MGoDads
Tomorrow is father's day and I will be kickin' it with the big guy all day and won't have time to post this.
I would wager that everyone on here has a father who is instrumental in introducing them to Michigan sports, i know mine was. For better or for worse, because of my dad i have always been and will always be a Michigan fan. Take some time this weekend, think about Dad, give him a hug and tell him you love him then talk some football so it doesn't get awkward.
were actually a non-entity in our household when I was growing up. I developed my fanaticism all on my own. I am hoping to pass on some serious M allegiance to the cutest bebe in the world, though.
Same here. Dad taught me a lot of things, but, unfortunately, he had no time for any sport that wasn't boxing or red wing hockey. He worked outsdie the home, farmed, and raised me and my 10 sibling.
But, I converted him. Two of my kids are solid blue (i failed on one - got his masters from - I hate to say it - ms.... I just can't finish it.) I converted my wife. All of my inlaws (including a former ND fan - her father worked for ND). So I have done pretty well in passing on what is important. Go Blue.
Funny enough I introduced my dad to Michigan sports. He followed it some when he was growing up, being a sports fan, but he had never been to any michigan game in any sport; He watched the '97 game and major things like that. Then my brother got accepted to UM in '98 I believe and took my to my first game (I was 13 at the time). It was in the student section and I think it was against Iowa. It opened my eyes. I had never seen anything like it. I went home and got onto the internet and signed up for the season ticket waiting list (it was free at the time). The very next year I got offered a 3 game ticket package and got my dad to purchase them. From then on it was love for both of us. Since then we've gotten into hockey, baseball and even a few basketball games; not to mention after 8 years I finally got real season tickets. But it is kinda "our thing" to do together.
Actually, my dad is a piece of shit who I don't even talk to.
My mom, on the other hand, loves Michigan like you wouldn't believe. When Bo died, you'd think the man was her own father...
Seriously, I wish it was different for you.
Same for me. Makes Father's Day kinda bittersweet, but I'll make sure to teach my kid all the great things about life (like Michigan football) and not be like my dad.
Same here. My dad is a useless drunk that actually came after me with an axe the last time I saw him. I have a cousin that is 15 years older than me and he was the one who introduced me to Michigan at a young age and took me to my first game.
My dad is a sparty fan. I am very happy that i don't take after him in that regard.
My dad is a Notre Dame fan. He did make me a Toronto Maple Leaf fan, but its hard to be too appreciative of that one.
Isn't making you a Maple Leaf fan almost some sort of punishment?
So far it has been, but they can't be terrible my whole life. Right? Right?
Both of my parents did their grad work at Michigan. I distinctly remember watching Biakabatuka destroy a safety with my dad... Happy fathers day to all the dads out there
way back in the late '50s or early '60s. I don't remember who we played, but my recollection is that we got our asses beat, which was a common occurrence during the Elliott era, unfortunately. Dad was as interested in the Marching Band as he was the football, since he was a member of Mizzou's marching band when he was in school there, and he admired Revelli quite a bit for what he did with the MMB.
I used to spend the night at my grandparents' house on weekends quite a bit when I was young. I was about 7 years old in 1980 and I remember many Saturdays going into their den and finding my grandfather watching Michigan football. I was hooked after that.
20 years from now, when my kids are members here at MGoBlog, I KNOW that they will answer "DAD" as the person who was instrumental in getting them to become Michigan fans.
and my dad is an Ohio State fan. Thankfully, I have better taste. He did take me to see the Big House during a summer vacation when I was about 11, though.
here
Born and raised in South Bend. He tried to turn me into an ND fan, but as a yoot, my Brother and I were taught to support the home team(s). So with me being born and raised in Michigan, It was only natural that I became a Michigan fan. It sure makes for some super interesting Saturdays, I'll tell you that!
Papa Boutros graduated from Michigan in 1972 with a mustache spanning the galaxy and hair halfway down his back. His best bud was Jim Jonathan Jim James Champ JB Brandstatter. Eventually I was born and now we rock the world on our Michcycle built for two.
Occasionally, when Michigan loses in football or hockey, he leaves the house and is not seen for days.
My Dad was born in WVA of all places but moved to ohio in HS. He is a Dallas Cowboy fan and one trip to Ann Arbor with me converted him to a big Michigan fan. He even got into the softball team when they make it to the Series when it's on espn.
On that same Michigan trip my Mom was converted from being an osu and nd fan.
Sucks that I'm 21 hrs away from them on weekends like this
Was a graduate of Ann Arbor High in the 50's. Although he never attended Michigan himself as so many of his friends had he lived and died with Michigan football. He met my Mother in Chicago and although I grew up in the city he tried like all hell to pass along the curse of being a Lions fan and alleviate my pain of growing up loving the Black Hawks. He died with the conviction that his favorite professional sports teams (Lions, Redwings and Tigers) were the best dressed team in sports. We only agreed on the Wolverines. Damn I miss the old man. Tears-I'm done.
My Dad took me to my first Michigan game on September 30, 1978. Michigan crushed Duke 52-0 in a relentless rainstorm. I know my Pop wanted to leave at the end of the 3rd, but he stuck it out to the end because I was having so much fun taking in the whole experience.
I graduated from the College of Engineering in 1993 and was able to do so partly because of my Dad's hard work making a Michigan education affordable.
I owe my fandom and my career to my Dad and I will be forever grateful.
Thank you Dad and Happy Fathers Day.
My father is 5' 5", has weak ankles, and is about as far from an athlete as you can get. But he does wear a Michigan baseball cap at all times even though he went to Purdue.
Forgot to mention this but it was funny atleast to me.
