Proud Proclamations of a Michigan Fan
My "Ohio" thought balloon went over like lead, which is totally okay! I really like the "Confessions" thread as it is always nice to vent a little bit.
However, here positivity reigns.
What are the things that make you love Michigan?
It doesn't have to be related to football or even athletics. I'll suggest some sharing some of the smaller, more subtle points that you love about this great Michigan of ours, but you're welcome to pull the "Most Wins" card, as we are all appropriately proud of it. Here's some of mine:
- The moment you walk underneath the entry portal and Michigan Stadium opens up to you.
- Holding a fist in the air for M Fanfare.
- The Diag and Angel Hall
- Road-tripping senior year to Kansas City to watch MBB in their first tourney in a decade after spending many games in a Maize Rage with only a hundred or so others during some of the lower TA days.
- Jordan Morgan, Jordan Kovacs, Sierra Romero, Samantha Findlay, Zach Putnam, Steve Luke and Kellen Russel and countless other elite athletes that represent UM in the best way possible, yet don't get all the fanfare.
- Hoopin' at the IMSB
Let's hear them!
at yost from the dressing room touching the signs, and out onto the ice with the stands full and the band playing.
pizza bobs - a sister ann with a chocolate-chip/coffee milkshake
charlies - well, for lots of stuff at least way back when.
I love Pizza Bobs milkshakes!
The EATS.
That whole block on State from Hill to Packard is pretty solid. BTB, Mr. Spots, Pizza Bob's, and don't forget Rod's and their colliders.
Maize & Blue Deli (I know, Zingerman's, but I'm talking right around campus)
Those were the stars when I first started seriously watching Michigan football.
Oh, and I always heard about Biakabutuka growing up, but it wasn't until later that I realized he wasn't a mythical being.
MGoBlog
I admit, if we would have played Nebraska at the end of '97, we would have kicked the living shit out of them.
That overtakes people wearing Colorado school of mines apparel when I shout "go blue" at them. Navy block M - what am I supposed to think...?
Honestly, walking through the gates in that sea of maize and blue for the first game of the year after such a long drought of an offseason, no matter how low the expectations may be, just feels so good. I know I must look ridiculous because here's this 28 year old guy with a stupid grin on his face like a kid who just opened his favorite video game on Christmas morning, but man that feeling is so good I can't help but smile.
walking into random SEC or ACC games gives me that same feeling.
nothing like game day for me, even if it isnt GT or Michigan.
There is nothing like the first opening Saturday of CFB. The first Thursday is, of course, awesome because we finally get CFB, which is then followed by a Friday game or games, but man, that first Saturday is priceless and I cannot wait for it yet again. It is coming soon, too.
One of the things that always makes me feel proud of this fanbase - whether they attended Michigan or not - is the sense of connectedness and the sense of family that seems to run through everyone that cheers on Michigan. With the heritage of the program, the passion we have for it, and the knowledgeable nature of most folks, I think we're able to converse and share in a way that perhaps not many fanbases can.
Spinning the Cube
Meeting other Michigan people all over the world.
Singing Hail to the Victors with other fans that are just as crazy about Michigan sports as I am.
MICHIGAN SQUIRRELS!
Comeback games - 2011 Notre Dame, 2005 Penn State (first Michigan game I saw on tv - instantly fell in love), 2013 Kansas
I attended both of these games and I can remember them as if they were yesterday. I think the best things about Michigan are the "FANS"! In both of these games it didn't matter what age, sex, or even color you were when we scored those touchdowns you grabbed somebody and gave them a hug and went nuts. I also attended all of the Notre Dame comeback games, the Northwestern miracle last year and have just been in awe of how much each of these teams fight to the end. Walking into Michigan stadium even though I live near Chicago now, it's like opening up that first gift on christmas morning when you were 6 years old.
Even after graduating, I still don't walk over block 'M's over fear that "blue book exam" is a metaphor for life.
you can just not disrespect the M by walking on it.
I'm the opposite. After the blue book exams I started touching the M for good luck. I don't step all over it, and never more than one foot. Never even the whole foot. I step with part of my foot over one of the corners of the bottom part of the M. Just a little glance and connection with it.
Who introduced me to the world of UM football, Bob Ufer, Bo, the band taking the field, The Big House and his days in Ann Arbor... *raises glass "To you, Pop."
I wouldn't trade Coach Beilein and his staff for anyone. We know we're going to get high level basketball with nothing happening under the table.
Didn't you just post how our bball staff as a whole was behind OSU and MSU?
No he said it was our "Football and BBall staff together as a whole", that severely lags behind the State Colleges
I can barely keep composed when the band comes out of the tunnel, gets in formation, and begins fanfare. Chokes me up every time.
State & South U
Driving south on Main St and seeing the giant Block M on the backside of the north scoreboard.
