OT: How understanding is your significant other about watching UM games?

Age: 55, UM Grad December 1985 (Harbaugh's JR year with 10-1-1 record, wins over ND, MSU, OSU, Nebraska in Fiesta Bowl #2 final ranking) - MALE

4-5 games per year. 

Wife went with me to TWO UM games - the 1990 debacle loss on HC vs Iowa 24-23 and cold HC day vs Indiana 1996 too close for comfort ugly win. She is totally fine w/my going to any games. She tapes/DVRs the games for me to watch later. Just doesn't care to go to games period. Likes Baseball and gone to many tigers and minors games w/me. 

p.s. how many of you took your significant other to the MLB HOF in Cooperstown NY on your Honeymoon? I did and still married to this wonderful gal. 

I'll answer this after this weekend. It'll be her first game at the stadium.

1. 43, male

2. All of them. 

3.  Very understanding. She takes the kids and leaves so I can scream at the TV. 

I feel she realizes that, since I work my ass off and spend every other second of every weekend with my family, she can let me have 4 hours on 12 Saturdays a year to have one thing for myself to enjoy without being bothered. It’s not too much to ask.

Also, the DVR is your friend.  

I'm 38, wife is 37, married 15 marvelous years.

I watch all of most games. Occasionally my ministry responsibilities interfere, either by delaying me early (the 11am kickoffs can be tough to make occasionally) or pulling me away later. I was having a fantastic New Year's Day and Michigan was up 19 when I got a call and had to spend the next four hours or so helping some people in a really difficult situation; the final score of the game was a surprise. Here and there a scheduled conflict arises and I have to be an adult and do that with a good attitude. 

My wife has no issues with me watching games. She loves me. It's something I care about, and she cares about me doing things that are non-work related that I (allegedly) enjoy. She asks about the games and will occasionally watch for a bit, but generally just does something else on a different part of the floor. 

1) 38/M

2) Is this a serious question? Is there any correct answer other than "all of them"?

3) I've basically told her it's non-negotiable. She's also an alum (we met in Philosophy 101 in Angell Hall), so she gets it even if she's not the biggest fan. But it's a little easier here on the West Coast with so many noon games, which is 9 AM here. The game is usually over by 12:30 PM and we have the rest of the day to do whatever. Also, I don't much care for pro football, so we also have Sundays.

I’m 25 and my wife is 26. I told her from day one that I will do nothing on Saturdays during college football season. She didn’t understand at first when we were dating, but she’s now converted into a full Michigan fan and watches them all with me. 

Only games we miss are if we are at training or on shift. 

Edit: damn posted twice. 

39m, watch every game, tho one or two per year on replay at midnight, she's perfectly fine with it.

I'm 31 and my wife is 29. I watch every game, but usually one of the early garbage ones I watch while fulfilling extended family duties. She loves UM too, but doesn't always love that I just want to watch football from the start of college gameday until i drift into slumber during a PAC12 game at midnight. My advice: bargain with her. Offer up your other time to do shit you don't like to do and put a smile on your face when you do. No bitching.

Ouch - fights?   Not sure football is worth fighting over when it comes to your relationship.  As Dr Phil, I suggest you drop one or the other.  If you’re fighting over something as meaningless in the big scheme of life there may be something else missing there.  But then this “helpful advice” wasn’t enumerated as part of what you’re looking for so use/discard as appropriate.

Mine is a bit interesting. My wife is from Buffalo, NY and lived in NYC for many years. She thought it was a joke when I said 100,000+ people go to these games. Her response; "to watch a bunch of kids who aren't even pros or that good?"

She loves UM football now. We live in Columbus, OH and we both go against the grain so it makes her dig in even more. We go to 2-3 games a year (less now with a child) and we watch glued to the TV every saturday. I also don't watch NFL (not the protest issue it just bores me) and I don't watch much other college football. So it's literally one game on a saturday. Hell I don't watch other sports even.

I have to brag though...my wife is smoking hot and every saturday we break out the cornhole boards, hang up the tv we have outside and even if it's just us two we play cornhole and drink beer and have a big bonfire. 

1. 41, male

2.  DVR all of them, live 4 or 5.

3.  No grief, but I also don't watch every game live and make sure that I prioritize her and the kids first, in return she tries to not schedule things during the Michigan game or at least checks in with me to make sure I am cool with it, I am trying to get the kids more into watching sports so I can at least call it a family activity.  Really the main conflict is kids activities, sports, scouting, etc. on the weekend.

