True Believers

By Randy Milgrom

In the streets and at the Diag, flags and banners fly.

In the dormitories, at fraternities and sororities, in random houses and apartments—and inside and outside the bars and restaurants—teeming crowds roam with charged expectation.

University of Michigan students tailgate in front of frat houses in the morning before the start of the football game against the Miami (Ohio) University. UM won 34-10. September 13th., 2014. Ann Arbor. Photo by Marcin Szczepanski/Senior Multimedia Producer, University of Michigan, College of Engineering

All around town, and all across campus, students thump to a bass-heavy beat. “Game Day,” laughs Samantha Meister, a sophomore in industrial and operations engineering, “makes everything else seem dull.”

As kickoff approaches, hordes of students spill from porches and holler from rooftops, festooned from head to toe in striped and solid blue and maize beanies and face-paint and headbands and hats; scarves and bandanas and mittens and gloves; overalls and hoodies and T-shirts and sweatshirts; underwear and PJs and tube socks and tights; flip-flops and sandals and slippers and shoes.

Terrace Still displays the face painted in Wolverine colors before the start of the University of Michigan football game against the Miami (Ohio) University. UM won 34-10. September 13th., 2014. Ann Arbor. Photo by Marcin Szczepanski/Senior Multimedia Producer, University of Michigan, College of Engineering

As the multitudes abandon their pre-game parties and tent revival-style tailgates, they trek and swell from every corner, slowing into a human bottleneck and halting at the mouth of the Big House. “When I walked into Michigan Stadium for the first time, I was overwhelmed,” says Meister.

And once inside the inner sanctum, ritual and tradition rule.

Students stand—never sit—on their assigned allotment of blue metal bleacher, from kickoff through final whistle. On crucial third downs, and on all “key” plays, the devoted hold their keys aloft and jangle them in unison. When Michigan scores, an unsuspecting few might get tossed in the air, caught, and tossed again—once for every Michigan point. And when the Michigan Marching Band plays “The Victors”—and “Rocky and Bullwinkle”—everybody knows when to sing, when to clap, when to thrust a fist in the air, and when to wiggle their Bullwinkle ears.

University of Michigan engineering student Silken Thomas cheers on her team in the season opener game against Appalachian State University on Saturday, August 30, 2014. Michigan won 52-14. Last time Michigan played Appalachian State was in 2007 and App. State won 34-32 in what may have been the biggest college football upset ever and one of the lowest moments in the history of the Michigan football program. Big House, University of Michigan stadium in Ann Arbor. Photo by Marcin Szczepanski/Senior Multimedia Producer, University of Michigan, College of Engineering

Students Isaiah Bailey (left) and Stefan Turcic celebrate a touchdown scored by the University of Michigan football team in the second quarter of the game against Utah after Utah’s backup quarterback Kendal Thompson threw an interception deep in his own territory directly to Michigan junior/sophomore defensive tackle Willie Henry. Henry tied Utah 10:10. The points were the last ones scored in the game by the University of Michigan though. UM lost the game against the University of Utah 26:10. Photo by Marcin Szczepanski/Senior Multimedia Producer, University of Michigan

“That you’re a part of something so big—110,000 other fans, most of them feeling pretty much the same emotions that you are—is really pretty cool,” says Nan Huang (BSE Aero ’14). “That Big House feeling—being a part of the student section, the thunderous applause,” says Neil Syal, a junior in mechanical engineering, “just pulls you in.”

“Football is a Religion,” longtime Michigan football announcer Bob “Meeeeechigan” Ufer used to say. “And Saturday is the Holy Day of Obligation.”

University of Michigan student fans sing a national anthem before the start of the football game against University of Utah. Students include (form left) Adam Schroeder and David Hershey plus Jake Rothman (second last on the right). Wolverines lost the game against the lower ranked University of Utah 26:10. Ann Arbor, MI Saturday, September 20th., 2014 Photo by Marcin Szczepanski/Senior Multimedia Producer, University of Michigan

Last season did not reward the faithful quite as much as others. The usual pre-season preoccupations with the team’s expected preparedness were eclipsed by controversies about student ticket prices and seating policies that—combined with creeping in-game commercialism and a weak home schedule—were said to threaten Michigan Stadium’s nearly 40-year attendance streak of more than 100,000 fans.

Stuart McCloskey, University of Michigan student reacts with disappointment to the Wolverines’ being pummeled by a theoretically weaker opponent, the University of Utah. On top of the disaster on the field, a storm breaks out over the University of Michigan stadium. The game was suspended in the 4th quarter because of the pouring rain and lightning and was only re-started 2,5 hours later.. Wolverines lost the game against the University of Utah 26:10. Ann Arbor, MI Saturday, September 20th., 2014 Photo by Marcin Szczepanski/Senior Multimedia Producer, University of Michigan

Though the streak remained intact, a student-led “Fire Brandon” rally at mid-season found students unexpectedly seeking to uphold tradition against too much change. With the team on its way to a woeful 5-7 record, Brandon resigned as athletic director a few weeks later, with four games still remaining, and Coach Brady Hoke was fired at season’s end.

