Wearing Mgear in Ohio

Submitted by TorontoBlue on

I'm playing in a 2-day golf tournament at Firestone CC in Akron next month.  My lucky golf tournament outfit is the Loudmouth Maize & Blue argyle pants/shorts that you can buy at MDen along with a Michigan shirt.  I've won low gross or low net several times in this ensemble.  But I'm wondering if it will be considered a bit too "in your face"/douchey to wear it down there.  I'm secure & self confident enough to handle anything the wild untamed masses below the border dish out, but don't want to come across as a jerk or an asshole.

Thoughts?

GO BLUE!

sadeto

July 18th, 2014 at 11:52 PM ^

You'll be among jerks and assholes. You'll be the jerk in Michigan gear. Do it. 

I regularly attend meetings at OSU and the state agencies there wearing a Michigan tie. F- them. 

M-Dog

July 19th, 2014 at 12:04 AM ^

In Columbus in the fall, maybe.  Akron in the summer?  No.  Go for it.

You will likely be dissapointed . . . not at the venomous trash talk that will come your way, but that no one will care. 

Franz Schubert

July 19th, 2014 at 1:36 AM ^

I wore Michigan gear all around town over the course of 2 summers and only once did anyone try to talk trash. I was surprised by how civilized they were, even on campus. Go for it, I don't see anything douchey about it.

In reply to by Franz Schubert

socrking

July 21st, 2014 at 9:18 AM ^

Do any of you watch the game in Columbus? We always go to my wife's parents house for thanksgiving and have to watch the game with a ton of buckeyes. It's wearing on me.

victorsvaliant01

July 19th, 2014 at 1:41 AM ^

Pretty much everytime I go to visit friends in Columbus I rep with Michigan stuff--be it the offseason, when we're playing down there, or if it's a day when OSU has a game. I've never had a problem.

Jomafalo

July 19th, 2014 at 1:54 AM ^

I live in Akron and often wear my UM gear and have never been called out by osu fans. In fact, it is common for me to hear someone yell out "Go Blue" nearly every time I wear it. There are more Michigan fans in Northeast Ohio than many realize as evidenced by the numerous people I see also wearing their UM gear.



Coincidently, I will be at Firestone CC for the Bridgestone tourney this month. I'm volunteering my time parking cars for patrons as part of a fundraiser. Good luck on your tourney next month!

Wolfman

July 19th, 2014 at 2:14 AM ^

one Mr. Schembechler. He'd tell you to wear it if he were still with us. If you don't believe me, just ask Coach Hanlon. You'll get dbs everywhere. Just a short time ago, I complimented a M fan on his cap that was of camo design.  He shot back, "and you're wearing the color of our rival." He was speaking, of course, to my St. Paddy's Day edition cap that is blue, with a shamrock in the back and a green block M in the front. Glad he only saw the front. With him being a youngster, relative to my age anyway, I thought I'd teach him a thing - believe it or don't - but there are some twenty-one year olds out there who haven't learned it all yet. I just informed him Michigan was known for the block M and asked him if he could tell the difference between a MN M and a MI M. He said, "sure." I told him, "My work here is done," and he just smiled.

LSAClassOf2000

July 19th, 2014 at 6:49 AM ^

Michigan gear in Akron in July? Like someone mentioned, you're probably just as likely to hear a "Go Blue" than anything else, and if this board is an indication, Michigan representation in NE Ohio is fairly significant (a fair number of our current and former players are from this part of Ohio anyway). I don't think the parade currently being held for LeBron James stops until it is time to discuss his contract again, so if standing out is a concern, the best bet for anonymity would probably be one of those "Forgiven" shirts. 

Aziraphale

July 19th, 2014 at 7:20 AM ^

You're going to be on a golf course in the summer. The worst you're going to get is a couple half-serious boos. Nobody is going to begrudge you a color scheme.

Voltron is Handsome

July 19th, 2014 at 7:59 AM ^

Firestone is a nice tournament. I went to it in 2011. That was the first and last time I will have gone to a golf tournament (except for the Masters if I ever get a chance). I much prefer watching on TV.

Perkis-Size Me

July 19th, 2014 at 9:20 AM ^

You're on a golf course in Akron during the offseason. I think outside of the occasional half-hearted hiss or boo, you'll be just fine. If anyone is going to go out of their way to harass you out there, then they shouldn't be on a golf course.



It's not like you're wearing a Buck the Fuckeyes shirt in the middle of Columbus on gameday. Then I'd be concerned for your life.

champ009kd

July 19th, 2014 at 9:26 AM ^

M fan from NE Ohio (30 miles or so east of Akron), currently living in Columbus. You are good to go wearing M gear. In fact, I see quite a few Michigan fans out and about in Ohio. As others mentioned, as long as you're not wearing it on a game day on or near OSU campus, no one really says anything. I'm sure people will curse you under their breath, but no verbal threats will  be made on your life. 

mGrowOld

July 19th, 2014 at 9:56 AM ^

I live near Akron and wear Michigan gear 100% of the time at the gym and when I run. Never, ever had a problem and even get a few random "Go Blue's" from other ex-patriots like me.

You'll be fine.

True Blue In Ohio

July 19th, 2014 at 10:41 AM ^

That is what I told my son when his 1st music teacher made him cover up his Michigan shirt because it "hurt her eyes."  However, she soon had to apologize to him and the class for her actions.  Just realize that these people are classless and are too ignorant to know what respect is. 

