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?

MGoBoard

Hail to the Vi…

January 31st, 2018 at 9:22 PM ^

I was born in East Lansing and moved to Dallas when I was 4. I was about 6 or 7 when I first remember watching Michigan play on TV and I just knew then my blood ran maize and blue. I remember drawing block M’s on the chalk board in class in 3rd grade. I’ve always been a lonely Wolverine fan down here in Texas as all my friends are fans of the many different Texas teams and all of my family are Spartan fans but through It all I remain loyal to the Wolverines. Go Blue!

Joined: 12/16/2011

MGoPoints: 242

HailObeans

January 31st, 2018 at 9:44 PM ^

Both parents attend Michigan. I grew up watching the Fab Five and that was bonding time with dad. He took me to the big house for my first football game. I clipped our rankings from the local newspaper in 1997 when Michigan was #1.

I’ve tried to get excited about other teams sine I live in the South, but I just bleed blue.

Joined: 12/14/2017

MGoPoints: 1001

jay_mgoblue09

January 31st, 2018 at 10:48 PM ^

Nice story BTB (although it makes me feel old when you say you were 10 for the MM PSU game, I was a freshman sitting about 10 rows up from the catch). 

I too grew up with immigrant parents who didn't know about football (watched too many Lions' games as a kid and thought the sign for holding was  generic penalty call). Eventually though the helmets and the colors, and the fact that I started watching in 1997, got me to the Maize and Blue. I did learn all the rules of football, with a little assistance from...the encyclopedia at school. How in the hell  did we live without the internet?

Joined: 11/11/2009

MGoPoints: 7

Bill22

January 31st, 2018 at 10:48 PM ^

My Dad is a U of M Alum and fan. My sister graduated from U of M as well, but I didn’t take High School quite as seriously as she did (didn’t even apply). First football game on TV was the ‘89 Rose Bowl vs USC. Leroy Hoard dominated, and we beat USC! Basketball Nat Champ with Glen Rice in ‘89 (my Dad told me about it the next day, too young to stay up and watch). Desmond Howard Heisman, Fab Five, Beating Ohio State almost every year and topped off with a Football Nat Champ and Woodson Heisman in ‘97! We went to the Homecoming game for 10 straight years from 1991 to 2000. What a great time to grow up a Michigan fan!

Joined: 09/07/2016

MGoPoints: 6732

TN GoBlueMan

January 31st, 2018 at 11:18 PM ^

Can't name the exact time, my father was a fan of sports, Tigers, Lions, but watched what ever college game was on. Bo arrived when I was 10 years old, and I think that was the start of becoming a die hard Michigan fan. I influenced my children with my fandom, and my daughter was accepted and UofM and is a class of 2006 grad.

Joined: 10/07/2015

MGoPoints: 64

claire

January 31st, 2018 at 11:26 PM ^

fan and lived in Manhattan Beach. Moved to Driggs Idaho to ski Grand Targhee and met a guy on a chairlift who told me to ‘go to Michigan’ so I went

Joined: 10/05/2008

MGoPoints: 623

GoBlueSean

February 1st, 2018 at 12:32 AM ^

My family is mostly sparty fans.  I remember being a kid and liking Michigan's helmets and colors.  I was born and raised in Michigan and now reside in Charlotte, NC.  All Michigan sports matter to me but football is obviously my favorite.

Joined: 09/05/2015

MGoPoints: 828

ZoltanSmash

February 1st, 2018 at 3:13 AM ^

I grew up in Sylvania, Ohio. One of the most divided areas when it comes to “The Game”. I never really cared much one way or another. I was born in 1989 and while I was very young, I went back and forth. I rooted for players, not teams. I loved Charles Woodson, randomly Drew Henson, so for a few years I loved Michigan. I loved Eddie George, so for a (definitely more brief) few years I rooted for the team from my home state. It all changed in 2004. I had attended games at The Shoe, but never The Big House. In 2004, I came to my first game, vs Iowa. I can still remember the diving one handed grab they made to take a 7-0 lead (thrown by Drew Tate, in his 37th year of eligibility) , followed by a big game from Braylon that led to a comfortable victory. I fell in love with the atmosphere. I fell in love with the pregame band, the chants, Ann Arbor, and with being a part of the largest crowd watching a football game anywhere in America, that day. I never looked back and became a die hard supporter then and there. I have now lived in Ann Arbor for the past 11 years, and haven’t stopped saying Go Blue

Joined: 10/02/2013

MGoPoints: 34

crg

February 1st, 2018 at 7:47 AM ^

The Lady of the Lake, her arm clad in the purest shimmering silmite held aloft Excalibur from the bosom of the water, signifying by divine providence that I... wait, different background story. My dad was a mild UM football fan, but never took me to a UM game (did take me to an MSU game oddly enough). Growing up in mid-Michigan, it seemed that one was compelled to choose between UM and MSU at a young age - if only for the schoolyard trash-talk. I always leaned blue despite living closer to EL and visiting that campus many times as a child (never saw UM campus until junior year of HS). Ultimately went to UM because of academics, but was a coin flip between there and Mich Tech.

