How/why did you become a Michigan fan?

Submitted by BTB grad on

There's been a lot of negativity the last week or so whether it's tied to what's going on in East Lansing or 'crootin woes. I thought we take a second and look back on how and why we love this Michigan of ours:

Some are fitted into a maize and blue onesie right out of the womb as they're born into a long lineage of Wolverines. Some had a moment or experience in their childhoods that sparked their love for our block M. For some it was the moment they received their acceptance letter or took their first step onto the Diag as a freshman.

What's your story? What was the moment you became a Michigan fan?

BTB grad

January 31st, 2018 at 1:12 PM ^

I was born and raised in Michigan but my parents were Asian immigrants with zero interest or understanding of college football. They did--true to the Asian parent stereoype--constantly talk about how they expected me to attend the University of Michigan from a very young age.

As a 10 year-old, I wasn't a college football fan but since my parents drove U-M into my head, I decided to watch the Michigan game since it was on... when I watched Mario Manningham catch a ball in the end zone from Chad Henne with triple zeros on the clock in the 2005 Penn State game, I jumped off the couch and went nuts. And at that exact moment, my unhealthy obsession and love for all things Michigan had begun. It led to me crying after receiving my acceptance and to the four best years of my life. Go Blue!

DairyQueen

January 31st, 2018 at 10:11 PM ^

Nice BTB grad!

I literally, meaning not exaggerating, used to eat at BTB 7 days a week or more (back when the Classic BTB's were only $3)--partly it was so delicious (and still is) and partly because $3 versus having to walk back to my apartment, prep, cook, eat, clean, it was just such a savings time wise--I ended up eating there so often that even the kitchen staff new me and used to give me free Horchata (which literally isn't even on the menu, so it was just their own that they brought for eachother), then sadly there was a documentation sweep throughout Ann Arbor, and like 90% of them were undocumented.

But BTB is freaking DELICIOUS, I don't care what anyone says, it's not Mex, or TexMex, or CaliMex, it's just freshMex as fresh as you can get it, and it's solid.

Always get one or two green sauces (for free) with whatever you get!

I always stop by whenever I"m back in town to see family!

victors2000

January 31st, 2018 at 1:06 PM ^

He never knew it, and we never met, but I was just drawn to him as a coach and person when I was a kid. He was just larger than life, along with those football helmets. He, along with John Wayne, Captain James T. Kirk, and Muhammed Ali were my biggest heroes growing up.

HenneGivenSunday

January 31st, 2018 at 1:06 PM ^

My dad has always been a huge Michigan fan, and even though I was born in Virginia Beach (ended up growing up in MI), it was never even a thought to cheer for anyone else. I can still remember watching The Tasmanian Devil running wild on OSU on a POS black and white TV in my bedroom and thinking that the University of Michigan was the most amazing place in the world. I’m significantly older now, but I still feel that way. Go Blue!

Dawggoblue

January 31st, 2018 at 1:06 PM ^

I grew up in a small town in SW Wisconsin.  Parents were not sports fans, so it wasn't a Packer or Badger house.  Born in 84 I grew up in the time of the Fab Five and Desmond.  We didn't have cable and the badgers were so bad they were never on TV.  So Saturdays were Michigan football on ABC or ND on NBC.  Clearly, I made the right choice.

mzdmv

January 31st, 2018 at 1:07 PM ^

Didn't have any college fandom or anything growing up as I moved around and one of my parents didn't go to college in this country.



As soon as I got my admission from Michigan, I started reading mgoblog and now I've racked up a whole 1000 points after 2 years of lurking and many more of not posting with an account

Indy Pete - Go Blue

January 31st, 2018 at 1:07 PM ^

I saw Michigan playing in the 1989 National Championship game against Seton Hall. I was 8 years old. I latched on then, and shortly afterwards became infatuated with the winged helmets and football tradition. There was no family connection at the time, and I later discovered that my grandfather had taught chemistry for a time Michigan.  As I got older, I realized what an excellent school it was as well, and it became my dream school.  1999-2003 - attended Michigan and it got in my blood...  Go blue!

ChuckieWoodson

January 31st, 2018 at 1:11 PM ^

Born and raised in Ann Arbor.  Dad and Uncle both went to Michigan - Mom and entire family are fans.

I ended up applying to UM, MSU, EMU - was lucky enough to get into all 3.   I applied to the School of Engineering and LS&A and actually got a phone call from the admissions office telling me I got into LS&A but would have to retake the ACT and score higher on the math and they'd let me into engineering.  One of the best phone calls I ever received!  5 years later, graduated from LS&A and been a proud alum ever since.  What a great experience.  Love the town, love the city - wife now works for the U so I'll probably be hanging around here until I'm gone - which is just fine by me.

Wolverine Devotee

January 31st, 2018 at 1:13 PM ^

It's been around me my entire life. There's pictures from when I was just a baby in Michigan gear, knew The Victors at a very young age. Remember things from games as far back as the 2000 Orange Bowl when I was just 5.

First game was at age 9 at the 2004 SDSU game where Mike Hart had his breakout game. And the rest is history. By a year later my bedroom was all Maize and Blue and it was THE interest in my life.

Tampa 2

January 31st, 2018 at 1:12 PM ^

Grew up in Alaska. A neighbor was a photographer and had photos of ones he had photographed in the wild. I thought they were cool and when i found out there was a team called that... bam. Moved to N Dakota when i was 12..... no real big time team on tv to root for there so i was never even challenged in my fanhood.