1) 54 male

2) Every home game since 1981 season

3) Choose wisely

1. How old are you and what is your gender?

• 27 M (It feels like the opening of a dating profile...)

2. On average how many UM football games do you watch each year?

• Every football game and basketball game. Softball and baseball games when their televised as well. Attend multiple home games for each sport each too.

3. Does your significant other give you grief about it or are they cool with it?

• Yes and yes. I made it pretty clear from the beginning of our relationship that Saturday's and most Sunday's are for football. Obviously there's some give and take involved, but she is very understanding of my love of sports and I'm very thankful for it.

Mid 40's , every game , she doesn't give me grief until about Tuesday, after watching 3rd or 4th time. 

38 male, wife is 35...I have missed one Michigan game since we've been together, which was fortunately the bowl game this past year because we were in Paris. 

She understands that it really is the only Must-see thing I want. I'm always open to making plans on Sunday because I don't have an NFL team, but Saturdays so far I've been lucky that nothing has interfered. I have had to watch on my phone a couple times. 

Only thing she doesn't like is if Michigan loses and I get in a mood. But I think she overstates that, because I don't sulk when they lose. I'll be animated during the game..maybe a few min after if they lose and then I move on. 

1. 20s male

2. I watch all of them start to finish live unless there is a massive hinderance. If we're not at home I use my phone.

3. Not much now. This is our 3rd football season married, and she has accepted it a lot more. She previously would give me some amount of grief. I will say that I personally have sacrificed a lot of the time I would have normally spent watching other CFB or NFL games though. It's worth it to me to spend time with her, our daughter, and stress free time watching M football.

I'm 52 and have been obsessed with sports all my life.  She's 42 and couldn't care less about anyone playing 'just a game'.  She won't watch with me, so I go upstairs to a separate family room and watch by myself.  Her personality is mirrored by my son - much to my chagrin - so he won't watch with me, either.  He hurts me.  But he likes to play baseball, so that's good, right?  (He's only 7, so things can change...)

I spend my goodwill on Saturday, when I watch most games and all day - until I fall asleep with PAC-12 After Dark action around 1:30, or so.  I've pretty much written off the NFL, more so every year, it seems.  I will DVR when necessary, because it's not always possible to completely shut down for the games.  There's always something going on in a house with 6 dogs, 6 cats, some birds, a turtle, and a bunch of chickens and ducks running around outside.

I earn my goodwill by giving her pretty much anything she wants.  She's spoiled rotten, and she knows it.

OP, it will only get worse when you have kids. There will be pumpkin picking, birthday parties, nap time, lets go to (zoo, children's museum...)

You should talk to her and see what she likes to do and do that with her in exchange for 3 hours 12x a year.

She's only 2 years younger than I & i'm 48.... I can't believe i'm 48, been dating for 6 years and she is converted to maize n blue. she makes sure there isn't a remote within arms reach, we've replaced a couple over the years.

Two disclosures early on in the relationship..... 1. Michigan football  2. Deer season.  Whether we're together for 2 years, or 50 years.  Three months of Saturdays and one week in November, don't try taking them away from me cuz it isn't going to happen.  

Her vice is March Madness, so she kinda gets it.

I've been with my significant other since 2003, and I watch every Michigan game.

At various points (particularly during 2007, the RichRod years, and the tail end of the Hoke years), she sometimes asked "why do you watch Michigan football?  It just makes you sad."

Now she's moved into something like acceptance. She'll even put on a Michigan t-shirt on gamedays. It probably helps that the kids are into watching games with me, or at least parts of them.

34 - male

I was married -- she always bitched about it, "you know this doesn't really matter, right?"

Needless to say, not married anymore. 

New gf is 30, while she's not a sports-fan, she didn't seem to mind. But I always watched the games (all of them all the way through) with a bit of guilt because of my previous relationship and her always making me feel like shit about watching. 

One day, I finally caved and asked if the new gf hated that I watch these games and she replied, "I don't care that you watch the games, but have you ever thought of asking me to watch with you?" It literally had never occurred to me because I knew she isn't a sports fan and I was just happy to not take flack for it -- I felt like I was getting away with something. So now, every week I tell her when the game is and ask if she'd like to watch with me. She doesn't always say yes because she often has other plans; but just the fact that I ask if she'd like to be a part of it makes all the guilt melt away -- she knows that's what I do and whether we do it together or not, all is good. 