Joined: 04/30/2015

MGoPoints: 75054

YoBoMoLoHo

February 1st, 2018 at 2:39 PM ^

I was raised in & near Lansing, & still live in the area now.... I was 8 years old. I was just becomming aware of the differences between "pro" teams & "college" teams, as well differences in college conferences, etc.... I was getting pretty sick & tired of everyone insisting that I choose MSU over Michigan; I guess a person in Lansing isn't allowed to be nuetral in that rivalry ?  I chose Michigan, mostly because I will not be told how I should think..... Also; I noticed a LOT more Hate coming from MSU fans toward Michigan, & I found it unbelievably annoying. I understand there is Hate on both sides. But listen , I live in Lansing, and a person cannot call themseves an MSU fan in Lansing/East Lansing unless they HATE HATE HATE Michigan. It is freaking weird man. And it's real.

Joined: 11/30/2011

MGoPoints: 273

daljerin

February 1st, 2018 at 10:33 PM ^

My grandfather lived in yipsilanti as a young boy and as a Boy Scout ushered the opening of the big house. Shortly after they moved to Chicago. When my dad was 14 they moved to south bend for a job and were close enough to make the 2 1/2 hr drive to Ann Arbor. This was late 60's we've had the same 6 seats in sec 6 row 64 since 71. I was born in 73 and my first memories are of A.C. I still remember my AC sparks Michigan shirt. I will admit to making and throwing paper airplanes from the lucky free programs they use to hand out before the game. I remember my dad missing his first home game in 20 years because of a mandatory safety meeting. Was in a hotel room in Georgia traveling for spring break when I watched Mighigan beat the flying Illini and then in Florida not being able yell as R. R. Made the free throws because my gradparents were sleeping. Saw the first time the fab five started together in South Bend. God we need to beat them like a drum next year. Now my 15 year old loves going every week. What is better than a fall Saturday at the Big House. When my dad doesn't go I still have to get him a program he has everyone but 3-4 from since the late 60's. I stormed the field after OSu win in 97 and grabbed some grass from the field it's still in a bag in my basement. Go Blue !!!

Joined: 01/08/2013

MGoPoints: 262

DaveHuck

February 1st, 2018 at 10:39 PM ^

Remember watching Michigan Football Saturdays on tv with my older brother when I was around 10 in the 70s. Grew up rootin’ for Michigan and got my dream when I was accepted to Grad School at U of M. Got the bug and it never left me.

Joined: 10/04/2015

MGoPoints: 2259

Maize_Blue_Forever

February 2nd, 2018 at 1:56 AM ^

I was born in Kansas but my dad is from Michigan. My dad was a die hard fan and most of his family is as well. I grew up rooting for the wolverines and used to run around our block with the Michigan flag every time we scored a touchdown. I wanted to go to Michigan but they did not have the major I wanted to study. I was lucky enough to attend the 2012 Sugar Bowl and will never forget singing Hail to the Victors as the entire Michigan crowd marched down Burbon street. I also saw Michigan play in the women’s college World Series. I am a die hard Tom Brady fan. Let’s go Pats!!!

Joined: 06/01/2015

MGoPoints: 11

coneyisland75

February 3rd, 2018 at 8:33 AM ^

1986- my parents owned a Coney Island in Jackson and I grew up in the kitchen. Every Saturday was spent there listening to Michigan football on the radio. I clearly remember listening to the game against Ohio State and everyone there cheering after we won "they're going to Pasadena!" I was solidified in that moment as a fan. Playground football- Every one of us wanted to be quarterback and every one of us wanted to be Harbaugh. I followed his career probably closer than any other former Wolverine until Brady. 1989- it was a school night and I was supposed to be asleep in my room but I had a small TV and kept the sound turned down real low so I could hear if my parents were coming up the stairs. I stayed up to see Rumeal sink those two free throws. The next day was one of the best school days ever. 1997- watching the Rose Bowl at a friend's house, Griese's play-action pass to Tuman for a touchdown caused all to jump up and cheer. Being really tall I forgot about the ceiling and punched two fist marks in their ceiling. I was immediately mortified but they were so cool about it and even a few years later would say that seeing those fist marks reminded them of Michigan's National Championship. 1999- Drew Henson was still all the buzz but watching the game against Penn State sold me on this guy named Tom Brady. That masterful comeback against PSU is still one of the best games I ever watched. 2014- The Harbaugh press conference where he was introduced was a special day for me as it brought back all those childhood memories of us on the playground and the Saturdays at the restaurant. It felt like a true full circle of Michigan Wolverine happiness for me.

Joined: 01/13/2018

MGoPoints: 1821