UM vs. App State: Sharing the Tradition With My Son

Submitted by boliver46 on

A friend was offered a bunch of FREE!!!! UM vs. App State tickets as part of some deal between Bowling Green State University and the University of Michigan.

So yours truly has been given the chance to fulfill the dreams of my 9-year old son.  I've wanted to take him to a game for a long time and planned to last year, but finances haven't been great for quite a while.  I am really excited to share the U of M experience with him!

So I wondered - is anyone else sharing the Michigan experience with someone for the first time this weekend?  Or experiencing it for the first time yourself?

My son upon hearing the news:

Hail!  Go Blue!!!

****Mods - If this is considered OT, please delete and beat me with a wet Dave Brandon noodle.****

boliver46

August 25th, 2014 at 1:28 PM ^

some of your own tickets, or did you mean buying them? LOL

Is your girlfriend a fan?  I'd take my own girlfriend but she's an OSU fan and she says she would burst into flames!  lol

BPocern

August 25th, 2014 at 2:25 PM ^

Well, she has a few friends who played girls basketball at Michigan, so she's kind of a fan already. She's a big football fan in general (which is awesome) so she is excited!

LSAClassOf2000

August 25th, 2014 at 1:29 PM ^

Actually, it would be nice if more people would share these sorts of stories because I think part of what makes this a great community is not only the shared Michigan experience but the passing of that experience to future generations of Michigan fans. 

My son was barely a month old when we played Appalachian State in 2007, and obviously we couldn't take him (but we were there  - my wife and I had tickets and my in-laws graciously babysat for us). This time, it is 2014, and although at 7 years old we may not make it through the whole game, he is going. 

boliver46

August 25th, 2014 at 1:34 PM ^

It's probably good you didn't take him to the Horror...he can honestly say: "We played Appalachian State before???" and have his incredulity not be mistaken for MGoBlog snarkiness. lol

I'm a little concerned how long my 9-year old will last as well.  He only made it to halftime of a University of Toledo game last year (also free!) so not sure how much better he will be in a year's time...but his love of UM will probably help!

Now if only we could convince his older sister to be a UM fan and not OSU....ugh.

LB

August 25th, 2014 at 5:31 PM ^

discussing Hockey.

Take your son if it is at all possible. Stay as long as he wants then leave. You'll survive, and he won't have a bad experience. Remember, there is much more at stake here than you getting to watch a bit of football.

Remember - get this part right and someday, when your son is an Alum, he can take you to football games.

Needs

August 25th, 2014 at 1:47 PM ^

If your kids are already into Michigan football, then 9 is plenty old. My then 5 year old twins made it through all of the UConn night game last year (and may have kept the predominantly M section in the end zone partially sane). The kid in the OP looks plenty into the game. You'll have a blast.

 

mvp

August 25th, 2014 at 4:30 PM ^

For us it was simple.  If my wife went and felt like she wanted to accommodate one of the kids taking a walk, that was up to her.

If I was going solo, we would offer a ticket to one of my kids, but they understood that it was not a right and that my expectation was that we'd stay and watch the whole game.  Of course if it were an emergency I would have taken care of them, but by both setting the expectation and making it not about "me sharing the experience with them" but rather them "choosing to experience it with me" we were all on the same page.

All three of my kids (16yo daughter, 13yo daughter, and 9yo son) love going to football, basketball, and hockey games with us and are all big Michigan fans now.  For us, it worked.  Now we have 5 tickets for football and can take as many as are available to go that week.  Sometimes it is all five of us; sometimes due to other commitments it is zero.  We love having the option and love being able to share our love of the University with them.

The downside is that they all know I'm a sucker for buying them something at the M-Den...

VCavman24

August 25th, 2014 at 6:09 PM ^

For me I can remember going to games since the early 2000s and being bored (though we never left early), but suddenly when it was the 2004 season and became 7 I was suddenly into every game. so it depends on the child I guess, 7 was it for me.

Walter Sobchak

August 25th, 2014 at 1:41 PM ^

I've seen threads detailing what to expect taking young children to Michigan events, its been helpful.

Hopefully everyone's little ones enjoy the game enough to let the parents do the same.

mGrowOld

August 25th, 2014 at 1:32 PM ^

That's pretty cool Boliver.  FWIW - my son Tommy was a hard-core OSU kid when I met him to the point of not wanting to GO to the Michigan game cause you know...go Bucks and all that.  