Angell Hall
The M flag at the top of the Union
The band taking the field is more exciting to me than the team running under the banner. Simply because the band kicks off the overall game festivities, once they come the emotion is already on max.
Agreed. Even after 28 years, it still gives me the same feeling of optimism.
up and down my spine, that I get on game day when "Baaaannnnnddd, TAKE THE FIELD!" is heard on the PA system; that I get during the Fanfare; that I get as the MMB's "Block M" marches towards the north end zone; that I get as the Band Major weaves thru them until he leads them back towards the south end zone to the tune of The Victors as 110,000 of us sing in unison.
Thanks for posting that, umich1 !
When I was a student, I would get chills every time I entered the Law Quad library. Think of all of the famous people that have likely opened that same door to study when they were students at Michigan. From James Earl Jones to Madonna, from Tom Harmon to Charles Woodson, the incredibly successful lawyers, engineers, and business people, etc.
Same thing with the front of Angell Hall - just think of who came before you and the responsibilities that each crop of students that follow has to maintain the great reputation of your alma mater.
I love how Law Quad looks, I wish the whole campus was like that in terms of school buildings; it feels like Oxford or I assume Harvard (never been there) with the architecture.
I also loved any library even the damn one on north campus, I have no idea why - so many hours spent in so many of them. Finding some of the tiny ones on campus was somehow "romantic" in a quaint way.
How is that for a proclamation?
The moment I stood at the stripe in the Kingdome in 1989, looking at the rim for my first free throw attempt.
/ok, it wasnt' me...but still!
Seeing thousands of people dressed in maize while walking to the stadium on gamedays.
Green and Hoover doesn't get the same love as State & Hoover, State and South U, State and Liberty, but for that very reason it's one of my faorite spots.
other people who need to learn the definition of a maize out.
This is the most Michigan title ever.
...a nice sunny Saturday before walking over to enjoy some football at the Big House.
(my wife, my family, power napping on a Friday afternoon after a long work week, that's probably about it).
Many say their "glory days" were high school or their twenties, mine were, without a doubt, the four years I spent as an undergrad at the school I grew up worshipping. I am so thankful to have attended U of M and hopefully my kids will be as lucky as I was.
Saying or Yelling Go Blue! and seeing a grin on his or her face because there is a bond between us as Michigan fans. Mostly due to the fact we know we have to face Ohio fans everyday in our lives and there is a sense of comradery.
I recently recommended a number of professors to consult on a project. Two of which had no specialization in the field but did get degrees from Michigan
1.) I made my fiancé change the date she wanted to be married on because it fell on a game day.
2.) I missed a high school friends wedding because I wanted to stay in town with my college friends and watch Denard in the season opener against UConn.
Anywhere you go in the US or the World, you will soon come into contact with a Michigan alumnus or fan.
As I continually remind my wife, "We are everywhere".
I shout 'GO BLUE' to anyone I see wearing Michigan apparel... I live in Tennessee.
I have more than four Michigan car stickers... Again, I live in Tennessee.
I ruthlessly remind my Tennessee fan friends about Woodson winning the Heisman over Manning.
As a student from 2000-2005 (super senior!) and an employee since 2001, I just have so much time invested in the university. The university is a fantastic place to work, btw.
Same here, but I started in fall 2005 and haven't left
3. Anthony Carter's first touch as a true freshman - punt return TD. The stands were wondering who that pint size guy standing back for the ball was, and I had read the A2News article a few days ago and was excited to see him play.
2. Wangler to Carter.
1. The GiveItToWheatley Rose Bowl.
The band playing the M fanfare and The Victors is a personal favorite.
Big games when me plus 100,000 fans join together to help the team when they are on defense. There is nothing better to me than when the other team's offense is forced into a false start penalty or a timeout.
Also just seeing anyone in public with a Michigan shirt or driving around and seeing someone with a Michigan decal or license plate. It's just a sense of something that we share.
Just outstanding. The professors are nuts.
Also, football.
I think this is one of the best things about michigan athletics.
Reminds me of many good times, teaches me a lot of Michigan history, and gets me through the offseason.
Also, the freakin' helmets, man. The helmets. Damn, those things are pretty.
Also, con law with Professor Primus.
Also, waffle machine in Lawyer's Club dining hall that put block M in your waffle. Awesome.
Driving down S. Main, when I see the big house in the distance, I feel excited....kind of like the way it felt at 6 years old whenever your mom would drive you to McDonalds and you would see the golden arches, only better.
Walking inside the stadium, I hear choirs singing in my head.
The fact that I still get the same level of excitement walking into the Big House, Yost, and Crisler Center as I did when my folks brought me as a kid...The Victors...Block M...Tradition...Helmets...Tailgating...Global Brand...Excellence...and the fact that my 2 kids are 3rd generation graduates. Go Blue!
I believe she is better than any other and will stand by that belief.