How/why did you become a Michigan fan?

Both of my parents had gone to Michigan State and my grandfather went to Michigan so growing up I remember wearing MSU and UM gear throughout grade school.  My brother and I were very into basketball, and when the Fab Five came out we got so into Michigan because of them and thankfully that fandom stuck to this day.  Needless to say my parents aren't big fans of our decision, and the MSU/UM game gets much bigger than would previously.

It began with the 1964 football team and QB Bob Timberlake, which went on to win the 1965 Rose Bowl 34-7 over Tommy Prothro's Oregon State team.

The cement was the 1969 victory over the unbeaten (for almost 2 years) OSU team.  I just admired the guts of an underdog that rose up to beat the great Woody Hayes and his undefeated Buckeyes. Watched it alone in my room on a small B&W tv.

Selected Michigan over Amherst, ND and MSU (fallback school).  Never told my dad I was admitted to ND, as he would have made me attend.  Never saw Amherst until about 10 years ago.  Would have been a nice #2 school.

Always proud to be an M grad! 

I was/am the youngest of four siblings so naturally I wanted to be a contrarian. My mom is an MSU alum and my brothers, sister, uncle and grandma are all State fans, hence why I began cheering for Michigan (Marquise Walker was the first player I fell in love with to get a feel for the time). I was also a huge Colorado Avalanche fan as well and named one of my cats after Joe Sakic.

Needless to say, I ditched the Avalanche shtick as I got older and hopefully wiser (though Forsberg is still one of my all time favorites) because they suck and should go 0-82 every year BUT the Michigan fandom stuck and here we are many years later. 

My step dad bought me a ND hat when I was about 9 and had no interest in football. I just thought it looked cool. One Saturday night I was flipping through channels and settled on ABC at the exact moment Braylon caught the game tying touchdown against MSU in 2004. I watched Braylon go off in all those OTs and found myself going nuts. I didn't even really understand football at the time. After that, I started spending HOURS on the family desktop researching all things Michigan. I joined the middle school football team and became a wideout. I asked for Michigan gear for Christmas. I vividly remember arguing football in the scarlet clad hallways of my Ohio school on the Friday before The Game in 06. The rest is history and mostly pain. I found that ND hat a few years ago. I thought of my dad. Then I laughed and tossed it in the garbage. (My dad became a Michigan fan along the way as well)

My great grandfather played at Michigan back in the late 20's/early 30's, and my father became a fan by hanging out with him through checking out all his old gear and watching old game film with him. Needless to say, I was born into it. My first birthday cake had a big block M on it. 

watching Bo and Brandy break down the previous day's game was just a Sunday morning ritual (as was watching Batman reruns on Channel 20). BAM! ZOW! KA-BOOM!

I became a Michigan fan at the age of 7.  At that age I was a huge X-men fan and Wolverine was my favorite x-man.  One day I was watching college football with my dad and the Wolverines were on TV.  That was the first time i saw them play, and acutally thought Wolverine was their mascot.  I instantly became a fan, and even after I found out that he wasnt and there is an actual wolverine animal, my love for the team was too deep. 

Since that point on, I never missed a game basketball or football (even if I had to DVR it).  I got accepted to go to Michigan for colllege but it was out of state and I couldnt afford it so I stayed in Florida, but I did meet my future wife here, who is a Michigan Alumni.  

Grew up on a farm in an all sparty household. I have a brother and various uncles and cousins who are state grads. I am kind of the black sheep of the family but that wasn’t why I choose Michigan. It was with out a doubt the Bo and Woody wars of the 70’s. I was enthralled by Keith Jackson’s calls of the game. It was a simple special time for college football where the players played for the love of team and the game itself. Been a fan ever since. GO BLUE

My 18 year old brother got a Michigan helmet tattooed on his arm - been a fan ever since...we don’t talk anymore though

I watched them win their first Rose Bowl under Bo Schembechler when I was 8 years old.  It was a glorious game and a glorious win.  Butch Woolfolk and Anthony Carter came up big, so did the defense.

Mercury Hayes had an awesome name my mom was alum she hated us I bled blue instantly

I hated Michigan growing up until I got admitted there. I picked the university over the school where my favorite team growing up was...Notre Dame.

 

 

Born and raised in Michigan, but have been living in Nashville for the past 18 years.  Dad and his business partner graduated from the Endodontics School at Michigan.   I didn't have a choice.  Not sure I needed or wanted a choice.   It's been a part of me ever since, will continue to be a part of me and will be a part of my kids' lifes.   We cheer for "Papa's Team!" in our house!

Like many on the board, I was indoctrinated at a young age. My dad was a UM Law alum and proudly flew the M flag every football Saturday - the flag that my mom made him when he graduated from law school. One of my earliest memories of Michigan football is of my dad going nuts over how damn good Anthony Carter was. I remember trying to reinact his catches with my Nerf ball in the living room with the game on in the background. Dad loved it, mom did not. That must have been '81/'82 and I would have been about 8 years old.