38 years old married 7 years and have a son in kindergarten.

We met at U of M but wife doesn't care much for sports but understands why I like to watch sports.

Doesn't mean she likes it.

As a compromise I gave up; 

1) playing in a soccer league which played every saturday from May to Nov.

2) playing tennis. good thing i never played golf.

3) playing fantasy football since watching the actual games became a habit

4) watch maybe some patriots football at night after putting son to bed

5) non UM football time during weekend is wife's time. so even at friends' place or outings i chase after our son.

6) gave up arguing about 'free time' 'luxury' 'money' 'pretty much anything'

7) maybe watch the UM basketball team during B10 and NCAA tourney but not regularly during the season.

8) probably other things i gave up or picked up unconsciously so i wouldn't get kicked out of the house.

1. 45 years old (married to a 54 year old for 23 years)

2. all of em

3. I don't care, she knew what she was getting

Edit:  we were at her friend's destination wedding on Mackinac Island during the Akron game UM tried to lose. I was tracking gamecast on my cell phone and almost shouted out in disgust during the service.  I was grunting and kept getting the elbow to the ribs.

1. I'm 27, my fiancee is a year younger. We are recently engaged. I am male.

2. I attend almost every home game, I probably miss a game a year. I watch every away game and will go great lengths to do so.

3. She gets it. I do get some grief about it, but we went to one of Michigan's many small liberal arts schools (I've since gotten a Masters from M) and so I was one of the most visible Michigan fans on campus before we started dating, she kinda knew what she was getting herself into. Then right when we got together Michigan went on the 2013 run through the NCAA Tournament, so immediately I was able to establish how important this was to me. Whenever we're talking about it with other couples she just says "we have two TVs for a reason." I think sometimes she gets frustrated with how much I schedule our social calendar around watching sports (it's not just Michigan for me either), but she also understands how important it is to me, and on days where we don't really have anything going on I think she actually appreciates being able to spend her Saturdays watching shows I don't want to watch laying in bed with our cat curled up next to her. I try to make compromises. Like this year we were going to be in Chicago for the Western game, and we would have been driving during most of the game, but I suggested we spend Friday night with her best friend who had just moved to Kalamazoo so that we could already be a third of the way to Chicago, wake up, and get to a bar in Chicago by noon. Worked out great, she got to see her friend, I got to watch the whole game.

She comes to a football game every few years, and is pretty much happy to come to non-football sports with me, especially women's sports. The only rule is if I drag her to a women's soccer or volleyball game, I gotta buy her a hot dog.

I'm 24 she is 24, married for 2 years been together for 8 (met in High School). Only missed a few games during our marriage because of house renovations but still had it on in the background. She doesn't  care, usually watches it with me or goes somewhere with her family. She even sucked it up and went with me to UM vs. SMU which was my first live game. She is a Bucknut due to her family sadly, but I am working on her. 

If nothing else, this post is letting everyone know how old the people are who give them shit on this board all the time...

1. 34/M (married 6 years)

2. Every single one. (Plus season tickets, so I go to most of the games).

3. Cool with it - she wasn't a big fan until we started dating (liked football, didn't have a team that she cared about since her undergrad was an Ivy), now she loves watching and going to the games. Since we only have 2 tickets right now she fights with my eldest daughter (4) about who gets to go.

Best part? She has a pathological hatred of Sparty... we met when she was getting her doctorate there.

Fortunately, my wife is about 90 percent homebody.

She doesn't mind me watching at all, as long as I don't yell at the tv for 3 hours.

Last year, I had to move to the basement because I couldn't help it.

1. 46, male

2. All of them, usually slightly behind realtime until the second half.  I usually attend 2-3 in person, of which, one is a road game (ongoing tradition with my 77-year-old father).  We live in Ann Arbor now (after a decade on the west coast), so attending a home game isn't really a huge deal.

3. Some grief received from my wife (45, also an M grad, but indifferent to football), but after a decade of marriage, we've come to an agreement that, for 12+ Saturdays per year, including 2-3 in person, she won't bother me (and will occasionally watch with me) for that 1 game per weekend.  For home games, she'll usually go with me to the tailgate (our kids and our tailgate friends' kids are of similar ages), and sometimes to the game.  If I'm watching, I'll usually do the laundry during the game - it's easy to fold during commercials/halftime, and buys a ton of goodwill.

