:34 AM ^
Dad went to MSU, so growing up in Michigan, I rooted for them, even though my mom was UM and my first cfb experiences were all at Michigan Stadium. Then we moved to Texas, and one of my few connections to home was M games (MSU not on national TV). I guess I officially switched with the 89 Rose Bowl. Then it came time to pick a school, M said yes, Dad said yes, Desmond caught that pass, and it was over.
January 9th, 2012 at 10:37 AM ^
I'm from Connecticut, but my dad is from a small town in southeast Michigan (Morenci, it has about 2000 people in it). He moved to New England for work, and I remember watching Michigan football games with him every Saturday...you know how little boys tend to copy their dads, especially when it comes to sports.
Even though I didn't became a die-hard fan until about 8th grade, my 5th-grade teacher knew UM was where I wanted to go to college, so I was indoctrinated at an early age. It was a reach/dream school for me, but I was blessed to be accepted and have a wonderful four years in AA...I'm long overdue for a visit, I haven't been back since I graduated in May 2010.
January 9th, 2012 at 10:40 AM ^
My whole family is Michigan fans and it was something that I was raised on. I can remember my Dad taking me to at least 1 game a year since the age of 7. In 7th grade we took a trip to see our states capitol and on the trip our teacher took us to see Michigan States campus and I was the only kid in the whole group to wear a Michigan sweatshirt! There has never been another school for me.
January 9th, 2012 at 10:40 AM ^
I feel like this is a great post haha. Of course, memories of Michigan football stay with me daily, but reading the responses here have really put a smile on my face all day. Well done!
January 9th, 2012 at 10:48 AM ^
My dad is an Ohio State fan and my older brother is (possibly was now) a Penn State fan. Youngest sibling be trollin. Then I kinda just kept rooting for them and here I am.
January 9th, 2012 at 10:49 AM ^
I grew up in Farmington Hills as a state of Michigan fan which meant, yes, I did root for Sparty and Michigan in my formative years. In head to head matchups though I preferred the Wolverines, probably because those head to head matchups tended to go the way of the Wolverines. I was a pretty mediocre high school student at a fairly prestigious Detroit-area preparatory, but a high ACT score gave me hope that I could get into Michigan. Alas, I was waitlisted and decided to move on to my second favorite, Depaul, since I really loved Chicago at that time. Two weeks before the start of classes at Depaul (and after meeting my roommate), Michigan removed me from the wait list and I bailed.
Everything just worked out for me, was very blessed to have been there as a student at the Rose Bowl for the '97 MNC and Crisler for the party a few days later, partying with Lee C. Bollinger, participating in the naked mile (as it used to be), phone registration (for the life of me I'm not remembering what that bitch was named...anybody?), subway stamps in the union basement, smoking black and milds with floor-mates Anthony Thomas and Maurice Williams on a picnic bench outside of Adams House in WQ, Brandon Hughes "BH" stamp on the old Crisler scoreboards, Dominicks on the first day of spring....the list goes on and on. I can only imagine how different my life would have been if I didn't choose that path...
January 9th, 2012 at 10:53 AM ^
I bought a slightly off-centered MIchigan sweatshirt in Connecticut in 2006 for $5. So that got me to start watching Michigan football and as you all know it's very hard to watch this team without becoming hopelessly devoted. Over time, I've also started following other Michigan sports because of the excellent coverage on this blog.
January 9th, 2012 at 10:59 AM ^
Grew up in KC and Michigan is one of the first teams I remember watching as a kid. Desmond, Elvis, Wheatley, etc. It just stuck with me even when I was at KState, I always watched the Michigan games on Saturdays along with the Cats. I usually make it to 1 game in AA a year and a couple trips to Manhattan (a lot closer to KC). Wear Michigan gear and have to have the awkward conversation with strangers once or twice a month in KC when someone asked if I went to UM.
January 9th, 2012 at 11:02 AM ^
January 9th, 2012 at 11:03 AM ^
-Born to two U-M alums in '80
<br>-Graduated in '03
<br>Blue through and through.
January 9th, 2012 at 12:14 PM ^
My sister told me I was a follower and the worst so I transferred to Michigan to change things.
January 9th, 2012 at 11:12 AM ^
The advent of the Fab 5 combined with the copy of US News and World Report I picked up at a supermarket in Northern Michigan.
January 9th, 2012 at 11:16 AM ^
In the 60's when the Big House was rarely full. High school band day was a big deal to make the stadium more full. Could leave the stadium a half-time to guzzle more grub.
Then normal attendance was about 75,000 per game.
The Bo appeared for my last year and changed things in a very large way.
