Michigan Football Family Traditions
I noticed the similar thread posted earlier about personal traditions/rituals, but it wasn't quite what I was looking for.
My MGoFamily has been growing recently. I now have two small children running around in Maize & Blue without really knowing why. :)
What I am trying to figure out is what kind of family traditions we can start to implement in order to get the kids excited for Michigan Football Saturdays.
What traditions do you do with your kids/family? Do you do anything to get them hyped for gamedays?
August 29th, 2014 at 11:07 AM ^
It's two things for my family.
First is tailgating... early. We bring balls, games, TV, and enough food for about 15 meals with a group twice our size. Basically, we bring anything that seems like it could contribute to a fun, exciting pre-game.
Second is human sacrifice. We find one neighbor or friend before every home Saturday and kill him as an offering to the football gods. I wouldn't do that to my kids, obviously, but at this point none of us could imagine a home game without it.
Go Blue!
August 29th, 2014 at 11:25 AM ^
your neighbors and friends do not start a similar tradition...
August 29th, 2014 at 11:35 AM ^
Hopefully he lives in Ohio.
August 29th, 2014 at 11:39 AM ^
The boy is 2 years old now. Human sacrifice is part of life. It's time he learned that.
August 29th, 2014 at 11:08 AM ^
A big one for ticket holders is to stay after the game for post game band show. I always loved that as a kid.
August 29th, 2014 at 12:03 PM ^
I have some fellow grads who come in and stay with me for a game every year and requre we stay for the entire post-game band show. Used to annoy me but now I like it.
August 29th, 2014 at 11:10 AM ^
My family tradition starts with us waking up really early and departing Columbus for A2 before the drooling hordes arrive. We then meet my dad at the McDonalds in Findlay, where we give knowing nods and smiles to all of the Ohio-resident, maize-and-blue faithful that also make a stop there. Then a straight shot up to Ann Arbor where we stroll the neighborhoods east of the stadium and comment on how great it would be to live there all the time.
This tradition will not be renewed this year as we have been priced out by the athletic department. Whoever is sitting in Section 5, Row 48... keep the seats warm.
August 29th, 2014 at 11:37 AM ^
Our tradition is blueberry pancakes at my parents house before we leave for the game. Often before bowl games we use food coloring to put M logos on them and the numbers of our favorite players.
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August 29th, 2014 at 12:03 PM ^
First my mom gives me the tickets and I hand then out the same way, every single time. Mom gets hers first, Dad second, I'm last. Then its the tailgate, we eat as much as possible because the food prices in the stadium are unreal.
Then my Dad gathers all his recruits and we head to the stadium and down on the field until the event staff tells everyone it's time to go up to their seats.
Same tradition for as long as I can remember
August 29th, 2014 at 12:04 PM ^
I take it your father is a high school football coach?
August 29th, 2014 at 12:21 PM ^
No he's a coach at the university
August 29th, 2014 at 12:28 PM ^
Would your father happen to be a wide receivers coach? (Just going off the initials)
August 29th, 2014 at 12:36 PM ^
Nope not a coach of one of the "major" sports at the school
August 29th, 2014 at 12:08 PM ^
I've been tailgating with the same people for 20 years. Unfortunately we were "Brandoned" and had to move from the Gray Lot but we're even closer now on Hill and Green next to the blaring rave from the Business School young alums. Noon starts are bagels and eggs. 3:30 and night games are sausages from Holiday Market and grilled muffaleta sandwiches from an italian grocery and grilled salami.
Need a good beer recommendation. I'm now treat Oberon like my wife treats wearing white, not ok after Labor Day. Been looking for a good pumpkin beer. Any recommendations?
August 29th, 2014 at 12:16 PM ^
Whole Hog Pumpkin from Stevens Point Brewery
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/786/52279/
Terrapin Pumpkinfest
August 29th, 2014 at 12:30 PM ^
Now that we play Maryland I'm not sure I can get with the latter one but I appreciate the recommendations. Are any of these widely available or do I have to go to a place that specialized is craft beer?
August 29th, 2014 at 1:01 PM ^
most stores with beer caves should have it, but call ahead, usually around $7 per big bottle, worth every cent.
August 29th, 2014 at 12:50 PM ^
You can't force tradition. Just be open to new things and if it works, it will stick.
August 29th, 2014 at 12:53 PM ^
The A2 Denny's. We stop there before every game. We've doing that for many years.
August 29th, 2014 at 1:10 PM ^
My ex in-laws are huge Sparty fans (grads, all), and good people. Every year they go to the UM/MSU game with their friends who are UM grads, and there are often practical jokes involved.
One year the Sparties wake up, and there are 11 chickens, all spray-painted green, in a makeshift pen in the front yard! Now that's a great gag, IMO.
August 29th, 2014 at 1:12 PM ^
My wife has NO interest in football. NONE. If I watch the game, it will be alone while the wife and kids go to the beach. That's no fun. I'll be DVRing the game. My kids are still young, so I have plenty of time.
August 29th, 2014 at 2:34 PM ^
My son is almost two, so I've been wondering the same thing. He already loves "The Victors" so much that if I stop mid-verse, he fills in the missing words. He really enjoys watching soccer on TV, but football has not yet caught his interest (to be fair, this will be the first season it's possible). We don't live anywhere close enough to get to the games, so I'll be thinking through fun things we can do at the house.