OT: Who is your #2 college football team and why?
I put this as OT since it is not immediately about UM football, but is blog relevant since it gives broader understanding about those who post here:
Parents are not supposed to have favorite children, but this is football and most of us here have already chosen UM as our main team/program. However, is there another team out there that is almost (or equally) dear to you, either within the Big Ten or in all of CFB (EDIT: OR WHO ELSE DO YOU DISLIKE THE LEAST)? What drew you to have this mixed loyalty - and who do you support if UM and this other team play? This question is also valid for those here that have another team as their primary and UM second - how did that come about?
For me, I have a stronger appreciation for NW than most other programs. They enforce academic standards more than most, they are more amicable than many other P5 fanbases, no great UM emnity, some degree of on field success, and seem to be genuinely interested in the student's long term prospects beyond their playing career. While these characteristics describe many other schools also, a more personal aspect is that 1) I have several alums in my extended family and 2) almost chose to go there for grad school (did not have the specialization I really wanted though). Regardless, I am still pleased when UM soundly pummels them - now possibly twice in one season.
September 5th, 2017 at 6:34 PM ^
Don't really have one. Maybe CMU? I tend to root for Northwestern when they aren't playing Michigan. I'll be rooting for Oregon this weekend because I'll be at Autzen to watch them play Nebraska.
September 5th, 2017 at 6:39 PM ^
If we were to expand the criteria past football, I'd say Boston University because my daughter just transferred there and started classes today. Pre-med.
September 5th, 2017 at 6:40 PM ^
September 5th, 2017 at 6:41 PM ^
September 6th, 2017 at 8:28 AM ^
I went down to Blacksburg as a member of the Michigan lacrosse team in 1970 to play what was then called VPI. Loved watching the cadets drilling formation on the grounds. They housed us in bunk beds under the stands in the basketball arena. Those were the days. Oh, and we won 4-3.
September 5th, 2017 at 6:45 PM ^
Nooooo-BODY (except Michigan)
September 5th, 2017 at 6:52 PM ^
September 5th, 2017 at 6:59 PM ^
Since my wife graduated from K-State and she is a big fan. Though the BWW bowl was a big embarrassment for me when KSU blew us out, glad those years are long gone!
September 5th, 2017 at 9:02 PM ^
September 5th, 2017 at 7:02 PM ^
September 5th, 2017 at 11:39 PM ^
Wish they were one of the teams Delaney brought into the B1G.
September 5th, 2017 at 7:03 PM ^
September 5th, 2017 at 7:04 PM ^
Some people bandwagon onto good teams and look stupid when their team sucks. When my team sucks... who cares? That was part of the deal to begin with.
September 5th, 2017 at 7:11 PM ^
Don't really have a strong #2 (I had to think about it in order to come up with one), but I guess it would be Stanford. Academic and athletic excellence, like Michigan but on steroids (the good, non-illegal kind, if there are any). Kinda like Wisconsin for personal reasons (Dad's U), old school football approach and generally nice Midwestern folks.
On the other hand, my list of football schools I really dislike is pretty long, and easy to come up with:
- OSU
- MSU
- ND
- PSU
- the whole damn SEC sans Vandy
- just about everyone from Texas
- Rutgers
- USC
- FSU (stupid annoying chant, in my head it goes [F-U Seminoles, Seminoles, F-U])
- many more...
September 5th, 2017 at 7:11 PM ^
Illinois - Got my MS from there. Dee Brown, Deron Williams, and Luther Head were amazing to watch live and the football team went from one win to the Rose Bowl while I was there.
UVA - I did an REU research program there one summer during undergrad. Had a great time and the ladies were both intelligent and beautiful.
September 5th, 2017 at 7:19 PM ^
September 5th, 2017 at 11:47 PM ^
Here's to success in the GMAC.
Also, while I don't actively follow Georgia Tech football, they are one of my favorite teams to watch, if I happen to come accross them on tv, on account of their option offense.
September 6th, 2017 at 5:10 AM ^
September 6th, 2017 at 12:27 PM ^
September 5th, 2017 at 7:23 PM ^
September 5th, 2017 at 7:26 PM ^
September 5th, 2017 at 7:26 PM ^
September 5th, 2017 at 7:27 PM ^
Whoever Mike Leach is coaching
September 5th, 2017 at 7:30 PM ^
UConn because I live in CT and had one kid there and one in UM (I'm Blue). The home and home was a lot of fun.
September 5th, 2017 at 7:31 PM ^
September 5th, 2017 at 7:52 PM ^
September 5th, 2017 at 7:54 PM ^
September 5th, 2017 at 9:27 PM ^
September 5th, 2017 at 7:58 PM ^
Although I graduated from Ohio U, I'd have to say my hometown Bowling Green Falcons. I went to a ton of games growing up and yeah, always pull for them in MACtion.