January 9th, 2012 at 11:17 AM ^
i became a wolverine becausebof rich rod. i was a state fan. married to a state fan but was a fan of rich rods offense. but as i started to follow rr, i started to see and learn about the history and the tradition of Michigan football and bo. i saw the truth and the light and joined the good guys. so now I'm true blue and hate the green n white. my msu wife n i argue all the time. i had to throw away my msu clothes and now sport all michigan gear. go blue!
January 9th, 2012 at 11:31 AM ^
I suspect that there are a lot of people who became fans during the Rich Rod era but you might be the only one who became a fan because of the Rich Rod era. Hey, whatever it takes.
January 9th, 2012 at 11:33 AM ^
The same high school that has produced Desmond Howard, Elvis Grbac, Andy Cannavino, Al Sincich, and Eric Riley.
My father and uncle were good friends with Cannavino and Sincich, who were told that they were too small to play for Ohio State. Throw in the fact that my Grandpa absolutely hated Woody Hayes, and that has produced a whole family of die hard Michigan fans.
January 9th, 2012 at 11:37 AM ^
I am from Iowa. Which means Michigan fans are about as plentiful as corn is scarce. My dad however grew up in Ann Arbor, and always would tell me stories of playing football in the Big House on Christmas with a bunch of friends and going to basketball games and all that fun stuff. I was wearing Michigan colors before I understood what Maize and Blue was. One of my mom's favorite stories to tell about me is how I would watch a Michigan Marching band video over and over again and then have her call out "Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand take the field!" and then I would come out high stepping from the next room. We didn't have cable for quite a few years, so my ardent fanhood started about my 8th grade year when we finally got it, and while I hadn't been an ardent fan like all my Iowa fan friends were, you could find me in some sort of shade of maize and blue almost every day. I grew up in enemy country, but I bleed blue.
January 9th, 2012 at 11:41 AM ^
My mom went to U-M. When I was a little kid, I could never understand why she got so upset at the football games. I mean, it wasn't the PROS! (Especially since she went to school the LAST time Michigan wasn't any good in football). But as I grew up, I really began to love Bo, and what he stood for. Read his book and followed them. In high school, it already seemed those who were headed to State were very "little brother", before anyone even knew the term. I applied to Michigan, and Michigan only. My back-up plan was if I wasn't going to get into Michigan I was going to apply to U of Hawaii, get a 4.0 and hang with hot island chicks on the beach all day long. But I was accepted. And once you've been to Michigan Stadium, you never want to leave. Basketball was pretty darn good back then too.
So thanks, mom.
January 9th, 2012 at 11:51 AM ^
I was born and raised in Ann Arbor. I went to games at the Big House growing up, including Bo's last home game, the Colorado Hail Mary debacle, and Carr's first game as head coach. I got my undergraduate and law degrees from Michigan. I literally met my wife there; we first met in Angell Hall and I proposed to her in the Media Union (long story). I probably couldn't stop loving the University of Michigan even if I wanted to.
January 9th, 2012 at 11:54 AM ^
I cried that night. That's when I knew I was a Michigan fan.
January 9th, 2012 at 11:57 AM ^
Grandpa was an alum and diehard Mich fan, therefore my dad and uncle were Mich fans. Ergo, I was a Mich fan ever since I can remember (I mean that VERY literally).
Later on, I attended and still do attend Mich, finishing up my 3rd Michigan degree (BSE '07, MSE '09, Ph.D. '12).
Grandpa just passed away last winter, wish I could've finished my dissertation sooner so he could've been there. My dissertation will be dedicated to him.
January 9th, 2012 at 11:57 AM ^
I was raised one. It came as naturally as being a Tigers or a Lions fan.
January 9th, 2012 at 12:04 PM ^
...to Bob Ufer's radio broadcasts. His enthusiasm and excitement were contagious and caused a kid from Bay City to grow up a rabid fan.
Besides, my parents were MSU fans (mom is a sparty) and I could not stand their colors.
January 9th, 2012 at 12:16 PM ^
The wing tip helmet! Growning up I always looked for that team with the funny looking helmet on T.V.
Plus I have a long time friend who played for Moeller and Carr. Also another who ran track and my wife graduated from there.
January 9th, 2012 at 12:18 PM ^
I did not know UM existed until 1997. My dad would record the games and I'd watch with him. I watched every game that season and have every year since then. Go blue
January 9th, 2012 at 12:24 PM ^
Born in Michigan, raised in Ohio (Ugh). Applied and was accepted to UM but couldn't pull off the out-of-state tution. Never switched allegiance though. Go Blue!