I have given up the NFL as part of this bargain, but honestly, giving up the Lions has been liberating.

Hoooooooooooooooooooo boy. All I'll say here is utilize your DVR when applicable and don't dig your heels in too much.

1. 42 M

2. All of 'em

3. Occasional grief. Whenever I get it, I just volunteer to DVR and watch it later. Pick your battles.

Nice work locking down a women ten years younger than you Jerry.

Mid 20's, new Girlfriend enjoys watching football with me, but I think it's because she enjoys spending time with me. Which I'm fine with. Her good friend is a Michigan Alum, and someone I enjoy watching games with, so it ends up working out. That being said, I accidentally sent her a couple of my "I want to die" snapchats during the Notre Dame game and it didn't scare her off.

1. 46, male

2. Every game I can get on TV.

3. No - we've been married 21 years.  She understands my fandom.  But if we do have something important to do on a Saturday, I will just record the game and watch it when I get home.

1. 43 M - I didn’t go to UM, she did. She had front row seats in SS for the ‘97 season, she also went to the Rose Bowl. I buy my gear at The M Den, not Walmart.

2. All, we go to AA (from AZ) for a game every year, this year we went to Evanston (where I was born & raised.)

3. If UM loses to sparty, she’s in a bad mood for a year. She absolutely HATES state. 

42.

I watch them all unless I have an unavoidable commitment.

My wife is very understanding.  We met at UM and would watch with me a fair amount before the ten year hell broker her fandom.

39, wife is the same.

I watch every minute.

When we first go together I'd watch and sulk through the Rich Rod years and she'd nap on the couch.

When our kids were younger than 5, Saturday afternoons were about them. I'd DVR the game and watch it after they went to bed. Radio silence all day. Actually kind of nice tuning out. 

Now I still DVR the game, but I usually finish a noon game by 6pm and get a later game in before the night game. 

It has worked. She's never given me grief, but my own guilt of not paying attention to my kids made the game less enjoyable. Plus, I hate commercials.

It only backfired once, the Sparty punt debacle. My wife knew before I finished and couldn't hide her disgust.

James Franklin had this to say about our defense. 

1. How old are you and what is your gender?

28

2. On average how many UM football games do you watch each year?

1 every-other year

3. Does your significant other give you grief about it or are they cool with it?

My 27 yo S.O. never saw Michigan play any sport until the final four. We live in San Antonio, so I took her to all the events downtown and watched the semifinal on the huge screens they set up for the final four concerts that Saturday evening. She felt bad for me when they lost in the final game, but she started to like them from that point on.

Then she got Amazon Prime, and we watched the Michigan series on there, and she became a big fan. She has a huge thing for Winovich after watching it, and can name half of the players just by seeing their faces or numbers now. However, once the season began, she took her fandom up a few notches. She watched the first few games of the season with me and cheered them on louder than me. 

Then I took her to the Nebraska game last month for a 5 day trip to Detroit/Ann Arbor. She was clearly excited, but expected the Pats-Lions game to be way more fun "because NFL players are better"...anyway, when I took her to the MDen near the University downtown, she looked like a kid in a candy store. We only went to get some maize (she called it yellow at first so we had a talk about that) shirts, but she ended up spending almost 2 hours there at 8 PM. She ended up buying Michigan sleeping pants, a Michigan jersey, headband, socks, and 5-6 shirts by the time we left. We walked around the university that night and had a fun time.

On game day, she was totally decked out in all Michigan stuff and had the time of her life - I mean she cheered harder than anyone in our section, I think. Watching that blowout cemented her as a Michigan fan. The trip also included seeing a preseason Red Wings game, which she loved as well. Capping off the weekend with a Tigers/Lions doubleheader on Sunday afternoon made her a Detroit team lover in general...it really bring a tear to your eye...

Fast forward to 3 weeks ago, where I agreed to attend a quinceanera with her for her niece. I was so bummed to miss the game (Wisconsin), until during dinner, she positioned her phone in her purse and put on the game the ESPN app. I was able to watch the entire final 3 quarters whenever I wanted simply by looking down.

Needless to say, she does not give me any grief about watching games.

1. Old enough to be your mom - probably

2. Every game. We've had season tickets for 25+ years

3. No grief but sometimes when I get all riled up during the game he makes me leaves the room.