How neurotic are you watching the game?
Confess.
I'll start - you could probably generate a laundry list of diagnoses if you are familiar with the DSM IV. I cannot watch games with people who are not at least familiar with mgoblog. They just don't understand, man.
Ralphie explained it best in The Christmas Story - "In the heat of battle my father wove a tapestry of obscenities that as far as we know is still hanging in space over Lake Michigan. "
October 14th, 2011 at 1:00 PM ^
X 10.
October 14th, 2011 at 3:15 PM ^
And it's even worse when I have to listen to it on the radio... like this weekend. :0(
October 14th, 2011 at 1:00 PM ^
Any game, any sport. I need to be able to hear the TV, even if the announcers make me want to do evil things to innocent people.
October 14th, 2011 at 1:03 PM ^
I feel the same way. Which is why I can't watch games at the bar or at big parties.
October 14th, 2011 at 2:20 PM ^
2nd that. I need to watch them at home on DVR. I let the game run for 45 minutes with my phone off. I then am able to fast forward through all breaks, timeouts, opponent celebrations and heartbreaking plays. It's a bit neurotic.
October 14th, 2011 at 4:10 PM ^
Even if you don't check it, knowing you got a text or call in the middle of the game when you are not live always gives it away.
Also, make sure to tell your next door neighbro NOT to come knocking on the door asking you why you are not cheering for the Wolverines, when you are 32 seconds behind in the Notre Dame game. I wanted to punch him.
October 14th, 2011 at 1:02 PM ^
I never sit but rather stand, kneel, pace in front of the TV at least until the game is out of hand..
My wife makes sure the Michigan gnome is out of the liquor cabinet and also 'watching' the game (but that doesn't count as it is her neurosis).
October 14th, 2011 at 1:12 PM ^
I'm the same, I cannot sit and usually rock side-to-side from one foot to the other as I watch the game. My wife is so happy she works Saturdays during college football season. Regardless of the score, halftime cannot pass quickly enough.
October 14th, 2011 at 1:44 PM ^
Yep, same here. And my dog usually heads for the furthest corner of the house away from me. Unfortunately she thinks I'm yelling at her.
October 14th, 2011 at 1:52 PM ^
Yep same here. Both of my dogs ball up in the corner with their ears back.
October 14th, 2011 at 2:26 PM ^
my fiancee's dog heads upstairs and UNDER THE BED! No shit.
October 14th, 2011 at 2:34 PM ^
Yelling during football games and Tiger's games doesn't help
October 15th, 2011 at 10:04 AM ^
I'm on the opposite side of the spectrum with the dogs. My two boxers immediately think any show of emotion equates to play time and begin running around the house and doing the patented "boxer jump and slap" towards my junk.
October 14th, 2011 at 6:03 PM ^
and if I'm not home for the game, I turn on the TV so he can watch it, and set him up on the coffee table.
Neurotic and superstitious? maybe, but Hans likes his football.
October 14th, 2011 at 1:03 PM ^
Since I have become a father, I tried very hard to not get too worked up. Sometimes I have to leave the room, turn the TV off. It happens. I usually have the DVR on, and watch it later.
October 14th, 2011 at 1:13 PM ^
My mom is coming in to babysit/protect my son. I told her I am just not sure how good of a parent I can be tomorrow.
October 14th, 2011 at 1:07 PM ^
unless we are up by at least 2 scores.
My wife claims that I did a "toe touch" during the ND game when Vincent Smith scored on the screen play.
October 14th, 2011 at 1:09 PM ^
I cuss. Alot. Especially over the past three years. That is just the way it goes. That is why I am on the lookout for either a (i) Michigan fan or (ii) some other major college program lady. She will understand. I think.
I still recall my Father screaming his head off at the screen when either MI scored or screwed up. My mom was generally elsewhere.
I don't plan to change. Maybe that's why there is no lady. ;)
October 14th, 2011 at 3:00 PM ^
standard ones don't seem up to the job. I am eerily quiet (when not at the Big House) when we are playing well or have a big lead.
I am adorned with 20+ year old maize and blue gear that looks quite shabby but has become like a second skin in Autumn. No alcohol during the game. No channel surfing.
My wife finds appropriate activities away from the house and the windows are closed to lower the possobility our neighbors children learn the aforementioned new lexicon phrases.
October 14th, 2011 at 1:11 PM ^
My wife has a hard time watching with me because I get too intense. She usually takes our 8 month old son out of the house to buy stuff we don't need. I pretty much watch alone other than the liveblog. I live in Upstate NY so there aren't many CFB fans that share my passion.
October 14th, 2011 at 1:21 PM ^
Upstate NY represent! Albany? I'll come over and help you put some holes in the wall!
October 14th, 2011 at 3:30 PM ^
and yes, I get very nervous and yell at the TV a TON! The wife is cool about it though.
October 14th, 2011 at 3:50 PM ^
Nope dang, I could use some more holes in the wall too. Rochester.
October 14th, 2011 at 4:11 PM ^
Thankfully I've got a Michigan neighbor here in Vermont to help as an outlet for gushing about all things Denard and Hoke poop... No holes in the wall, but I do have one in the ceiling?
October 14th, 2011 at 8:13 PM ^
bdsisme is proud to represent his home area (out east - shocker), but doesn't like it when Detroit fans here make threads and represent their teams.
Good guy.
October 14th, 2011 at 1:12 PM ^
Well I was pacing up and down the concourse at half time at Northwestern. Twirling my hat and pulling out my hair. I also couldn't stop shaking my leg until UM got a comfortable lead.
Also, like Hoke I don't like to eat before the game, but will drink quite a bit.
Ohh yea, I can't sit down when I watch the game a home or in a bar.
So I would say a modest 7 on a scale one to 10.
I have problems.