Few years ago after a football game there was a hockey game and my Dad knew nothing about hockey and didn't care to. Must have been a later game in Nov or something cause the students weren't there. We had seats right on the glass.
The puck dropped and came over by us and 2 guys flew over and went up against the glass and he jumped and looked at me and said "JESUS CHRIST!!!"
I will never forget that, I still bring that up to him once in a while
My dad was vital in introducing me to ministry and Michigan football. Most people can get behind one if not the other.
Small world... my dad was a minister too. I only took after him in the football fandom dept., though.
My Dad worked out of town a bunch when I was growing up. My mom taught me my love of all things Michigan and Detroit. I am a father myself now and had dreams of fathering future Wolverine football players. That dream went south when I had 3 daughters. The important thing is each of them could sing at least the chorus to "The Victors" by the time they were four. Hey, the Softball and Volleyball teams need players too.
Crap, I completely forgot that it's father's day. Ironic, given that I'm a father myself. I really should send the old man a card or something...
Taught me how to be a man. Went to Michigan. Ergo, I am a Michigan man. Named my son after him. Taught him the Victors in utero (seriously, the kid practically came out shouting, "Hail!").
is from Michigan. I was born in Chicago and we moved to Tulsa when I was six. Lived here for over 20 years now. My Dad made sure I never missed a Michigan football game. My parents bought me some Ok. State and OU gear but I just never liked rooting for them and glad I never did. Granted it is not very fun right now watching games with the old man but because of him I have never missed a single game and I am truly thankful for that. I have daughter that is two and a half and she already loves to say "Go Blue." She has also has taking a liking to the Cubs but I keep telling her she might want to root for another baseball team, it's not very healthy being a Cubs fan. And we just found out we are having another child, let's hope it's a boy and he commits to Rich Rod in 2029!
to the Tigers game. We went last Sunday too. I think he may be my wingman for the Uconn game at this point. He has been to 4 games at the big house in the last 2 years. The Michigan games seem to be his favorite sporting events so far. I can't blame the kid.
I am very fortunate that my dad graduated from UM and brought me up to love UM sports. I followed his footsteps to Ann Arbor and love going to football games with him when we can (at least once a season) and we also go to several Tigers games together each season. Its great to share a love of sports with him, and I plan on passing that on (especially UM) to my own little one, who's due to arrive any day now (July 1st officially). We don't know if it's a boy or a girl, but either way the kid will be taught the wonders of all things Michigan. Just have to keep the in-laws and their Spartan tendencies at bay. (Thankfully, my wife went to EMU and is a UM fan via conversion). To all the dads out there, Happy Father's Day!
My dad didn't go to Michigan, but he's a big fan since his parents met there and he played LAX on a scholarship at a SUNY school. He shattered his knee after his first season, then went to Stony Brook, majored in physics and started working as a civil engineer.
He taught me how to say 'hockey' before I learned 'mama,' spoiled the crap out of me while he was divorcing my mom (and still does occasionally), and was very proud when I took him to Yost for the first time and he saw what a fine young heckler I'd become. A few weeks ago, his digital camera broke and he asked me if I could get "one of the nerds at work" to fix it for him. I said sure, got him a new one and put it in his old case for Fathers' Day.
I miss you, and think about you every day.
I remember Michigan when I was 10 years old watching Rick Leach and Michigan take on the Selmon brothers and OU in the Orange Bowl. I also remember bitterly crying when IU beat Michigan in the '76 NCAA Basketball Finals. I nearly forgot my Great Uncle Abel, who lived a block from Michigan Stadium. Cars used to park in his front lawn (and every other neighbor's house...is that still done?) and I was there with him. We would go to the football games after the cars were parked.
Ever since then, Go Blue. However, I really wanted to go to Michigan to play baseball and even though five other Big 10 schools offered, I really wanted an M offer (I think I would have had a hard time academically, at that point)but apparently had a deal they didn't 'prefer' JUCO transfers. Sparty came calling but I went down south (not b/c Sparty offered, either. They were in the top 3 at the end). I know, TMI, but it is somewhat cathartic.
I love this site and Brian's writing. I enjoy the comments and my sons are Blue boys. Indocrination all the way. I tore miniscus during the Horror. I'm a bastard, so missed out on the father influence but had good coaches.
Did not go to to college until he was almost 30. With 3 children he got undergrad and grad business degrees from M. First M game I went to was 68 opener against Cal. We lost 28-14. Dad went home and told Bay City buddies, " It's going to be a long year." We parked at B school to go to game. After game we went in dad's old haunts and he wrote, DUMP BUMP on a chalkboard. We always joked like that had something to do with anything. Canham realized Bump was not the man for the job. When they hired Bo, my dad said, "Who the hell is Bo Schembechler?" My dad and Bo were a lot alike. We met Bo a few times. He and my father were gentlemen. In 1973, Woody and the boys went after the M banner. As we recalled at dad's funeral, my dad was yelling, "Woody, you're an asshole." I miss my father. My family has BLUE BLOOD.
He wasn't instrumental in making me a UM fan, but he was instrumental in developing every good characteristic of who I am. Unfortunately my Father passed away this year and I won't get a chance to tell him I love him or give him that hug you were talking about. He was a great man. Happy Fathers Day eveyone.
No, I grew up in Nebraska. So I grew up a Husker fan. My dad raised me right for the place we were living. I came to the Michigan fold late in life. But you know what they say, there's no one more fervent than a convert.
But my husband has memories of going to Rose Bowls as a kid (remember the good old days?) and of going on Alumni Association trips with the Schembechlers. So yeah, he can say this about his own Dad.
Naturally, we are raising our son right.