University of Michigan students react with frustration to University of Michigan football team making another mistake after they gathered at the apartment of David Hershey to watch the Michigan football game against Notre Dame. The game was the last game before an indefenite hiatus in the long standing football rivalry between the two schools. At the end, the Irish demolished the Wolverines on Saturday night 31-0 as Michigan fans at home and at the Notre Dame stadium looked in in despair and disbelieve. From right towards the back are: Mary Brahos, Sarah Hill, David Hershey, Adam Shroeder, Colin Harman, Lauren McGee, Travis Wooley and Andrew Kanei. Saturday, September 6, 2014. Photo by Marcin Szczepanski/Senior Multimedia Producer, University of Michigan, College of Engineering

“I stopped expecting us to win,” says fourth year mechanical engineering student Adam Schroeder. “But there’s still an underlying support for the team—and for the players, especially. I feel like it’s an obligation. Students have to support the team.”

Full of hope, Daniel Huang holds his hands together in a prayer-like gesture as he watches an offensive play by the University of Michigan football team in the second quarter of the game against the University of Utah. The play fell apart and the University of Michigan lost the game against the University of Utah 26:10. Another student Dana Feldman is in the foreground. Photo by Marcin Szczepanski/Senior Multimedia Producer, University of Michigan

University of Michigan football team is loosing to their eternal rival Michigan State University on the gazzilion TV screens in this sports bar and some of the UM fans start to turn their attention elsewhere. Elliot Gensemer reaches out to playfully shake Alejandro Gomez’s hand as they and their friends hang out in The Brown Jug, a bar popular with students on South University Ave. in Ann Arbor October 25th., 2014. Photo by Marcin Szczepanski/Senior Multimedia Producer, University of Michigan

This is still their team, their school, their legacy. This is Michigan.

The University of Michigan fraternity house Phi Psi players (black outfits) battle Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house during the 81st annual Mud Bowl held at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house in Ann Arbor, Mich. on November 1, 2014. It’s one of the biggest, testerone-driven-traditions on the national college football scene. For 80 years, the brothers of Sigma Alpha Epsilon at the University of Michigan have poured water to create a two feet deep mud in front of their fraternity house. They then challenged fraternity houses across the street to a game of football, stripped of rules and fueled by adrenaline. Photo by Marcin Szczepanski

The University of Michigan fraternity house Phi Psi quarterback works to break free from Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house player during the 81st annual Mud Bowl held at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house in Ann Arbor, Mich. on November 1, 2014. It’s one of the biggest, testerone-driven-traditions on the national college football scene. For 80 years, the brothers of Sigma Alpha Epsilon at the University of Michigan have poured water to create a two feet deep mud in front of their fraternity house. They then challenged fraternity houses across the street to a game of football, stripped of rules and fueled by adrenaline. Photo by Marcin Szczepanski

And those who’ve shared the journey are the ones who matter most. “I’ve created a sense of community with other students,” says Mike Hand (BSE EECS ’11), a Michigan Engineering PhD student. “I’m committed.” Recalling the team’s abysmal 2008 losing effort against Northwestern in miserably cold and wet conditions, Hand says, “We sacrificed everything but our first born for that one.”

Because that’s what Michigan fans do. They sacrifice. They excoriate, as well as defend. And in a down year, the passion still burns. Fans still seek their moments of rapture, and of solace. They still pray for forgiveness, and for redemption—and they hope for a savior.

With Harbaugh returning to lead the flock, all dreams have been renewed. Just one short year later, the True Believer’s fierce pride in the team, and undying commitment to its cause, have been rewarded.

The 2015 season opened with a loss to a very good Utah team. But expectations rose considerably as Harbaugh’s Wolverines played with grit and precision over the next five-game stretch, winning them all–the last three by impressive shutout. Michigan had its sixth consecutive victory nearly counted before the botched-punt-turned-game-ending-Sparty-touchdown that will forever live in Big House infamy. But the team regrouped and ripped off four more hard-fought victories…before falling decidedly flat in the Ohio State finale.

A 9-3 record exceeded most pre-season prognostications. The reward: A Citrus Bowl game against the Florida Gators in Orlando on New Year’s Day.

University of Michigan engineering student Aaron James Grzegorzewski cheers on the University of Michigan team in the season opener game against the Appalachian State University on Saturday, August 30, 2014. Michigan won the game 52-14. Last time Michigan played Appalachian State was in 2007 and App. State won 34-32 in what may have been the biggest college football upset ever and one of the lowest moments in the history of the Michigan football program. Big House, University of Michigan stadium in Ann Arbor. Photo by Marcin Szczepanski/Senior Multimedia Producer, University of Michigan, College of Engineering

And through it all, Michigan fans care. Because that’s what true believers do.

“Wherever you go, when you wear that Block M, everyone knows what that means,” says Syal. “It’s a legacy I’m a part of now—and something I take a lot of pride in. No matter where I am, I’ll still be a part of it.”

“It’s part of how I identify myself,” says Huang. “I’m a Michigan Football Fan.”

University of Michigan football players climb into the student section bleachers to celebrate with student fans the win against the University of Miami (Ohio). Football players, especially the best ones are celebrities at the University of Michigan. Big House, University of Michigan stadium in Ann Arbor. Photo by Marcin Szczepanski/Senior Multimedia Producer, University of Michigan, College of Engineering