Well now I'm happy to say that is completely dead, he wore Michigan uniform to halloween last year and is proud to wear the gear down here in O.H.I.O.  Amazing what a couple of games can do to a child's fandom.

boliver46

August 25th, 2014 at 1:36 PM ^

gonna be OL for sure like his dad.  99th percentile in all categories and slow as molasses.  He hates being slow, but giggled when I told him when I got to college football a coach pulled me aside and said: "Damn, it sure is a shame no one taught you how to run, son."

I was nicknamed ho-ho for a reason.  lol

Walter Sobchak

August 25th, 2014 at 1:35 PM ^

My 2 year old will be catching her first game at The Big House this weekend with Dad and her Uncles. So far this week we've learned to say "touchdown", "go blue", and "fuck Ohio state."

boliver46

August 25th, 2014 at 1:40 PM ^

My son is adept at trolling his OSU loving sister - but I think I'll save Fuck Ohio State until he's a bit older. 

Walter Sobchak

August 25th, 2014 at 1:44 PM ^

My wife came up with that one. She's currently in a hospital bed, had a c-section 5 days ago. Still has her sense of humor!

She's glad she'll be home for the game, as our 2nd girl came a week early.

Princetonwolverine

August 25th, 2014 at 1:50 PM ^

Have a great time. (Get him a different colored shirt from your post!!!)

The only Michigan game I took my youngest son to was Appy St #1. The only Yankee's game I have taken him to was David Cone's perfect game.

You win some, you lose some. 

Great experience no matter what.

Mocha Cub

August 25th, 2014 at 1:53 PM ^

I don't have any kids yet, but when I do I'll enjoy the time-honored tradition in my family of signing up the kids for soccer on Saturday mornings while the adults go to the game --__--

Perkis-Size Me

August 25th, 2014 at 1:57 PM ^

Have a great time! Going into that stadium for the first time, seeing the band come out for the first time, and watching the team roar out of the tunnel for the first time gives any fan goosebumps. I hope your son has as an amazing first-game experience as I did my freshman year.


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boliver46

August 25th, 2014 at 2:06 PM ^

I remember walking down alongside the band (not sure of the streets) for the Utah game a few years ago.

Where is the best place to park to do something like that and follow the band to the stadium?  Last time we just decided to walk from Maize 'n' Blue deli and that was a heck of a walk...lol

mvp

August 25th, 2014 at 4:49 PM ^

There will be the "Step Show" which is a performance by the drumline in front of Revelli Hall on Hoover Street about an hour before the game.  They perform while the rest of the band finalizes their preparations.  Then the full band will come outside and form up for inspection.

After inspection, the band will step off for the stadiume and you can follow the band as they march down Hoover and turn left on Greene.  The cheerleaders will be ahead of the band and will do a very short performance at the intersection of Hoover and Greene before continuing on; it isn't a bad intersection to wait for the cheerleaders and band to pass and then follow them in if you don't make it to Revelli hall in time for the step show.

The band will publish their gameday schedule later this week.  If you're truly interested, you can watch morning rehearsal (for a noon game I'm guessing about 8:00) on Elbel field, which is the fieldturf at the intersection of Hill and Division.

If you want even more band, there is a post game show on the field as well.

bmr4242

August 25th, 2014 at 2:14 PM ^

my wife to her first game at the Big House. She has seen a few road games but nothing that will compare to Saturday! - And she is pregnant with our first child so "technically" it will be my daughters first game and one DB can't charge for!!

evenyoubrutus

August 25th, 2014 at 2:15 PM ^

Here is my 4 year old walking into the Big House for the first time in his life last weekend.  He's holding the hand of his grandpa, who learned to love Michigan from his dad (and my son's namesake) almost 50 years ago. I'm thinking his first actual game will be in Shane's senior season.

Little Jimmy

August 25th, 2014 at 10:56 PM ^

I started taking them to games at age 4.  They are now 9 and 11 and a highlight of the year is Saturday football in AA.

They usually go to 1-2 games with me and the Mrs.

The remaining games I go with my buddies.

I used to enjoy the games with my friends more than with the kids but I tell you - as they get older (especially that past 2 years), those family Saturdays in AA are almost magical.

My point is - it's never too early to start traditions and memories like those you will be making with your son.  I congratulate you.