Gr1mlock

January 31st, 2018 at 1:13 PM ^

Born and raised in Ann Arbor, and my family has had season tickets going back to my grandparents.  Grew up going to games since literally before I can remember, and even though I decided to go to college out of state (I figured staying in the same town and with the same friends for 22 years wasn't conducive to personal growth), my passion never faded. 

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

January 31st, 2018 at 1:13 PM ^

Just was raised that way.  My dad is an alum, so of course football and basketball were always on.

Growing up, when I was, I dunno, six, seven years old, it didn't occur to me that one might not be a Michigan fan (or for that matter, Tigers, Lions, etc.)

ShittyPlaceKicker

January 31st, 2018 at 1:13 PM ^

Dad’s family is from MI, was raised a fan. Fell in love with everything about it. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to be a Wolverine in grad school, didn’t have the chance for undergrad because of money. Out of state tuition is a bummer.

moredamnsound

January 31st, 2018 at 1:15 PM ^

My parents weren’t (and still aren’t) all that into sports. One of my parents went to WMU, one to CMU.

When I was in 4th grade my best friend was a Michigan fan. I just kind of followed suit. Damn I was a good judge of character even then. We’re still good friends.

MGlobules

January 31st, 2018 at 1:15 PM ^

immediate family did, although my mom didn't finish in the med school. UM was really revered around my grandparents' house, in part because of a connection to the Harmons. For a time, Tom Harmon's mom was their maid. Which makes them sound a little tonier than they were--they were solid middle-class Royal Oak educators.

Arb lover

January 31st, 2018 at 1:15 PM ^

Grew up in A2 with family ties to the university, but it wasn't until I started traveling to Europe and Asia and making Michigan alumni connections that what it means to be Michigan really sunk in, enough that I came back for another degree.

Being a fan is just what happens when you keep getting pulled back.

chrisu

January 31st, 2018 at 3:23 PM ^

Born and raised in Michigan, and honestly, as a child I was attracted to the winged helmet and uniforms (and the excellence on the field). In my teen years, I attended Interlochen for All-State band camps that were supported by University Music Department faculty and students. I was already a fan, but that was as close as I would ever get to being a collegiate student at Michigan, but it was close enough for me.

StraightDave

January 31st, 2018 at 1:16 PM ^

I was born a Michigan fan.   My family also had (no longer care) a little Notre Dame by default - it's a Grand Rapids, MI Catholic thing.  

AMazinBlue

January 31st, 2018 at 1:18 PM ^

their graduate degrees from UM and my dad had season tickets from 1956 until I took them over about 10-12 years ago.  I was born in 64 and he took me and or my brother from the time I was 2 years old.

According to my uncle there is no toher school than Michigan and no other hospital to go to than UM Health System.

 

I have never been a fan of another school or even thought about it.

DavidGoesBlue

January 31st, 2018 at 1:17 PM ^

My dad is a big fan (he grew up in Michigan and I was born there) and growing up I used to watch all the games with him when we had the chance. Even though I grew up and started to follow M sports during the RichRod years having Denard had me glued to the screen and it made me a fan for life. Part of my father’s side are State fans and gladly I made the right choice.

Andystubs

January 31st, 2018 at 1:18 PM ^

Vivid memories of driving around with dad in our old beatup pickup listening to Michigan Football on the radio. Have been a fan since.

One of the best days of my life when Jon Urbancheck offered me a spot on the swim team.  I was a pretty quick commit.

 

TheJimandI

January 31st, 2018 at 1:19 PM ^

My mom was an MSU alumni and my dad was a fan. Used to go to games in East Lansing, but never got to go to a Michigan Game. Dad told me he’d disown me if I ever went to that school in Ann Arbor. University of Michigan has one of the best music schools in the country so I immediately changed my allegiance when I enrolled. Absolutely fell in love with the football team, especially when we curb stomped Notre Dame 38-0 and chanted “Houston’s better!” and “So is Central!” Culminating with a beating of OSU for the big ten title in 2003. Unfortunately since then, for our football team as you know, we’ve not had that level of success. Things are looking up though. Go blue!

TheJimandI

January 31st, 2018 at 6:29 PM ^

If you all feel bad for the recent losses in this rivalry, realize I’ve only won like 6 games for the team I was into throughout my whole life. Plus I’m sending my kids to OSU to jinx them for a while.

MMB 82

January 31st, 2018 at 1:20 PM ^

and (at that time future) brother-in-law both went to UM in the late 60's, as a result I was watching Michigan Football games and saw many early OSU and Rose Bowl games, and was hooked. By the time I was ready to go to college, I appled to exactly two schools- UM and Stanford. I was accepted to UM early October '77, and the rest was history....

theytookourjobs

January 31st, 2018 at 1:20 PM ^

My grandfather (rest his soul) became a fan when he was a young man and started hitch-hiking to football games in the late 40's.  My entire extended family, close to 100 strong, are die-hard wolverines and many are alumni.  It's one of the things I cherish most about my family

VictorValiant

January 31st, 2018 at 1:21 PM ^

Grew up on the west coast paying no attention to the Midwest.

Saw MIchigan playing in Rose Bowls and loved the uniforms and the smashmouth style of play and became a fan.

When it was time to attend college, it was no other place than Michigan!

Jetsson68

January 31st, 2018 at 1:22 PM ^

Live on Long Island NY and everyone was Notre Dame fans. I didnt like the idea of rooting for them simply because we had Irish heritage (and enjoyed being contrarian).  The Michigan-ND games were always on tv here in the 80's and so my Michigan fandom began then when I was 6.  Grew to love the history and tradition, even more so after learning more about Bo and what he stood for.