I graduated from Michigan in '97 and have lived out west ever since. My wife, also a Michigan grad, and I have an 8 year old son of our own now. We fly that same flag my mom made for my dad all those years ago and this year we'll make our 4th trip from the west coast to the Big House for a game together. It's great to share the long history and tradition of Michigan football with my son and create new traditions and memories along the way. It's great to be a Michigan Wolverine and GO BLUE!

My father had an MSW from UofM. The first game he took me to was the 70-14 victory over Navy in 1976. SEVENTY-TO-FOURTEEN! When you are six, that leaves a lasting impression.

Rojo, Wisconsin, 'nuf said.

Behind the back passes.

I moved to Michigan when I was 8 years old.  I had been living in Chicago, and was just starting to get into professional sports (Walter Payton and Michael Jordan were my idols).   We moved outside Ann Arbor, and I kind of became a de facto MSU fan due to my parents both being from Lansing.  I went to my first UofM game in 1991 and watched Desmond run wild and it sold me for life.  Eventually it changed my father to a UofM fan as well despite his roots in Lansing.

From my first game at Michigan Stadium at about the age of 5, 1958, on a trek from Muskegon, where I grew up, or rather, when my number reached 18 before I left. I was born in 1953. My dad was in law school; we lived on Ann Street in Ann Arbor.

Bob Timberlake, to Jim Detwiler.

Yost Fieldhouse, Cazzie Russell. A steal, a jam at the other end, and Yost goes crazy. We truly had a home court advantage in those days.

My grandfather went to Michigan.  My father went to Michigan. I went to Michigan.  My daughter goes to Michigan.  I guess it's in the genes.

Pretty generic story - raised in a Michigan family and went on to attend.

back in 1969 was a big Michigan fan and had a block M, pictures of the  players and news articles about the new coach Bo on her bulletin board. So, that won me over.  My Dad was a longtime ND fan and my Mom was not interested in college football. I eventually went to UM in the early to mid 80s but was a Michigan fan long before that. I was hoping to replace Rick Leach even though I did not graduate from High School until '81.

Family is for OSU. I wanted to be different.

I started watching Michigan football in the mid 70s.

I grew up 15-20 minutes from campus in Brighton. That same house is now 35+ minutes from campus. Not a fan of how much that area has grown up.

I attended Michigan State (1995) in my mid 20s and wore my Michigan sweatshirt to class the Friday before every Michigan-MSU game. I was already an adult. I wasn't a kid like all the other students. There was just no way I was changing my alliegance at that point.

Grew up in Columbus. First couple of years I started watching football was Desmond against Ohio State. That always stuck out to me. Fast forward years later, Navarre and my favorite player Perry made my love for UM real.

and those damned helmets were so cool.

My dad is a big sports fan. Especially football. Sometime in the early 80's he was in our basement watching football. I sat down with him to watch and I saw the most glorious helmet I had ever laid my eyes on. I had no clue who they were, but I was hooked instantly. Been a fan ever since, almost 40 years. Go Blue.

For the first time as high school student in the fall of 1972. The Bo-Woody years were the best.....it is really too bad that young Wolverine fans did not get the opportunity to experience them.

On the Big Ten game of the week broadcast on television in Flint. He was so smooth and was such a great athlete. Became an instant fan of Michigan at the age of 14.

Like many, I have no memories of not being a fan... lifelong townie, Michigan grad, Dad went there, son is going there now

In 5th grade I grew up in the burbs of chicago.  This was the same time that the fab5 was playing.  Juwan howard's cousin was a class mate,and I was already infatuated with them, she would go to some of the games and bring back pics with the whole team and it was just awesome.  In 5th grade I was more into basketball as I had the bulls but as I got older and was playing football I started watching Michigan Football and was and still am more of a football fan now and then.  Eventually got accepted to go Blue, but I went to a small D3 school in wisconsin because I still wanted to play football. 

Side note I played 3 sports through high school so I did not have much time to watch sports and My dad is a quiet man, but I remember distincltly turning on a Notre Dame game, and he told me to turn that off we don't watch that garbage here.  I did not know at the time he was an Ohio State fan, but got it that I was not to like notre dame. I understood why he was even more quiet then the normal quiet when I started watching the Fab5 and then onto Michigan football when I could and he would leave the room.  Found out when I was in High school he is a die hard Ohio fan, and he finally let me know, and he hoped that it was just a phase with me but did not want to push me in any direction other than not liking Notre Dame.  That did not turn out well for him.  From 03 to about 10 we went to every game against each other whether it be in columbus or Ann Arbor so it turned out fun more for him then me of course but there is a respect about it between us. Had to stop the tradition of going to every game once the kids started coming and priorities changed but we still watch every year together with my kids all suited up in Michigan gear.

