Hello all,

It seems like an appropriate time to tell a story. I’ve been a long-time lurker on this site, and only a recent poster. I have wanted to share this story with all of you for some time, but it just hadn’t happened for various reasons, one being I had no points. But now I do, so here you go. I hope you enjoy:

In 2022 I caught a pass from one of my favorite players, Denard “Shoelace” Robinson.

My wife and I had taken our kids (at the time 9 and 6) to the 2022 UM - Rutgers game at SHI Stadium. It was the first live game for my wife and kids, and I wanted them to get the most out of it. Previous games that I had attended were all at the Big House as a young teenager in the early 80’s, before my family moved from Ann Arbor to upstate NY. And I had only been back for a game once, the heartbreaking Hail Mary loss to Colorado and Kordell Stewart. Then life happened, and though my devotion to UM sports never waned, I wasn’t able to attend any live games. Eventually, Rutgers joined the B1G, and going to a game became a distinct possibility due to proximity.

It was a beautiful New Jersey evening, the sunset was gorgeous, and we got there early to be in the stadium for warmups. My kids were taking it all in, they were excited to see JJ warming up, Corum stretching, and even Harbaugh throwing passes. We had seats behind the UM bench, about 20 rows up, with a beautiful view of the north end zone.  At one point, I noticed Denard out there as well, playing catch with a kid on the field, I assumed the son of a coach. He was standing 5 yards deep in the end zone, every now and then tossing easy passes to kids in the first row of the stands below us. My family and I were so excited to see him, especially my wife because she had always loved his smile and laughter. His interview after destroying ND one year, running and passing all over them for over 400 total yards, especially showed his absolute joy of playing. 

My wife was wearing the Shoelace t-shirt from this site. And we both started shouting to him, “Shoelace! Shoelace, look!” I was pointing at my wife’s shirt and shouting with the desperation of a child chasing an ice cream truck. I caught his eye and he saw the shirt. I have no idea if he recognized the shirt, or if he could even read it from that distance. I knew that I looked like a fool, I knew I should have been embarrassed as a grown man to be shouting with such childlike abandon. But honestly I didn’t care. I was just so happy in my fandom, so caught up in the whole occasion – the beautiful evening, my family, my UM sports family, the anticipation of watching a live UM game once again.

But he saw me, and he saw me asking for the ball, like a receiver calling for it down the sideline I was ready, and it was going to be a winning TD catch. I saw him smile, that gorgeous smile which we had grown so accustomed to seeing, and from even that distance I saw the glint of mischievousness in his eye. He leaned back and whipped that ball, so fast I couldn’t even think. Wait, he was actually going to throw it to me? Holy crap, be READY! And don’t drop it! I had called for it, and now the QB had seen me streaking down the sideline, and put that pass on a rope. It moved so fast, cutting through the air so silently, and I barely got myself ready. With a solid THUNK it hit me in the perfect spot, just below the crook of my arm, and OOOOF, and spun me around, the momentum knocking me into the aisle and up a couple steps.

For a moment the world stopped. I was a kid back on the playground at Burns Park, and I was scoring a touchdown with my classmates. The smooth leather ball felt perfect in my arms. Even in that moment I was amazed at the sheer velocity and accuracy of that pass. (He was in the end zone, I was 20 rows up in the stands and it got to me in what seemed like a split second). My QB had a cannon of an arm, and had targeted ME, of all people. I came back to the present and turned around, taking a step down the aisle, my arms raised in victory. Smiling from ear to ear I threw the ball back to Denard, somehow getting it right to him, 30 yards away. Yeah, he had a cannon and accuracy, that was expected. He was a legitimate NFL QB/RB. I was just happy I got it back to him without him having to move his feet.

I sat down, my family hugging me and my kids asking all sorts of questions about the ball, the pass, why couldn’t I keep the ball, did it hurt, etc. And there was no wiping that smile off my face. Even as the game began, and UM was down 17-14 at the half, I couldn’t help gigging and smiling as I replayed the moment in my mind. We were surrounded by awesome UM fans, we cheered and yelled happily as UM shut out Rutgers the rest of the game, winning handily 52-17. We carried 2 very tired but happy kids back to the car, and drove home. 

With all that has happened in the last few years with the team we love and follow, I remind myself how these moments are the treasures we find throughout our lives, that we share with our friends and family. Watching the games this season with my wife and kids and seeing the joy on their faces as UM finally became National Champions again, has been a massive addition to the treasure chest of memories.

GO BLUE!