Newbie Michigan fan; advice needed

[Guru03]

Moderators, if this is in the wrong forum, feel free to move it.

Okay. I have became more of a Michigan fan this week, and I don't know much about being a Michigan fan.

So to the U of Michigan fans that are OSers,

I will need some tips/advice from y'all about being a Michigan fan, but first, here are my fanship circumstances.

1) I live in the deep south and I have never been to Michigan.
2) I have pulled for Michigan some last season, but I decided to officially become a fan this week.
3) I will most likely be called a bandwagoner and a fair-weather fan back home.
4) I know next to nothing about Michigan football, so I will need Michigan football education.
5) I became a fan due to confidential circumstances (non-sports, non-school reasons).


So, here are my questions for you OS Michigan fans.

1) Is it hard being a Michigan fan in the deep south?
2) Are personal circumstances a good reason to become a Michigan fan?
3) Do other Michigan fans welcome fans with no affiliation with the school or state into the fanbase?
4) Based on my circumstances, would I be called a bandwagoner?
5) Do you have any other tips/advice for me as a newbie Michigan fan?
6) How do I educate myself about Michigan football?
7) What websites are good to educate myself on Michigan Wolverines football?

Thanks a million in advance.

[Redacted01]

Re: Newbie Michigan fan; advice needed

1) Is it hard being a Michigan fan in the deep south?

You made a wrong turn somewhere...

[gopher_guy]

Re: Newbie Michigan fan; advice needed

I will never understand the phenomenon of just picking a different or new team to root for...

[VDusen04]

Re: Newbie Michigan fan; advice needed

2) Are personal circumstances a good reason to become a Michigan fan?

I'd say it's as good a reason as any. I'm primarily a Detroit sports fan, but I admit I became a partial fan of the Minnesota Twins ever since going to one of their games while visiting my girlfriend at the Mayo Clinic. So there's always going to be different reasons folks pick up new teams. There's really no rules when it comes to following sports teams. You follow and support who you want to follow and support. Even "bandwagon" fans tend to be accepted as others so long as they're not terribly arrogant and loud about it at every turn.

[Guru03]

Re: Newbie Michigan fan; advice needed

I will never understand the phenomenon of just picking a different or new team to root for...

This was not a random phenomenon. I intentionally picked them, but not because of the school, state, or football team. I will not say specifically why I became a fan though (but i will say it's totally legitimate).

[Guru03]

Re: Newbie Michigan fan; advice needed

You made a wrong turn somewhere...

Good joke and nice try but I did not make a wrong turn.

[AUChase]

Re: Newbie Michigan fan; advice needed

There's nothing wrong with being a fan of a team from another part of the country or even another part of the world, but expect to be questioned about it a lot when you tell people in the South you're Michigan fan, especially if you can't disclose why you're a fan.


Oh. You're a Michigan fan ?
Yep
Why ?
Its personal. I can't really tell you.

Just seems odd
Good Luck.

[deaduck]

Re: Newbie Michigan fan; advice needed

This was not a random phenomenon. I intentionally picked them, but not because of the school, state, or football team. I will not say specifically why I became a fan though (but i will say it's totally legitimate).

Yeah....that's a great way to show people you're a true fan/supporter.

Secrets!

[NDAlum]

Re: Newbie Michigan fan; advice needed

I say you can like whoever you want, whenever you want. There is no rulebook.

[Redacted01]

Re: Newbie Michigan fan; advice needed

Good joke and nice try but I did not make a wrong turn.

Well, I'll tell you a story. Before I left for college, I lived in Mississippi. In our cove lives my parents who are Arkansas fans, a few Ole Miss and MSU fans, there was a guy with a Tennesee flag, and a Georgia fan. Next door to me lived a Michigan fan... let's just say he no longer lives there :wink:

[deaduck]

Re: Newbie Michigan fan; advice needed

I say you can like whoever you want, whenever you want. There is no rulebook.

That's fine in theory...but the reality is folks who change their teams all willy nilly are not really getting the true fan experience. Jumping on wagons is no way to travel.

[mgoblue]

Re: Newbie Michigan fan; advice needed

I'd just tell people why I picked them.

It's what I did when I started liking Manchester City in the Premier league. Though now I'm not really a fan of them (don't like the spending style they have)...

[Guru03]

Re: Newbie Michigan fan; advice needed

I will let friends back home know, but I will not tell anybody on any Internet forum....

[NDAlum]

Then why ask our opinion? I don't see how you can possibly want us to take you serious.

[Guru03]

Re: Newbie Michigan fan; advice needed

Then why ask our opinion? I don't see how you can possibly want us to take you serious.

I was not asking for OS opinions. With the opinion questions, I'm just trying to gauge possible responses for when I go back home to SC from a trip (that is in NC) tomorrow.