Tagg

July 19th, 2014 at 11:55 AM ^

I've worn a Michigan polo out on Forrest Akers West when golfing with some of my MSU friends and no one became bent out of shape. The only people that gave me any grief were my friend and the cute girl working the proshop and it was all in fun. Same deal when I hit up the Dairy Store on campus after. Hell, I even got a free scoop of the MSU flavor after I order their Maize N' Berry! Haha!

I've been on the Ohio State campus in a Michigan hoodie and only two students razzed me by booing me before walking up and striking up a great conversation. Despite being 10 years older than the couple we met up at a place called Houndogs pizza and had a really nice time with a couple of their friends, one of which was from Monroe. 

A few bad experiences seem to have a greater impact than many good ones. If anything wearing your schools colors in "enemy" territory could be an icebreaker to meeting some good people who get that sports and rivalries are supposed to be fun as well. 

TrueBlue1975

July 19th, 2014 at 12:06 PM ^

I typically don't wear college apparel while golfing because I think it looks tacky. And for those not familiar with what the OP is talking about wearing (Loudmouth), those are the crazy colored pants John Daly wears.  Probably not the best idea at a classy club like Firestone.

cbuswolverine

July 19th, 2014 at 12:21 PM ^

I don't know why people worry about this stuff.  I've lived in Columbus for ten years and the regularity with which I sport Michigan gear has never changed from when I was in Michigan.  This is only a big deal in your head.  Nobody in Ohio cares what you're wearing.

Mr. Elbel

July 19th, 2014 at 12:27 PM ^

I never enter that state without wearing SOMETHING maize n blue. Usually I go with a combination of my 'worst state ever' shirt or my old 'our stadium is bigger than your stadium' from back when it was 107,501, along with my favorite M hat that I've had since I was 11. It also helps that my car has a virginia tag with the block M on it, as well as all 4 detroit teams across the top of my back windshield. My back dash has all sorts of memorbilia on it too. I've actually driven straight through c-bus (on 23) in august, stopped on the shoulder before i entered to put up my car flag, and then removed it when i left town.

Be a douche. It's allowed in that state.

UMMAN83

July 19th, 2014 at 12:35 PM ^

I need to be there for a week the last week of July. Thinking up ways to leave the M mark all over town.

scottva1

July 19th, 2014 at 1:09 PM ^

5 years at osu. Michigan in my bloodline born in the D and moved to toledo. Few of my M childhood buddies went osu too. Maize rage everywhere. Go blue

Bigasshammm

July 19th, 2014 at 1:38 PM ^

I live close to there and play golf all around the area. I have a full on Michigan golf bag from Moes and I get the occasional "someone threw up on your bag". Usually on a golf course it's not too bad. It's when you're out in general public and a ten year old kid yells "fuck Michigan" to you that you remember why it sucks to live in Ohio.

Wear the pants. Win the game.

Larry

July 19th, 2014 at 2:01 PM ^

They'll think you're a fool rather than a jerk or asshole. 11-2* in the last 13 meetings has had a tendency, in my experience, to make the bucknuts scoff and laugh at the mention of Michigan instead of become angry. ---- * = includes Tatgate, I'm not pretending the game never occurred

Evil Empire

July 19th, 2014 at 3:07 PM ^

There is an element of the OSU fanbase that feels a compulsion or even a sense of duty to be rude to Michigan fans.  It shouldn't surprise you that this compulsion grows stronger once they have tucked into a few Budweisers.  I wore my maize and blue HAIL shirt around downtown Cleveland last Saturday.  The score: one high five, two hecklers (one drunk started the "O H" cheer, one who asked my wife what my problem was), and one insurance adjuster who thought it was about a hail storm.  My wife didn't attend UM but she takes more offense at the heckling than I do.  The worst so far was a policeman working crowd control at a county fair last summer who said out loud that it would be okay if the horse-drawn carriages ran over my 6yo daughter because she was wearing a Michigan shirt.  Mrs. EE hasn't gotten over that one yet.  At a golf tourney, give any detractors your best smile and marvel at how easy it is to get under Buckeye fans' skin.

aaamichfan

July 19th, 2014 at 3:32 PM ^

I think Hoke has changed the tide on the rivalry. Hell people in Ohio are starting to believe him. Never in a million years I would have thought that. Selling Michigan jerseys is a good start.

HELLE

July 19th, 2014 at 4:20 PM ^

You probably won't see any mouth breathers on a golf course like that. My experience in Columbus was that only 15% of them are idiots.

GoWings2008

July 19th, 2014 at 5:09 PM ^

I am playing in a church fund raiser in Columbus, North of Columbus actually, and I'll be repping with my maize and blue for sure.  This will be my third year in a row playing this tournament and I did the same last year.  Its fun...given the right crowd. 

bronisback

July 19th, 2014 at 6:36 PM ^

My family has been members at Firestone for close to 40 years. It is a pretty prestigious club. They have a very strick dress code. From what you are describing, I would not be surprised if they ask you to change.  Bring your long game and have a good time. 

Picktown GoBlue

July 19th, 2014 at 7:06 PM ^

Wore my M gear in Akron, and when meeting Tressel.  He liked the colors.  And wear the gear to job in downtown Columbus.  With M parent license plate holder.  Not a big deal.

CLord

July 19th, 2014 at 8:39 PM ^

Given how we've performed vs Ohio the last decade I'd say go for it.  But wearing it back in the 90's when we owned them was a bit more dangerous.