In 5th grade I grew up in the burbs of chicago.  This was the same time that the fab5 was playing.  Juwan howard's cousin was a class mate,and I was already infatuated with them, she would go to some of the games and bring back pics with the whole team and it was just awesome.  In 5th grade I was more into basketball as I had the bulls but as I got older and was playing football I started watching Michigan Football and was and still am more of a football fan now and then.  Eventually got accepted to go Blue, but I went to a small D3 school in wisconsin because I still wanted to play football. 

Side note I played 3 sports through high school so I did not have much time to watch sports and My dad is a quiet man, but I remember distincltly turning on a Notre Dame game, and he told me to turn that off we don't watch that garbage here.  I did not know at the time he was an Ohio State fan, but got it that I was not to like notre dame. I understood why he was even more quiet then the normal quiet when I started watching the Fab5 and then onto Michigan football when I could and he would leave the room.  Found out when I was in High school he is a die hard Ohio fan, and he finally let me know, and he hoped that it was just a phase with me but did not want to push me in any direction other than not liking Notre Dame.  That did not turn out well for him.  From 03 to about 10 we went to every game against each other whether it be in columbus or Ann Arbor so it turned out fun more for him then me of course but there is a respect about it between us. Had to stop the tradition of going to every game once the kids started coming and priorities changed but we still watch every year together with my kids all suited up in Michigan gear.

In 5th grade I grew up in the burbs of chicago.  This was the same time that the fab5 was playing.  Juwan howard's cousin was a class mate,and I was already infatuated with them, she would go to some of the games and bring back pics with the whole team and it was just awesome.  In 5th grade I was more into basketball as I had the bulls but as I got older and was playing football I started watching Michigan Football and was and still am more of a football fan now and then.  Eventually got accepted to go Blue, but I went to a small D3 school in wisconsin because I still wanted to play football. 

Side note I played 3 sports through high school so I did not have much time to watch sports and My dad is a quiet man, but I remember distincltly turning on a Notre Dame game, and he told me to turn that off we don't watch that garbage here.  I did not know at the time he was an Ohio State fan, but got it that I was not to like notre dame. I understood why he was even more quiet then the normal quiet when I started watching the Fab5 and then onto Michigan football when I could and he would leave the room.  Found out when I was in High school he is a die hard Ohio fan, and he finally let me know, and he hoped that it was just a phase with me but did not want to push me in any direction other than not liking Notre Dame.  That did not turn out well for him.  From 03 to about 10 we went to every game against each other whether it be in columbus or Ann Arbor so it turned out fun more for him then me of course but there is a respect about it between us. Had to stop the tradition of going to every game once the kids started coming and priorities changed but we still watch every year together with my kids all suited up in Michigan gear.

In 5th grade I grew up in the burbs of chicago.  This was the same time that the fab5 was playing.  Juwan howard's cousin was a class mate,and I was already infatuated with them, she would go to some of the games and bring back pics with the whole team and it was just awesome.  In 5th grade I was more into basketball as I had the bulls but as I got older and was playing football I started watching Michigan Football and was and still am more of a football fan now and then.  Eventually got accepted to go Blue, but I went to a small D3 school in wisconsin because I still wanted to play football. 

Side note I played 3 sports through high school so I did not have much time to watch sports and My dad is a quiet man, but I remember distincltly turning on a Notre Dame game, and he told me to turn that off we don't watch that garbage here.  I did not know at the time he was an Ohio State fan, but got it that I was not to like notre dame. I understood why he was even more quiet then the normal quiet when I started watching the Fab5 and then onto Michigan football when I could and he would leave the room.  Found out when I was in High school he is a die hard Ohio fan, and he finally let me know, and he hoped that it was just a phase with me but did not want to push me in any direction other than not liking Notre Dame.  That did not turn out well for him.  From 03 to about 10 we went to every game against each other whether it be in columbus or Ann Arbor so it turned out fun more for him then me of course but there is a respect about it between us. Had to stop the tradition of going to every game once the kids started coming and priorities changed but we still watch every year together with my kids all suited up in Michigan gear.

Congratulations. We are pleased to advise you that you have been accepted......

But seriously it was AC, Ricky Leach, Jamie Morris, Mark Messner Al Hadji Sheik etc etc before that.

I was mostly raised by my grandmother, and although we were both born and raised in the Upper Mississippi delta, Michigan was her school. She always spoke so highly of Michigan, so I started watching the football team in the 1970's. I think Rick Leach was the first guy I really remembered and admired. 

I ended up going to another school, but I never got the Maize and Blue out of my blood. The campus architecture, Ann Arbor, the colors, the traditions. Michigan has it all. 

 

 

 

 

 

After completing his bachelors in India, my father was given a full scholarship to Michigan to do his Masters and Ph.D.  

I have a degree from Rutgers.  I hate Rutgers and have never given them a penny after graduation.

I have a degree from Auburn.  I hate Auburn and have never given them a penny after graduation.

The reason why I was born and alive today is because of this school.