Why the ICANHAZMICHIGANZ Fans Bug Me

[Hungry Jack]

There is something I don't quite understand about Wolverine fans.

I know a bunch of people who attended UofM, and they are generally top-notch people: intelligent, often professionally accomplished, curious, and generally well-behaved. Responsible citizens, I have no doubt.

But my experience is that they get weird when it comes to talking about college football. My experience is that they don't want to talk about anything but Go Blue football. One would think they are knowledgeable fans who would have interest in and awareness of, for example, the Spartan's offensive strengths and weaknesses, or how Ohio State has struggled. They get tight-lipped when it comes to discussing conference foes, including the mighty Wildcats.

On this board, we have several great posters representing OSU, Iowa, Wiscy, Illinois and other schools. They have intimate knowledge of their teams and also broader knowledge of the conference. But the most insightful comment I have had from a Michigan friend over the past few years has been a bashful admission that Wolverine fans have basically awakened in Ann Arbor on some fall Saturday morning over each of the past three years when the schedule read "Northwestern", jumped out of bed, and had a horse shoe fall from their arse.

So if there are Wolverinez fans who can talk reasonably objectively and intelligently about B1G football--and not just Wolverine football and the best fern bars in Ann Arbor--I would like to meet them.

 

[hdhntr1]

There is something I don't quite understand about Wolverine fans.

I know a bunch of people who attended UofM, and they are generally top-notch people: intelligent, often professionally accomplished, curious, and generally well-behaved. Responsible citizens, I have no doubt.

But my experience is that they get weird when it comes to talking about college football. My experience is that they don't want to talk about anything but Go Blue football. One would think they are knowledgeable fans who would have interest in and awareness of, for example, the Spartan's offensive strengths and weaknesses, or how Ohio State has struggled. They get tight-lipped when it comes to discussing conference foes, including the mighty Wildcats.

On this board, we have several great posters representing OSU, Iowa, Wiscy, Illinois and other schools. They have intimate knowledge of their teams and also broader knowledge of the conference. But the most insightful comment I have had from a Michigan friend over the past few years has been a bashful admission that Wolverine fans have basically awakened in Ann Arbor on some fall Saturday morning over each of the past three years when the schedule read "Northwestern", jumped out of bed, and had a horse shoe fall from their arse.

So if there are Wolverinez fans who can talk reasonably objectively and intelligently about B1G football--and not just Wolverine football and the best fern bars in Ann Arbor--I would like to meet them.

Notre Dame used to feel the same way. Lucky Schamrocks and all that.

 

[shakes3858]

Notre Dame used to feel the same way. Lucky Schamrocks and all that.

Used to?

 

[hdhntr1]

Used to?

Well with us, that lucky schamrock has not been with them for more than 20 years. They may still feel they have it with other teams. And now they have to wonder about Clemson as well.

 

[shakes3858]

I meant in reference to only wanting to talk about their team, thinking their team is the only one that matters... They appallingly bad about that

 

[Hungry Jack]

So true. The Domers inhabit a vacuum of football fandom. Their dream of a National Championship game is probably a scrimmage of Blue vs. Gold.

 

[ubercat]

There is something I don't quite understand about Wolverine fans.

I know a bunch of people who attended UofM, and they are generally top-notch people: intelligent, often professionally accomplished, curious, and generally well-behaved. Responsible citizens, I have no doubt.

But my experience is that they get weird when it comes to talking about college football. My experience is that they don't want to talk about anything but Go Blue football. One would think they are knowledgeable fans who would have interest in and awareness of, for example, the Spartan's offensive strengths and weaknesses, or how Ohio State has struggled. They get tight-lipped when it comes to discussing conference foes, including the mighty Wildcats.

On this board, we have several great posters representing OSU, Iowa, Wiscy, Illinois and other schools. They have intimate knowledge of their teams and also broader knowledge of the conference. But the most insightful comment I have had from a Michigan friend over the past few years has been a bashful admission that Wolverine fans have basically awakened in Ann Arbor on some fall Saturday morning over each of the past three years when the schedule read "Northwestern", jumped out of bed, and had a horse shoe fall from their arse.

So if there are Wolverinez fans who can talk reasonably objectively and intelligently about B1G football--and not just Wolverine football and the best fern bars in Ann Arbor--I would like to meet them.