October 14th, 2011 at 1:13 PM ^
I'll be watching the game with my entire family. Normally, I would look forward to this. But for this one I am having anxiety problems knowing I'll need to reel in my nervous pacing and wild gesturing.
October 14th, 2011 at 1:15 PM ^
he's...staring...into...my........soul....... /headasplode
October 14th, 2011 at 1:13 PM ^
A few beers usually curbs my anxiety to the point where i'm tolerable to watch a game with.
I'm to the point where I can predict a Denard INT. I'm typically not too surprised when one happens and I let out a loud ironic laughter which channels my frustration and prevents me from throwing my half-full beer can through the plasma screen.
October 14th, 2011 at 1:14 PM ^
Cigarettes. I WANT MOAR CIGARETTES during close Michigan games.
October 14th, 2011 at 1:51 PM ^
This is me....every game...out on my patio....staring through the window and pacing.
October 14th, 2011 at 1:53 PM ^
I am with youo there indeed. This year's ND game saw me open a fresh pack for kickoff and saw the last one get polished off after my run around my house to celebrate the win. I actually spent most of the second half watching the game through my living room windows as the GF refused to bend and let me smoke inside one time.
October 14th, 2011 at 1:15 PM ^
Ive found that any negative reaction I have towards the game are always yelled out at the top of my lungs and any positive reaction or comment I always whisper to myself. Not sure what this would diagnose as.
October 14th, 2011 at 2:48 PM ^
Tourettes....
October 14th, 2011 at 8:24 PM ^
Right there with you.
October 14th, 2011 at 1:16 PM ^
I set up my road bike on an indoor trainer in front of the TV, and ride for some nearly 60 miles- I find pushing the nervous angst out thru pedals for nearly three hours is great for both my psyche and physique. I get to downshift and spin easily during commercials and halftime.
October 14th, 2011 at 1:17 PM ^
Pretty bad, and I will only admit this here, but my husband knows, because I involve him. During games that will be close, I watch the first five minutes, then I start getting neurotic. If the other team even has one good drive or one good stop, I leave the room. I go into another room with a televistion, and turn it on, along with Mgoblog liveblog. I put the computer up high in front of the TV screen so I can't see it. I turn off the TV sound, but always keep the picture on. If something good happens (I know this because I'm liveblogging), I will watch it on TV. If things start getting dicey (Notre Dame game is a good example), I turn off everything, and listen while my husband watches in the other room (He did not go to Mich but is a fan). I call in every minute or so to get the update, which he yells back to me. "FIRST DOWN!" gives me some relief, as does "TOUCHDOWN!!" of course. At the end of the Notre Dame game, I was in our office, curled up on the floor with my hands over my ears. There would be long periods of silence, and I would feel compelled to go back in and watch. But if anything happened in ND's favor, I would literally sprint out of the room and curl up again.
I am sort of convinced that when I leave the room, we score and win.
There, I said it.
October 14th, 2011 at 4:48 PM ^
I'm starting to worry about the Ohio State game because I'll be there. My 11 year-old son and I are going and I don't know how he'll feel about me, you know, acting crazy. He's seen it at home, but it gets multiplied by 100 for THAT game. We just went to the NW game and I really wanted to get into it with some NWestern fans, but held back.
October 14th, 2011 at 1:31 PM ^
....cures all anxieties. Unless you're a child who had to endure pregnancies gestating in the uber-anxious womb of a UM fan. Counseling will help, Wendyk5 (preferably among a throng of supportive UM fans). Be strong on Saturday.
October 14th, 2011 at 1:35 PM ^
It is good to get it out in the open Wendy, you can't bottle that up for too long. You may to seek counciling though (/s)
I often leave the room as well if it gets too bad.
October 14th, 2011 at 2:06 PM ^
or until we lose, please continue leaving the room and curling up on the floor because its worked thus far, thanks ;)
October 14th, 2011 at 2:55 PM ^
I am a real basket case during the games. Before I started watching with the alumni club here it was difficult for me to watch them in public. I can't shout obscenities with the alumni's silver foxes surrounding me and its probably better that way. My 10 year old will shout, "GAHHH, WHAT'S DENARD DOING UNDER CENTER?" when they set up in power. When Denard throw a high ball its, "OH NOES, TACOPANTS!" and "BACKFOOT!!!" Its hilarious, he sounds like a jr mgoblogger.
Sometimes, I call my ex to make sure she isn't watching, because whenever she is Michigan does poorly. Its funny, she'll answer the phone and won't even say hello, instead its, "I'll turn it off." Although to be fair we had to reverse roles during the '97 Rose Bowl.
I drink one beer per quarter. None before, and none after.
I always wear the home game shirt, even if I didn't wash it the week before.
I have a very visible nervous twitch when we are on defense where I push my leg down to stop the opposing offense. I also have an arm/elbow twitch when we have the ball.
Go Blue and beat State.
October 14th, 2011 at 4:26 PM ^
My mom couldn't watch a game all the way through, and used to go into the kitchen and just listen for our reaction.
And my wife will leave at the first sign of things going bad and hang out in the bedroom. Though that may just be because she doesn't want to be around me.
October 15th, 2011 at 12:45 AM ^
My wife does that too...
October 14th, 2011 at 1:17 PM ^
My hands literally tremble for the first 10 minutes or so. I operate on people all day and that doesn't make me nervous one bit. However when we are down and it is 3rd and 3, I am shaking. My priorities are fucked up.
October 14th, 2011 at 1:22 PM ^
If I ever have to have surgery, please do not be my surgeon.
October 14th, 2011 at 2:42 PM ^
Do not be my surgeon if any michigan football related event is going on during said surgery, at least.
October 14th, 2011 at 4:27 PM ^
Get sick during a Michigan Football game.