How did YOU become a Wolverine?

Intended to be raised as a Buckeye. My mother and father both went to OSU the only difference was that my dad hated OSU because of how Hayes treated some of his best runners and benched them. My dad was originally going to be a Spartan after HS and wanted nothing more than to play for MSU (I'd be Sparty if that happened :/) but he suffered a very bad leg injury his senior year and never really played after that. His leg miraculously healed two years later and he wanted to play again. He considered playing for Hayes but he was told by several players "if your white and fast do not play here Hayes will bench you."  Because of that my father dispised Hayes and Ohio State.

My story: I became a Wolverine at about 6 years old. It was during 1996 my first Christmas in my new home in Hilliard when my dad bought me a dark blue windbreaker coat with yellow sleeve stripes at the wrists and on the back a Michigan M logo with a Wolverine perched on top of it snarling. From that point forward I learned more about Michigan and the Wolverines and that's when I became a Wolverine. I abandoned my moms OSU influence completely and became full GO BLUE. To this day she still blames my dad lol. I love it! Born in Columbus raised by Buckeyes and then defected to the better side. I'm so glad I did! Wolverine till death!

To be honest I really think I would of been a Wolverine in the end even if my dad never bought me that jacket. Growing up I began to realize how insane, psychotic and obnoxious the Ohio State fan base really was and it was horrible in the 1990s. Michigan flags were being ripped off of houses and burned, anything Michigan on cars had tires slashed and paint keyed. Even threats of violence on gameday were being given to some Michigan fans in neighborhoods. Mind you this was the era we kicked the shit out of OSU from 1990 to 2003. We beat the Bucks to hell back in the Cooper era so they were extra pissed off. When Tressel took the reigns it changed drastically only because we lost to him 7 years in row. Being a Michigan fan in the 1990s in Ohio was almost like asking to be shot lol I'll never forget those years.

I didn't choose to be a Wolverine, the gods chose it for me. I am fortunate.

I grew up in the beautiful city of Flint, so when Rick Leach started as a freshman in 1975 it created quite a lot of interest. My 5th grade teacher that year had some connections to UM and got tickets for the entire class - my first game at the Big House was UM-Missouri. This was also the during the 10-year war and I was hooked.
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<br>My older brother went to UM as a student in 1979 and a few years later I joined him in Ann Arbor. Six years there and two degrees from UM, I'll forever be a Wolverine.

I actually was raised an Ohio fan, mom still has pictures of me in Ohio gear.  I come from a mixed home, my dad and I are for MIchigan and the rest of the family is all Ohio (even some members live in that shit hole city down south). 

When i was five or six i saw the light and turned Blue, i think the main reason was my best friend was a Michigan fan.  I started as just a kid fan, into an adult that loves the University of Michigan and the tradition and values that they stand for.

I was born at UM hospital, I grew up in Ann Arbor, I worked the gates at Michigan Stadium on Saturday mornings when I was a kid, I went to school in Ann Arbor, I worked at UM hospital, I met my wife at UM, most of my family went to UM. UM was ingrained in my life literally from the very begining. 

2008 Capital One Bowl.

My mom went to UofM and my dad went to EMU.  They both played tennis and met at the UofM tennis club and the rest you say is history.  I was born in Livonia, MI and was raised in Farmington Hills.  My parents took me, my brother and sister to many home games and I fell in love. Everytime I went, the fans around me were sooo freakin cool, best experiences of my childhood.  At a very early age I hated anyone who was an Ohio State, Michigan State or Notre Dame fan.

When they lose, my dad, my mom and all their college buddies get super pissed and when they win they are the happiest people ever.  I grew up around that so naturally I am the same way. 

We moved to Washington state when I was 14 and I was not happy, its nice here though, but I bleed Maize and Blue and that will never change.  I met my wife at Washington State University and she is now a UofM fan also.  People didnt get my love for them when I was at college and people got really mad but I didnt care.  I love the Cougs too I but I constantly get asked the question, who would you cheer for?  All I say is Go Blue!

Now that the new B1G and Pac 12 contract is signed, I think I will be seeing the Wolverines play a lot more often....and it makes me happy.

Maize and Blue for life

I was the first person in my family to get a degree from a four year school. My mother had a 2 year nursing degree. Shortly after he returned from WWII, Michigan's alumi association crossed something up and sent my father an offer to subscribe for alumni football tickets. He was happy to obilge them and he and his future wife used to go to the games with his sister and his future brother in law. 

I grew up on the shore of Lake Michigan about 35 miles north of ND, who the entire family hated with a passion. When I got interested in football the Michigan football team was pretty feeble, but I rooted for them and for State pretty indescriminately, although when they played I aways pulled for the Blue. My parents were Michigan fans, my mother never missed a game either listening on the radio or watching on the tube. Then this guy Bo (from Ohiono less) shows up and suddenly Michigan has football team that is for real. In 71 I was accepted to a number of schools including MIT, but when Michigan said yes, I knew that there was no finer school and the tuiition difference made going there a no brainer. 

Then there was that first home football game. I sat there with 101,000+ fans to watch Michigan destroy Virginia 56-0. I also learned the program was more than just football, that it was about aspiring and striving for greatness. We expected it of the team, and we expected it of ourselves, and that frequently falling short of that expectation was only more reason to try again. 

I've bled maize and blue ever since. One brother went to Michigan as well and played in the MMB. The other, because of his major, went to MSU and is a committed MSU fan. So family football discussion are always spirited.