Wonder if it's about geography. The state is basically two peninsulas, surrounded by water. Not much outside contact. Sort of one big Maize echo chamber.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Maybe Ann Arbor should be rechristened "Mytopia"

 

[Alaskawildkat]

Wonder if it's about geography. The state is basically two peninsulas, surrounded by water. Not much outside contact. Sort of one big Maize echo chamber.

Two Peninsulas

One big Maize echo chamber

Water surrounded

 

[Williesfan]

Game haiku early

 

[hollandnucat]

I think it is part of the U of Mich (refuse to call it U of M as it plays into the whole thing) culture. A large percentage of the Michigan faithful (even larger percent of the Wolverine fans that did not attend the university) tend to look at the University compared to others through very maze and blue colored lenses. This is exaggerated further in football. I find the fan base to have a higher percentage of those making fun of / mocking the competition (I know the majority of this tends to come from non alums).

 

[sprinkler2]

There is something I don't quite understand about Wolverine fans.

I know a bunch of people who attended UofM, and they are generally top-notch people: intelligent, often professionally accomplished, curious, and generally well-behaved. Responsible citizens, I have no doubt.

But my experience is that they get weird when it comes to talking about college football. My experience is that they don't want to talk about anything but Go Blue football. One would think they are knowledgeable fans who would have interest in and awareness of, for example, the Spartan's offensive strengths and weaknesses, or how Ohio State has struggled. They get tight-lipped when it comes to discussing conference foes, including the mighty Wildcats.

On this board, we have several great posters representing OSU, Iowa, Wiscy, Illinois and other schools. They have intimate knowledge of their teams and also broader knowledge of the conference. But the most insightful comment I have had from a Michigan friend over the past few years has been a bashful admission that Wolverine fans have basically awakened in Ann Arbor on some fall Saturday morning over each of the past three years when the schedule read "Northwestern", jumped out of bed, and had a horse shoe fall from their arse.

So if there are Wolverinez fans who can talk reasonably objectively and intelligently about B1G football--and not just Wolverine football and the best fern bars in Ann Arbor--I would like to meet them.

Try this link - it will make you feel better.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Try this link - it will make you feel better.

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My god, that's funny.

I am starting to buy into this "isolationist / inbred fandom" theory. If you live downstate, your football rooting choices boil down to 1) Lions 2) Spartans 3) Wolverines. Given the history here, it's no wonder that the Wal-Mart fans have gravitated to maize and gold, especially those in the Detroit blightplex, er metroplex. I mean, you have to find something to hitch your wagon too, so it might as well be the shiny, happy one.

I would posit that the lack of intellectual curiosity about other programs, and the college game in general, stems from a lack of geographic, social, and professional mobility. Michigan really is a beautiful place once you put some distance between you and the Interstate (though I never could get Bubba to venture beyond the frontage road and its array of outlet malls, Subway stores, and porn shops). I worked summers in the northern harbor country. I backpack in the national forest lands and in the UP. It's vast, beautiful and bountiful land. And then there is Murdick's fudge.

Point is, if you want, you can stay in Michigan and still enjoy sandy beaches, powder skiing, farm-fresh produce, domestic wines, and the Chrysler 200--imported from Detroit. It's a nation state. You can raise a family, work in the factory, vacation in Charlevoix, and immerse yourself in the comfort of knowing that a large body of fresh water protects you from Canada.

No wonder the UP wants to secede and cast its lot with gambling, mining, and the Packers.

 

[aquacat]

Wisconsin has been wanting the UPers to join them for years. They already have the wisconsin accent down already

 

[Gobluesince92]

Michigan fan here. Love Coach Fitz and what he's done with your program. Should be a hell of a game on Saturday. Can't wait for it to get here. For those of you making the trip, safe travels and hopefully you'll run into a few more of the "normal" Michigan fans haha!

 

[Hungry Jack]

Michigan fan here. Love Coach Fitz and what he's done with your program. Should be a hell of a game on Saturday. Can't wait for it to get here. For those of you making the trip, safe travels and hopefully you'll run into a few more of the "normal" Michigan fans haha!

The normal ones don't come around here. Only the basement-dwelling types.