January 9th, 2012 at 12:29 PM ^
Grew up in California so it was always awesome waking up to watch some winged helmets flying around. Also, visited the engineering campus summer between Junior and Senior year of HS and didn't want to go anywhere else. Graduated '11, wouldn't have changed it for anything!
January 9th, 2012 at 12:39 PM ^
I grew up in a neighborhood off of Pauline Blvd. in Ann Arbor. I could go outside during games and hear the crowd roar. My first game was in 1963, when I was 6. I walked with a neighbor and his son to the stadium after halftime (in those non sellout days they opened the gates after halftime). I saw Navy (with Roger Staubach at QB) beat Michigan. I remember both the Michigan winged helmets and the shiny gold Navy helmets. The stadium seemed huge! Somehow I liked the winged helmets better.
January 9th, 2012 at 12:40 PM ^
When I was a freshman in H.S. in the fall of 1970. A buddy of mine came by with a 12 pack of beer and asked, if I was watching the game? I answered , what game? Then he explained a little about Michigan and Ohio State. Up until then I didn't follow college football, except for Notre Dame(Irish Catholic family). I didn't know anything about Michigan football. But being from Mich. I got into the game. They lost(Bo's second year) but I was hooked on Michigan football ever since.
January 9th, 2012 at 12:46 PM ^
Fab Five
January 9th, 2012 at 12:57 PM ^
Applied to two schools, Michigan and Penn State, got in to both, and chose Michigan because it was close to home (only an hour away) and...well, because a Michigan education is top-notch. Kinda dodged a bullet with that one...
I was an ultra-ambitious high school kid who thought he could double-major in music and engineering...but i couldn't get in the music school, so I decided the Michigan Marching Band was a good backup plan. Oh boy, I am sure glad my backup plan happened. Because the 4 years of MMB were what completely transferred me from some high school kid with a mild interest in Michigan to a full-fledged bleed-maize-and-blue Wolverine (and, consequently, an obsessive college football fan).
That started in 2004. Imagine the amount of angst you release when you're a Michigan fan starting in year 1 of most-hated-rival's 7-year winning streak. I went to the OSU game this year...and holy hell, so much pent-up frustration released all in one moment.
January 9th, 2012 at 1:03 PM ^
My dad was a Michigan fan and I grew up in Detroit. The first game I watched was the NC game when I was 3. I heard "The Victors" and "It's Great to be a Michigan Wolverine" and I've been a die-hard fan ever since.
January 9th, 2012 at 1:20 PM ^
I was living in Hawaii in 88 and my father was tired of answering all of our childish questions about football. So he sat us down and made us choose teams and since I loved Wolverine it only made sense.
January 9th, 2012 at 1:20 PM ^
My parents were Michigan fans; I was fortunate enough to go to Michigan for college; my wife went to Michigan; my kids went to Michigan; my family went to Michigania each summer; I guest lecture at Michigan.
I was born Blue and stayed that way my whole life.
January 9th, 2012 at 1:20 PM ^
Growing up I couldn't understand how someone could dislike Michigan.
January 9th, 2012 at 1:49 PM ^
I still don't understand how.
Each recruit that chooses another school leaves me scratching my head.
January 9th, 2012 at 1:25 PM ^
That is all.
January 9th, 2012 at 1:43 PM ^
My dad grew up in Ohio and loved Woody Hayes. My mom is from Michigan. My oldest brother went to Michigan. My older brother went to ohio. I was 11 when the 10 year war started. At that time, my family was living in Akron. My dad rubbed the 1968 50-14 ohio drubbing of Michigan into my oldest brother pretty well. He was a pretty rabid buckeye fan. I watched the 1969 game rooting for the underdog Wolverines to win. After that game, I bled maize and blue.
January 9th, 2012 at 2:24 PM ^
Actually applied on a whim my senior year, mostly because my dad (who's from Ann Arbor) convinced me too. Came here to visit with my parents, but before I came up, I was between Tulane and Boston U. But visiting the campus, getting to feel the Midwest atmosphere (from Tampa), but most especially see the Big House, made me realize that by the time I got off the plane after visiting, I knew Michigan was where I wanted to be. I haven't looked back since.
January 9th, 2012 at 2:43 PM ^
I enrolled at U-M because the grad program I applied to was top-notch and had therefore scored some sweet federal grants than enabled them to throw $$ at grad students. Michigan had not been my first choice, but the financing was sweet.
Once I got here I realized it was destined to be, and Michigan should have been my preferred destination from the get-go. I quickly embraced the Fab Five, the football team, the hockey experience (although it wasn't what it is today). Then I met a local with several family U-M ties, and married him. BOOM I'm a lifer.