September 5th, 2017 at 9:00 PM ^
Boring reasons.
Northwestern because that's where I went to law school and Mizzou because that's where I live and grew up. I am still disappointed that B1G didn't take Mizzou. That's where Mizzou belongs, and it would have been fun.
But Michigan is way ahead of both of them. I live and die with Michigan. I'll watch NW and Mizzou if there's nothing better on, but that's it.
Now get this. I have two daughters, both of whom broke my heart when they decided to attend small liberal arts colleges instead of Mich. If they'd attended schools with big time football programs, I'd probably have become a fan (as my father is with Mich). But Michigan was the only school with big-time football that they applied to, so of course I'd have been a fan.
Here are the schools,undergrad and grad, that my daughers attended: Vassar, Carleton, NYU, DePaul, McGill. Neither daughter ever went to a single football game of any of those schools (the ones that have football) and I don't really blame them. (Whoops, my wife just reminded me that our daughter at Carleton had to go to a football game for a Sociology class. When I was in college I went to football games to cover them for the Daily. My daughter went to study ... what, I'm not sure.)
Now my older daughter is starting a post-doc at Amherst. Go, Mammoths!
September 5th, 2017 at 11:36 PM ^
I was also disappointed the B1G didn't take Mizzou (and GT- although I would hate to expose our DL to that cut blocking offense on a regular basis). Would have made more sense in terms of territory (recruiting, television), than say Maryland or Nebraska).
September 5th, 2017 at 8:34 PM ^
September 5th, 2017 at 8:50 PM ^
I know USC didn't actually end up losing, but there must have been some TWiS fodder in their comments given that it was anyone's game well into the 4th quarter. Sadly they tacked on those last-minute TDs so no one would notice.
September 5th, 2017 at 8:37 PM ^
September 5th, 2017 at 8:38 PM ^
Not since 1993, though, so I don't feel quite as dirty as I probably should feel.
Now it's Wisconsin. I lived in the Madison area for nearly twenty years, and I still have a lot of friends there.
I never had any mixed loyalties when either team played Michigan, though.
September 5th, 2017 at 8:40 PM ^
September 5th, 2017 at 8:54 PM ^
in almost any game. Unless it's ND, MSU, or OSU.
September 5th, 2017 at 8:58 PM ^
I have none. Michigan all the way.
September 5th, 2017 at 9:00 PM ^
September 5th, 2017 at 9:03 PM ^
I like seeing nerds do well in athletics. One of my all time favorite moves was when the entire Stanford offensive line shifted in a big circle, arriving back in the same place they started. It was under Harbaugh, of course, and it was when they were first and goal on the USC 2 yard line in a Stanford blowout. Just an ultimate troll job by Harbaugh.
Plus, several family members are Stanford alums. That said, I know more about how they're doing than my own damn alum relatives. No wonder Jim bolted.
September 5th, 2017 at 11:29 PM ^
I used to think that (root for the brainy nerds) and the crazy irreverence of the band, but nowadays Stanford folks are way too spoiled, as students, in the job market, and in sports. It's becoming a school and a fanbase even Michigan fans can call "arrogant"
Now I root against them hard, and especially for Cal in the Big Game.
September 5th, 2017 at 9:09 PM ^
My parents built their retirement home about 2 miles from Death Valley, Clemson's just a nice small college town, friendly people, and the Upstate is beautiful, And don't forget the Wednesday and Sunday Jockey Lot's in Pickens and Anderson.
September 5th, 2017 at 9:15 PM ^
Syracuse because of proximity, friends, former students there, etc.
September 5th, 2017 at 9:22 PM ^
Wisconsin. Went to undergrad there. Beautiful campus, great college town. Badgers might seem similar...but they are just not Wolverines. Maize and Blue are my true colors.
September 5th, 2017 at 9:33 PM ^
Vanderbilt because I go to law school here now. Also pull for SMU because that's where my wife went to undergrad.
September 5th, 2017 at 11:19 PM ^
September 5th, 2017 at 9:46 PM ^
Wisconsin. I have an unparalleled emotional attachment and engagement with Michigan athletics, but I identify with UW first as an institution, and with that comes their athletics in a clear second place. In my time in Madison, I earned a PhD, did 3 years of postdoc, met my wife, and had our first baby girl. UW gave me everything I have in my personal and professional life, and I love it deeply. But UW athletics is like a party - it's fun, but it's kind of secondary to the university as I know it. Michigan, for me, is football. It's how I grew up, cheering for the good guys in maize and blue. It's really an apples and oranges type of situation, because Michigan is my sports love and Madison is my life. I confuse my coworkers by wearing lots of apparel from both schools.
September 6th, 2017 at 3:58 AM ^